From button to shed
These are different elk, white-tailed and mule deer antler sheds found throughout the Blackfoot Watershed. The smaller ones are from younger deer.
This whitetail deer is in velvet while his antlers are growing. When the growth is finished the velvet dries and is rubbed off onto trees by the buck.
This tree has a rub mark of shredded bark on it from where a Cervid rubbed off the velvet on his antlers.
This mound of antlers is found at the National Bison Range in Montana. They are white with age. When antlers first fall off they are brown.
This is a freshly dropped shed. The red end is where it detached from the pedicle on the deer's head.
With the weather starting to warm up, south slopes are baring off and outdoor enthusiasts can be found searching for newly dropped antlers. Shed hunting for these treasures is growing in popularity.
Montana ungulates include caribou, deer, elk and moose. They are from the family Cervidae because they are even-toed and grow and shed their antlers each year. Antlers are made of bone and grow from the tips.
Antelope are also even-toed ungulates but belong to the family Bovidae. They have permanent horns like bison and big-horned sheep.
Horns grow throughout the bovid animal's life. They are made of keratin and bone and are not shed, although the antelope's horn sheath sheds and regrows each year. Horns grow from the base.
Antler growth begins during their first year of life. They grow from the pedicle and start out as 'buttons.' Yearlings can have spike antlers or larger.
The antlers begin to grow and are covered in 'velvet' or very fine hair, which provides a blood supply to the growing antler bone.
With the exception of the palmate shape of moose antlers, antlers can grow up to an inch a day while in velvet. Moose antlers grow into palm shapes with points.
US Fish and Wildlife Service states that the velvet dries up during breeding season, also known as the 'rut'. This velvet drying represents the end of the growth stage of the antler for the year.
The cervids rub their antlers on trees to scrape off the velvet, leaving behind glossy brown antlers. Sometimes antlers are used for sparring when males are gathering and protecting their females.
During winter and early spring, males experience a drop in testosterone. The low hormone levels cause the pedicle to dry out and antler to loosen and fall. Moose, deer, elk and caribou 'shed' or drop their antlers while they are walking, feeding, bounding or even where they bed.
Freshly dropped sheds will have a reddish tinge on the end from where it detached from the pedicle. Antler re-growth usually begins one to two weeks after shedding.
When the antlers drop on the ground they can become a source of calcium and minerals for smaller animals to chew on including squirrels and porcupines. This is the reason some sheds are found with gnaw marks on them.
After the antler falls to the ground it begins to age. Newer sheds are brown while sheds that have been on the ground slowly turn white from the sun, weather and from drying out.
Antler growth is dependent upon health of the animal. According to Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks, genetics determine the form of antler, while nutrition and age impact the size – if the animal is older and healthy, the antlers may be larger.
Some people travel long distances to find sheds. Shed hunting has become popular especially in areas where cervids overwinter. Many big game wildlife management areas don't open until May 15 including the Blackfoot/Clearwater Game Range. This can lessen stress on the animals because there may be deep snow when the antlers fall off and people may unnecessarily scare the animals. The females are also preparing to give birth in the spring.
Shed finding tactics include training dogs to find them, scanning hillsides with binoculars, hiking through overwintering areas, walking fence lines and just covering ground.
Sheds can be made into jewelry, knife handles, belt buckles and household items including lights and coat racks.
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