What’s the Difference???

Horns Single Pointed Outer layer of hair and Keratin Bony core Grows – life of animal Examples Bison Wild sheep Rocky Mtn Goats Odd one…. Pronghorn antelope Shed outer layer annually but not core.

Antlers

Branched External blood supply - velvet Fastest growing bone known to science Ca & P from own ribs Temporary – shed Deer Elk moose reindeer

Why do animals have antlers? Bucks don’t have big trucks and fast cars. Impress females Likely some females believe small antlers = young male Used to send message of leave me alone. No hospitals near by. Sends message not to fight

Why do Elk and Moose have bigger antlers? Bigger country requires more size to be seen

Size of antlers determined by Distance from equator Nutrition available Sets of antlers w/ 4pts or less = often sign of malnutrition Maternal doe

Antlers typically not used for fighting/defense Fighting mainly done with feet Shed Dec./Jan before time when deer most susceptible to predation Antlers shed to diminish calcium drain, grow bigger

Why sheds hard to find? Rabbits, mice etc. Calcium, phosphorus source Less dense than most bones Some skulls not eaten ………… coyote urine

Why do we measure antlers? Show fish/wildlife managers that quality of wildlife continually improves. Every year more records go in books Always been competitive

Two recording organizations Boone and Crocket Deer can be harvested by gun, arrow, car accident, found in woods or other means as long as taken “ethically”. Pope and Young Must harvest with bow and arrow with no mechanical device to enable hunter to lock the bow at full or partial draw. (semis and cars kill more deer annually than do bow hunters)

What is measured? Inside Spread Widest spread between main beams parallel to the eyeballs Total length of abnormal points Forked in whitetails Downward aiming points

Length of main beamPoints Must be at least 1 inch long Must be taller than it is wide Length of 1-7 points

Circumferences at smallest diameters between: Burr and first point First and second points Second and third points Third and fourth points