white antlers

[jcdeer54]

If someone shows me a picture of a deer and the antlers are white, does this mean it was raised in a cage?

[wtnhunt]

Nope, just means that the deer has likely only rubbed on certain types of trees that have not stained the bone.

[jcdeer54]

elk

what about elk?

[Curdog]

Usually in south Alabama deer antlers are pearl white. I think it has something to do with the sandy soil.

I hunt a place in the river swamp. It has very fertile soil and the deer have darker horns.

[jcdeer54]

thanks

thanks

[jcdeer54]

link

here is a link to the photo http://www.huntbunk.com/Duncan/Disp/Trophy-Detail/Target/111

[wtnhunt]

Usually in south Alabama deer antlers are pearl white. I think it has something to do with the sandy soil.

I hunt a place in the river swamp. It has very fertile soil and the deer have darker horns.

Don't know, could be possible I suppose that soil fertility or even diet may be a factor. Pretty sure I read somewhere that certain types of trees will stain antlers darker than others, will see if I can find where I read that at. Hunt river bottoms here, and have seen and gotten pics of deer with white antlers just as white as bone that looked like they were sun bleached, and have also seen deer with considerably darker antlers. Guess another question then is why do some deer in the same area choose to rub different types of trees?

[layin on the smackdown]

The biological reasoning for antler coloration is based on how long the animal carries velvet in conjuntion with how much oxidized blood is left on the antlers from shedding. If the animal begins shedding velvet before all the blood vessels have dried, this could stain the antler...also, depending on what types of trees the deer use to shed the velvet can play a role in the color of the antlers..(ie pines have sap, which bucks love to rub on, and could help with the staining process). Generally, most white tails shed velvet in or around the same time frame...however, there are certain deer who shed the velvet at a later time, giving the antlers a darker color-or a chocolate color...and in some cases, bucks that haven't shed their velvet at all. Some scientists believe that genetics play a role in antler coloration, and are predisposed to darker or lighter antler coloration...Personally, i think its all about when they shed their velvet.

[wtnhunt]

Seems to be some different ideas on this topic from different authorities on whitetail deer. Dr. Leonard Lee Rue III suggests that the longer a deer carries his antlers the more white they will become, that they get sunbleached. Not really too sure about that though because I have seen deer in November with very light antlers, and have seen and also killed deer in January with dark antlers.

I do think what Dan posted makes some sense with the blood staining, and how quickly the deers antlers are cleaned after shedding their velvet will also play a role. Makes sense that the longer the blood is on the bone the more color there will be, if a deer rubs his velvet off and continues to clean his antlers there will be less blood left to stain them.

[Zambo]

Great reply layin on the smackdown. This was just covered in the latest Deer and Deer Hunting magizine and you just about covered what Dr. Phillip Bishop wrote. The article is called " The Physics of Antler Growth " and has a lot of great facts and scientific theory.

I beleave it is genetics mostly. As I have picked up matched sheds from the same wild buck now five years in a row. He has changed location and habitat that includes Cedars and thick dark forests one year and wide open spaces with cattails and oak savannah another year. However, all his sheds are the same color every year.

[wtnhunt]

Couple articles you may want to read http://www.deeranddeerhunting-digital.com/deeranddeerhunting/200906/?pg=31 and http://www.qdma.com/articles/details.asp?id=118, you will have to scroll down a ways on the second one:

On a lighter note, the second question asked about different coloration in antlers. Several factors may be responsible. According to Dr. Bubenik, antler color depends partly on the amount of oxidized blood on the antlers (from velvet shedding) and partly from a chemical reaction between the blood and juices from plants on which the antlers are rubbed. If a buck begins rubbing his antlers before the velvet and blood have completely dried, the blood stains the antler and gives it a darker color. The predominant species of trees in an area also influence the color. Pines allegedly cause darker antlers, likely from bucks rubbing on exposed sap after they break the tree’s cambium layer. A buck’s genetics may also influence color. Some bucks are predisposed to having lighter or darker antlers, and to rub more or fewer trees. A buck’s age can play a role as older bucks tend to rub more than younger animals. Finally, the time of year can influence color as antlers generally lighten over time due to the bleaching effect of moisture, sunlight and extreme winter conditions.

Do individual bucks maintain a consistent color from year to year? According to Dr. Mickey Hellickson, chief wildlife biologist for the King Ranch in south Texas, yes, with a few exceptions. The antlers of some individual bucks gradually become darker as the buck increases in age, likely due to increased rubbing behaviors as his dominance standing improves. The above reasons explain why you may see light, medium or dark antlers throughout the whitetail’s range.

[jcdeer54]

thanks

thanks