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ABOUT DEER ANTLER CYCLES

Antlers are dropped, or cast, and grow back over a period of months while covered in a furry skin called velvet. When growth is complete the velvet is rubbed off and the antler is described as clean. Older animals tend to cast and clean their antlers first.

pair of red deer antlers By taimenfree

The table below is a general guide to the timing of this process though it is difficult to be precise.

Antlers cast

Antlers in velvet

Antlers clean

Mar - May

May - Aug

Sep - Mar

Mar - May

May - Aug

Sep - Mar

Apr - May

May - Aug

Sep - Apr

Nov - Dec

Jan - Mar

Apr - Nov

Apr - Jun

May - Aug

Sep - Apr

* As muntjac can breed all year round, you may see immature bucks in velvet or bearing clean antlers outside these dates.

RED DEER ANTLER CYCLE VIDEO

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