How much more antler growth this summer?

[pass-thru]

We are still a month out from velvet coming off, but can we expect much growth over what bucks are currently showing? It seems like not much happens in august, but I've never tracked it closely.

Also, if they are still growing, would it be throughout the rack, to include brown tines and G2....or would be just the last points on the beam?

 

[Andy S.]

The short answer is every buck is different and there is no one answer that fits all. Some start growing earlier than others, some later, and they all grow at different rates. I have been riding the last few weekends looking at deer in bean fields and such, and some appear to be about done (fully developed multi-point racks with no "bulb" shape or "shiny" appearance on the end of the points), and other bucks appear to be several weeks behind them. This is one of the reasons I do not run cameras until mid to late August. I know the majority of the bucks will be expressing 90% or more of this year's potential by then, which I'll be able to see in the pictures that I get.

 

[Andy S.]

It seems like not much happens in august, but I've never tracked it closely.

I agree, as most individual bucks are done growing by mid August in my neck of the woods. The antlers have to harden/mineralize after that for a month or so before the shedding process takes place.

Also, if they are still growing, would it be throughout the rack, to include brown tines and G2....or would be just the last points on the beam?

My experience has been the G1s & 2s usually finish growing first, whereas the main beam length and last few up tines are the last two finish up.

 

[Boll Weevil]

This is totally anecdotal and based upon my observations alone but while they do appear to put on a bit more mass in the final month, much of the process is devoted to calcification/hardening. In comparing photos from the end of July vs. the end of August there's definitely some growth as they "finish out" those tips and points become more defined.

If you have pretty clear photos, look at the tips to see how much of a rounded bulb is visible vs. the appearance of a more defined tip. Rounded tips means he has a little more growing to do. I had pics of a buck 2 years ago that still had velvet on October 8th so it varies quite alot from deer to deer how long they grow.

 

[elknturkey]

If they are going to blow up July is the month you will see it. August the growing is about done

 

[ROUGH COUNTRY HUNTER]

If they are going to blow up July is the month you will see it. August the growing is about done

Yes I think they go through the hardening stages

 

[Floundeeze]

I had a pic of a 9pt last year that was completely shed of velvet by mid September but was running with a 4pt that she'd over a month later. Agreed - each deer is different. Also, in the same area 4 years ago, I killed an 8pt that was full velvet opening weekend of ML. It varies greatly from animal to animal.


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