When Do Deer Shed Their Antlers? And 6 Other Antler Questions

They are the fastest-growing tissue in the animal kingdom, but why do deer and other animals shed them? Here's what makes them so unique.

By Allison Futterman
Dec 5, 2023 4:00 PM
large white tail buck with large antlers in the fall
(Credit:critterbiz/Shutterstock)

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The animal kingdom is brutal. To survive, many animals have evolved with built-in weapons, including horns, quills, shells, claws, and tusks, to name a few. Members of the Cervidae family — including the white-tail deer, mule deer, elk, moose, and reindeer/caribou — have developed antlers to serve as a defense system. But they also have other purposes. Here, we answer all your antler questions. Read on to find out more.

1. What Are Antlers?

(Credit: Rick Fansler/Shutterstock)

Antlers are bony structures that extend out of permanent growths on a Cervidae's head — usually only the male — called pedicles. Male deer and other Cervidae shed their antlers annually, usually in the winter, and grow new ones in the spring. 

What Are Antlers Made Of?

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