Facts about Antlers and Minerals
The fascinating and complex annual cycle of antler growth is controlled by the relative length of daylight versus
darkness as it changes with the seasons. In a deer, the brain's pineal gland reacts to the changing length of
daylight by signaling the pituitary gland to activate changes in certain blood hormones. Testosterone, is a male
hormone that circulates in the blood. As the daylight increases in mid-March and April, the production of
testosterone increases in bucks. This hormone triggers a change in a number of male reproductive features. For
instance, the antlers begin growing from the pedicel. Neck muscles also increase in bulk to aid the buck in keeping
its head erect with the added weight of the antlers.
During the early spring and summer, deer graze and browse heavily to replenish the fat reserves they depleted
during winter. Does must obtain energy to make the milk that they use to nurse their newborn fawns. Bucks use
some of this new energy to grow antlers, a process that requires a substantial amount of protein and minerals.
(Source: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/PUBL/wlnotebook/Antlers.htm)
Chemical Composition of Antlers
Growing antlers are comprised mostly of proteins (80 percent by weight); whereas, mature (hardened) antlers are
comprised of roughly equal amounts of proteins and minerals. Studies have shown that calcium and phosphorus
are by far the two most common minerals in deer antlers comprising nearly 30–35 percent of the mature antler by
weight. However, they are not the only minerals present. A University of Georgia study (Miller et al. 1985) detected
11 different minerals in the whitetail’s antlers. In addition to calcium (19.01 percent) and phosphorous (10.13
percent), the next two most common elements reported in the Georgia study were magnesium (1.09 percent) and
sodium (0.50 percent). Lesser amounts of other minerals were found including potassium, barium, iron, aluminum,
zinc, strontium, and manganese. Other than calcium and phosphorous, little is known about the role of these
other minerals in antler growth.
Mobilization of Minerals during Antler Growth
Clearly minerals are important in antler development. Because of the large quantities of minerals required for
antler growth, whitetails actually deposit calcium and phosphorous in their skeletons prior to the onset of antler
growth and then transfer these minerals during active growth (Stephenson and Brown 1984). However, these
body sources of calcium and phosphorous provide only a portion of that needed for optimum antler growth. The
remainder must come directly from their diet while their antlers are actively growing. Therefore, supplementation
of these minerals prior to and during antler growth may be beneficial.
(Source: http://www.qdma.com/articles/details.asp?id=15)
Quality Deer and Wildlife managers frequently use mineral supplements to attract deer to food plots or hunting
areas. Mineral feeding supplements provide deer with calcium, phosphorus, iron and zinc they need for full-
potential growth. This is beneficial for antler development and growth of the general deer population.
In addition, mineral supplements can be habit-forming for whitetails. This means they will frequent your hunting
area more often, increasing your odds of seeing more deer.
Note: Before starting a mineral lick on your property, ask your local conservation officer if you can legally create
mineral licks and hunt near them. In some states they are illegal; in others, salt is OK to hunt near but you can't
hunt near "food supplements," or minerals. What is legal differs from area to area, so check your local regulations
before you begin.
The fascinating and complex annual cycle of antler growth is controlled by the relative length of daylight versus
darkness as it changes with the seasons. In a deer, the brain's pineal gland reacts to the changing length of
daylight by signaling the pituitary gland to activate changes in certain blood hormones. Testosterone, is a male
hormone that circulates in the blood. As the daylight increases in mid-March and April, the production of
testosterone increases in bucks. This hormone triggers a change in a number of male reproductive features. For
instance, the antlers begin growing from the pedicel. Neck muscles also increase in bulk to aid the buck in keeping
its head erect with the added weight of the antlers.
During the early spring and summer, deer graze and browse heavily to replenish the fat reserves they depleted
during winter. Does must obtain energy to make the milk that they use to nurse their newborn fawns. Bucks use
some of this new energy to grow antlers, a process that requires a substantial amount of protein and minerals.
(Source: http://dnr.wi.gov/org/land/wildlife/PUBL/wlnotebook/Antlers.htm)
Chemical Composition of Antlers
Growing antlers are comprised mostly of proteins (80 percent by weight); whereas, mature (hardened) antlers are
comprised of roughly equal amounts of proteins and minerals. Studies have shown that calcium and phosphorus
are by far the two most common minerals in deer antlers comprising nearly 30–35 percent of the mature antler by
weight. However, they are not the only minerals present. A University of Georgia study (Miller et al. 1985) detected
11 different minerals in the whitetail’s antlers. In addition to calcium (19.01 percent) and phosphorous (10.13
percent), the next two most common elements reported in the Georgia study were magnesium (1.09 percent) and
sodium (0.50 percent). Lesser amounts of other minerals were found including potassium, barium, iron, aluminum,
zinc, strontium, and manganese. Other than calcium and phosphorous, little is known about the role of these
other minerals in antler growth.
Mobilization of Minerals during Antler Growth
Clearly minerals are important in antler development. Because of the large quantities of minerals required for
antler growth, whitetails actually deposit calcium and phosphorous in their skeletons prior to the onset of antler
growth and then transfer these minerals during active growth (Stephenson and Brown 1984). However, these
body sources of calcium and phosphorous provide only a portion of that needed for optimum antler growth. The
remainder must come directly from their diet while their antlers are actively growing. Therefore, supplementation
of these minerals prior to and during antler growth may be beneficial.
(Source: http://www.qdma.com/articles/details.asp?id=15)
Quality Deer and Wildlife managers frequently use mineral supplements to attract deer to food plots or hunting
areas. Mineral feeding supplements provide deer with calcium, phosphorus, iron and zinc they need for full-
potential growth. This is beneficial for antler development and growth of the general deer population.
In addition, mineral supplements can be habit-forming for whitetails. This means they will frequent your hunting
area more often, increasing your odds of seeing more deer.
Note: Before starting a mineral lick on your property, ask your local conservation officer if you can legally create
mineral licks and hunt near them. In some states they are illegal; in others, salt is OK to hunt near but you can't
hunt near "food supplements," or minerals. What is legal differs from area to area, so check your local regulations
before you begin.
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