{"id":4932,"date":"2018-08-04T17:46:21","date_gmt":"2018-08-04T17:46:21","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/rangetoreel.com\/?p=4932"},"modified":"2018-11-06T18:18:26","modified_gmt":"2018-11-06T18:18:26","slug":"why-when-and-how-bucks-peel-their-velvet","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/rangetoreel.com\/why-when-and-how-bucks-peel-their-velvet\/","title":{"rendered":"Buck Velvet Shedding and Antler Growth Explained"},"content":{"rendered":"
Watching a buck shed it’s velvet is one of the most fascinating things I’ve ever seen. Growing bone outside their body and shedding the living tissue that surrounds it is an amazing thing.\u00a0During their growth phase antlers form velvet like tissue that’s soft to the touch. But what is velvet and why do bucks shed it?<\/p>\n
Why Do Bucks Peel Their Velvet?<\/h2>\n
What is Antler Velvet Anyway?<\/h3>\n
As bucks mature their antlers lengthen and thicken growing into those beautiful antlers you see during the hunting season. Most antlers will grow up to a half inch per day during the growth phase. It’s actually a modern marvel and one of the fastest-growing bones on the planet. With all that growth they need some way to supply energy.<\/p>\n
Antlers are surrounded by living tissue that’s known as velvet. The velvet includes all of the nutrients that the buck needs to grow strong thick antlers. Velvet contains many substances needed to grow including amino acids, proteins, minerals and growth hormones.<\/p>\n
Make Your Hunting Property Better To Increase Antler Size<\/h3>\n
A bucks hard antlers are made up of mostly protein and various minerals. If you notice bucks in your heard that have weak antlers you might want to step up your deer management strategy.<\/p>\n
You’re going to want to provide more protein and minerals to strenthen the local deer herd. You’d be surprised just how much $20-30 worth of supplies will actually change a deer population. So what all do you need to increase antler growth?<\/p>\n
Food Plots:<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Setting up a small food plot will not only increase the size of your favorite bucks antlers, it will also drive in a ton of new deer. With a small quarter acre food plot you’ll definitely see a ton of deer throughout the summer.<\/p>\n