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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