August 4th.....How Much Antler Growth Left?

[Lawdwaz]

Are they just about done growing or do they have some more to put on?

 

I'm thinking they have to start hardening up since they'll be rubbing by the end of the month??  I'd only be guessing but think the still have a little growth left?

 

 

The reason I ask is I've got a few nice spike bucks I'd like to see get some branched antlers still before I cork 'em. 

(HaHa, just kidding!)

[Lawdwaz]

I'm serious on the original question though......thanks.

[Four Season Whitetail's]

What they have for width is pretty much what they will finish with, mass has been decided by now also. If those tips are balled up and black on the ends then there is still blood flow there and they may add an inch or two on their points and main beams. couple three more weeks and they will grey up until shedding the cover and showing those jewels they have been working on the last few months.

[skully]

There done with. 

[Buckstopshere]

From what I've read, nobody really knows when whitetail antler growth stops. It is in part dependent upon photoperiodism and since the moon has an effect, antler growth would slow on different dates, depending on the year. But generally, between the end of July and the second week of August is about as close a consensus as I can find. Here is a photo of a buck I got on July 24th. Will he be a 9 pt.? Will the tip of his right beam turn into a crab claw? I don't have a photo of him since but at least on this specific buck it will be interesting to see how much growth occurs since July 24. Any guesses? 

[G-Man]

If the tips are still balled they are still growing,though this is a much smaller group %, most are done and mineralization is occuring, I've seen rubs (velvet removal) by,August 18th here

[mac]

so as a very general statement , the antler growth period lasts about 3+ months in total ? i usually see velvet until end of Aug and they show up on the camera after labor day all cleaned up

[phade]

so as a very general statement , the antler growth period lasts about 3+ months in total ? i usually see velvet until end of Aug and they show up on the camera after labor day all cleaned up

 

Deer antlers are some of the fastest growing living tissue on earth today.

[greg54]

Here's a close look at a smaller guys antler growth...the bugs seem to like him that's for sure!!

[landtracdeerhunter]

I watched a nice 2 year old rub Sunday night. Does that mean his antlers have stop growing?

[dbHunterNY]

What they have for width is pretty much what they will finish with, mass has been decided by now also. If those tips are balled up and black on the ends then there is still blood flow there and they may add an inch or two on their points and main beams. couple three more weeks and they will grey up until shedding the cover and showing those jewels they have been working on the last few months.

 

this is my understanding and what I've seen... some can blow up with tine length right now.  all in what you see as he said.

[dbHunterNY]

I watched a nice 2 year old rub Sunday night. Does that mean his antlers have stop growing?

 

I'd say so unless you took licking and browsing branches for rubbing.  not sure how good of an eye you had on him.  it's very typical for me to see velvet through august and by the first week to week and a half into September they're completely cleaning off with hard antler.  each deer is different though.

[G-Man]

Antlers grow, mid april,may june, into most of july, by August though they still have velvet they are filling with minerals, and have stopped growing and are hardning, big bucks will be up 9,inches or so by may. Yearlings seem to take longer as I've seen them start very late depending on body size and birth date. Longest I saw velvet on a buck was Oct 22nd an a 3 point with tiny body that I would say was a late born fawn the previous year.

[Four Season Whitetail's]

Antlers grow, mid april,may june, into most of july, by August though they still have velvet they are filling with minerals, and have stopped growing and are hardning, big bucks will be up 9,inches or so by may. Yearlings seem to take longer as I've seen them start very late depending on body size and birth date. Longest I saw velvet on a buck was Oct 22nd an a 3 point with tiny body that I would say was a late born fawn the previous year.

Sorry bud but not true. I can show you plenty that are still black,balled up and hot to the touch. Bloodflow!!!!   Just fixed a broken point on a yearling over the weekend that was blowing blood with every heartbeat. Yes all deer are different but early August see's many still putting on inches. Mine will start turning grey the last few days of August and be hard horn by middle of September at the latest.

[Buckstopshere]

He made it to a nine point all right!

[moog5050]

Grew quite a bit from late July.  Nice.

[thphm]

Had a spike eating in the back yard this morning for about 1/2 hour , grew a bit longer but sill in velvet.

[WNY Bowhunter]

He made it to a nine point all right!

 

Nice buck...but NOT the same deer that you posted earlier.

[ATbuckhunter]

I was always told that most deer finish growing by early August but some deer will grow later into August. 

[Buckstopshere]

Nice buck...but NOT the same deer that you posted earlier.

 

How do you know it is not the same buck? The odds of having a crab claw on the end of the right beam making him a 9 point are pretty slim. The two cameras were on the same hillside. I suppose it is possible. But it is the first 9 point I have seen there in about 12 years of hunting it. Besides the point on the end of the right beam and the deer has a narrow, drawn face with identical mask markings. But I could be wrong. Here is another shot of him from the back in mid-July, showing the bulb on the end of the right beam. But I could be wrong and there could be three 9 points on that ridge. In my experience, that type of antler formation is a pretty distinctive and unique trait. Some bucks grow a lot from mid-July to mid-August, others not so much. But maybe you see something I don't.

[WNY Bowhunter]

 

As you can plainly see, the buck on the left is a two year old...the one on the right has much more mass and is at least 1-2 years older. 

[WNY Bowhunter]

Here's the growth from 7/24 to 8/12...

 

 

[Buckstopshere]

I see what you mean. Dandy buck! but not much growth evident in that 9 point in almost 3 weeks of prime antler growth time when antler growth rate should be peaking. Shows the variability in wild bucks.   

[gjs4]

Scientifically proven by my cams over the past 14 yrs-"most" were to the last 5-10% by mid July ... Not all, but the vast majority

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[First-light]

Anyone want to predict when the rut will happen….too funny.