Antler Sheds

All male members of the deer family in North America naturally shed and regrow their antlers yearly. The deer family includes Elk, Caribou, Moose, Reindeer, Mule Deer, Whitetail Deer and Blacktail Deer.  Female Reindeer and Caribou also grow antlers, though not as large as those grown by males.  All deer shed their antlers in winter, after a sustained drop in testosterone, the levels of which are generally attributed to the changes in the duration of day versus night, in other words, winter versus summer.

Contrary to popular belief by many, antlers are NOT made of keratin (like fingernails).  Antlers grow as an extension of the deer's skull and are, in fact, true bone, of a single structure.  While antler material and skeleton material are both "bone," antlers have a higher protein content, making them more flexible and stronger. This is important for deer who fight with their antlers, as they are able to flex a bit, and during violent battles, won’t crack as easily as bone, which is harder and stiffer. Items made from antler bone will likely dent in an almost microscopic way, rather than chip. And as antler dries out, it is significantly less likely to split or crack.