Which Deers Have Antlers? Antlered Species Guide (2024)

FAQs

Which Deers Have Antlers? Antlered Species Guide? ›

Fact 1: Elk, caribou, moose, white-tailed deer and mule deer are among the species native to North America that have antlers. Adult males in all these species have antlers. Most female caribou have antlers, too. Biologically, all of these species belong to the Cervidae family of mammals.

Both male and female reindeer grow antlers, while in most other deer species, only the males have antlers. Compared to their body size, reindeer have the largest and heaviest antlers of all living deer species.

Antlers are extensions of an animal's skull found in members of the Cervidae (deer) family. Antlers are a single structure composed of bone, cartilage, fibrous tissue, skin, nerves, and blood vessels. They are generally found only on males, with the exception of reindeer/caribou.

In midwestern states, white-tailed deer, elk and moose have antlers. Unsurprisingly, the largest antlers are found on the largest deer species - moose! Other North American animals with antlers include mule deer and caribou.

Except for caribou, only male deer have antlers. Horns are found on bison, sheep, goats, and pronghorns. Unlike antlers, true horns are hollow and grow continuously. If broken, they do not grow back.

Male mule deer, called bucks, have forked antlers which they use as weapons to fight off competitors for mates during the breeding season or "rut". Females do not have antlers. A mule deer buck grazes among grasses, forbs and shrubs.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) does not explicitly prohibit deer antler velvet, but because some deer velvet products might contain the prohibited substance IGF-1, WADA advises that “athletes exercise extreme caution with this supplement because it could lead to a positive test.

Only males, known as stags, have antlers. Not to be confused with: fallow deer.

The caribou is the only member of the deer family where both males and females grow antlers. The antlers of the female are smaller than those of the male, but they are carried for a longer period of time. Male caribou shed their antlers in November or December, after mating.

Elk and mule deer grow new, larger antlers each year until they reach their prime age of about 6-8 years old, at which point their antlers are no longer shed and reach their maximum size.

What deer has velvet antlers? ›

Most of the world's supply of velvet antler comes from Sika deer, red deer and elk or wapiti, including a large deer ranching industry in New Zealand. New Zealand is the world's largest producer of velvet, producing 450–500 tons of red deer velvet antler annually.

Whitetail is among the densest and hardest of antlers. Whitetail antlers are typically whiter than mule deer antlers. These antlers have a lower marrow ratio and can be a very enduring antler chew.

The jackalope is a mythical animal of North American folklore described as a jackrabbit with antelope horns. The word jackalope is a portmanteau of jackrabbit and antelope. Many jackalope taxidermy mounts, including the original, are made with deer antlers.

Fact 1: Elk, caribou, moose, white-tailed deer and mule deer are among the species native to North America that have antlers. Adult males in all these species have antlers. Most female caribou have antlers, too. Biologically, all of these species belong to the Cervidae family of mammals.

On rare occasions whitetail does can develop antlers. This is most likely due to an abnormally high level of testosterone. This four year old antlered doe has produced twin fawns for the past two years.

The Chinese water deer is the only deer species without antlers. Males of these small deer have scary-looking canine teeth that project downward from the upper jaw, like fangs, and can be up to 3 inches long.

Here's the actual trademark story (via Jägermeister): “Only a legendary stag's head would suffice, one with a beaming cross between its antlers. The stag that appeared to a wild hunter and converted him to Christianity. The same hunter who would later become the patron saint of all hunters: Saint Hubertus.

Only bucks, male deer, grow antlers. Small buds begin growing between the buck's ears around April or May. As the antlers develop they're covered by a nourishing coat of blood vessels, skin and short hair known as velvet—this supplies nutrients and minerals to the growing bone.

Hermaphrodidic deer are a bit more complicated. They have both male and female sex organs and can present as either bucks or does, with antlers or without.