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dark colored antlers? #6366773 07/12/16 03:25 PM
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Hoytman Offline OP
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Got a stupid question for yall. See many deer pics on the forum of bucks with chocolate antlers but in N.E tx were i live i have always taken deer with white antlers untill last year were i killed my best buck ever and he had dark chocolate antlers. I guess my question is what makes this deer dark horned and the rest ive taken white? what tree or bush gives them the dark color?


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Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6366777 07/12/16 03:32 PM
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I will let STX chime in or someone with a higher pay grade...BoBo and I had a talk about this once and he had some great info...we see some Deer on different parts of the Ranch and I feel a lot is the Soil...or I have been told that..I always assumed genetics/age but again I could be wrong..


Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6366782 07/12/16 03:37 PM
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popcorn Looking forward to comments.

Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6366795 07/12/16 03:44 PM
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Have hunted my place for 30yrs and never killed a dark colored horned buck till this year and it sure has me curious.


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Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: KG68] #6366799 07/12/16 03:47 PM
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Originally Posted By: KG68
popcorn Looking forward to comments.


So its not the soil rofl


Kent why does one Bird Dog have more spots than another roflmao


Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6366835 07/12/16 04:11 PM
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We have a mix of dark colored and almost white antlered deer. Also have a few that are very yellow. I always thought it was what they decided to rub on, but will be tuned in for any info.


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Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6366849 07/12/16 04:25 PM
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I have always read it was due to the types of vegetation they rub on, and how often they do it. Made sense to me as nearly all the penned breeder bucks you see have nearly white antlers. They have excellent genetics and nutrition, but usually no significant trees to rub. Same goes for those mid-west corn field bucks.

At least in our area, there also seems to be some correlation with age. Seems the older bucks generally have a better shot at darker antlers, while the youngsters are generally whiter.

Staying tuned as well.

Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6366851 07/12/16 04:28 PM
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Yellow horns been rubbing China berry trees
White horns been rubbing white oak
Light Brown horns been rubbing Mexican olive tree
Brown horns been rubbing on bamboo
Really dark horns be rubbin on dat African bush willow

I hope I didn't offend anyone...I'd like to know myself

Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: TxAg] #6366868 07/12/16 04:45 PM
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Originally Posted By: TxAg
I have always read it was due to the types of vegetation they rub on, and how often they do it. Made sense to me as nearly all the penned breeder bucks you see have nearly white antlers. They have excellent genetics and nutrition, but usually no significant trees to rub. Same goes for those mid-west corn field bucks.

At least in our area, there also seems to be some correlation with age. Seems the older bucks generally have a better shot at darker antlers, while the youngsters are generally whiter.

Staying tuned as well.



One of the first things I will start to look for for age on the Rock Springs place TxAg is stickers and trash around the base...seems that when the stickers and trash start to appear around the base with the way we feed there its a tell tell of a 5 1/2 to 6 1/2 year old on that place


Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6366880 07/12/16 04:54 PM
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I agree with the stickers and trash when it comes to age. We're between Sonora and Juno



Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6366889 07/12/16 05:01 PM
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The deer i took was 4 or 5 years old acording to TPW biologist when i took to processer. Dont know if that makes any difference.


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Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6366894 07/12/16 05:04 PM
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Age, genetics, habitat, exposure, and some other factors.

Age and genetics are what they are.

Habitat can play a role. Early season, many antlers are darker and will fade as the season goes on, mainly because of being bleached by the sun. Deer in "big woods" will tend to hold their color longer than deer that thrive in more open country.

The types of trees that they rub will also play a role in the color because the wood and sap will stain the antlers. When we had the big burns in Texas, we saw a lot of darker antlers than we typically see in those regions.


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Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: SniperRAB] #6366899 07/12/16 05:08 PM
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Originally Posted By: SniperRAB
Originally Posted By: KG68
popcorn Looking forward to comments.


So its not the soil rofl


Kent why does one Bird Dog have more spots than another roflmao


nidea Maybe Bill will chip in with the answer on that one. rofl

Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6366911 07/12/16 05:17 PM
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I believe it is genetics. Most here are fairly dark. I have one here that last year even while in velvet was very dark. This year he is like that again. Will try to get a picture of him and you can see the difference.

Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6366914 07/12/16 05:21 PM
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I prefer milk chocolate to dark choclate antlers just my tastes.


-Those who say money can't buy happiness never bought a dog.

Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: KG68] #6366927 07/12/16 05:26 PM
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Originally Posted By: KG68
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Originally Posted By: KG68
popcorn Looking forward to comments.


So its not the soil rofl


Kent why does one Bird Dog have more spots than another roflmao


nidea Maybe Bill will chip in with the answer on that one. rofl


He's busy day drinking waiting on his neighbor roflmao

sorry back

Its the Soil Txshntr bang

Just run with it, I think its (primarily phosphorus)


Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6366934 07/12/16 05:29 PM
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I believe that the amount of tannin in the natural vegetation they eat plays a role. Just my opinion based on what I've seen, not science.

Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6366964 07/12/16 05:47 PM
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I believe it's diet and/or genetics. Too many East Texas deer (behind my house) have light colored antlers for sunlight to be a factor. These bucks spend most if not all their time under thick cover. 2cents



Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6366976 07/12/16 05:57 PM
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Have a friend who has a place just south of us in Laredo and he historically will have some deer that are almost black in body color also..
He had a pic of a buck last year and it was amazing..I had one Buck last year that would look almost black when surrounded by other Deer


Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6366977 07/12/16 05:58 PM
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Maybe They are so full of $#!t there antlers are brown.


I bet It has a lot to do with what they eat and genetics. Could it be high protein diet?

Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6367590 07/13/16 04:16 AM
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I believe antler color is caused by the amount of bleeding during the time they rub outta velvet. If they bleed a lot the rack will be darker. If they don't bleed they will have a lighter colored rack.


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Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6367719 07/13/16 01:35 PM
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Normal colored.

Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: Hoytman] #6367720 07/13/16 01:36 PM
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Dark

Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: deerfeeder] #6367724 07/13/16 01:40 PM
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Originally Posted By: deerfeeder
I believe that the amount of tannin in the natural vegetation they eat plays a role. Just my opinion based on what I've seen, not science.


Buck's around here get real dark colored antlers from rubbing cedars.


Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
Re: dark colored antlers? [Re: deerfeeder] #6367793 07/13/16 02:34 PM
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Originally Posted By: deerfeeder
I believe that the amount of tannin in the natural vegetation they eat plays a role. Just my opinion based on what I've seen, not science.


It tints, cut an antler of a dark horned buck and it's still white inside.

I'd say 97% is what they rub on, and diet and genetics is 3% via a tint of white.

Don K- velvet is a tissue some people have darker skin some lighter but our bones are the same. Put both those bucks in a pen and take away from rubbing trees and they will be close to same color when after they shed.

My 2cents


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