Antlers We reindeer do antlers well! Did you know that both girls and boys have antlers? Even baby reindeer get antlers as you will see by the pictures. Little antler buds can be seen by the age of one month in reindeer fawns. Antlers start from a pedicle which is the permanent base of the antler in the skull of the deer. The growing antler, covered by skin and hair, is composed of cartilage with with a rich blood supply. It might grow up to an inch or so a day in some of the males with large antlers. The growth state is called the velvet antler because the skin and hair gives it a velvet feel and the antler at this stage is rather soft. It will bleed profusely if cut or damaged in the velvet stage. When the reindeer shakes its head a vibration can be seen in the velvet antler. We reindeer are very sensitive about our antlers when in velvet and we are very careful not to bump them so as not to injure them. Us reindeer are very aware of the size of our antlers and they kind of become status symbols. Big antlers equal the top of the pecking order. Once the antlers have grown out, they calcify and become insensitive bone. Then we rub the skin off and us boys are ready to fight.(see Rut ) Reindeer and caribou have the largest antlers relative to body size compared to other deer. Elk have larger antlers but are twice the body size of a reindeer as well. There are some reindeer out there that rival a trophy elk antler. Even the average reindeer male can have a pretty impressive set of antlers.

Page updated Nov. 2004