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dark colored antlers?
#6366773
07/12/16 03:25 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,698
Hoytman
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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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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 21,271
SniperRAB
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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..
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: Hoytman]
#6366782
07/12/16 03:37 PM
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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,314
KG68
THF Trophy Hunter
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Looking forward to comments.
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: Hoytman]
#6366795
07/12/16 03:44 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,698
Hoytman
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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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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 21,271
SniperRAB
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Looking forward to comments. So its not the soil Kent why does one Bird Dog have more spots than another
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: Hoytman]
#6366835
07/12/16 04:11 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,549
redchevy
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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.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: Hoytman]
#6366849
07/12/16 04:25 PM
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 3,811
TxAg
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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.
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: Hoytman]
#6366851
07/12/16 04:28 PM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 1,091
Wacm
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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
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: TxAg]
#6366868
07/12/16 04:45 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 21,271
SniperRAB
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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. 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
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: Hoytman]
#6366880
07/12/16 04:54 PM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067
titan2232
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I agree with the stickers and trash when it comes to age. We're between Sonora and Juno
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: Hoytman]
#6366889
07/12/16 05:01 PM
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Joined: Oct 2006
Posts: 3,698
Hoytman
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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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Joined: Sep 2010
Posts: 35,891
txshntr
T-Rex Arms
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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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Joined: Oct 2009
Posts: 6,314
KG68
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Looking forward to comments. So its not the soil Kent why does one Bird Dog have more spots than another Maybe Bill will chip in with the answer on that one.
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: Hoytman]
#6366911
07/12/16 05:17 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,951
don k
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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.
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: Hoytman]
#6366914
07/12/16 05:21 PM
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Joined: Oct 2014
Posts: 686
MoBettaHuntR
Tracker
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Tracker
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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.
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: KG68]
#6366927
07/12/16 05:26 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 21,271
SniperRAB
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Looking forward to comments. So its not the soil Kent why does one Bird Dog have more spots than another Maybe Bill will chip in with the answer on that one. He's busy day drinking waiting on his neighbor sorry Its the Soil Txshntr Just run with it, I think its (primarily phosphorus)
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: Hoytman]
#6366934
07/12/16 05:29 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 12,261
deerfeeder
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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.
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: Hoytman]
#6366964
07/12/16 05:47 PM
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Joined: Dec 2014
Posts: 5,067
titan2232
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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.
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: Hoytman]
#6366976
07/12/16 05:57 PM
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Joined: Mar 2012
Posts: 21,271
SniperRAB
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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
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: Hoytman]
#6366977
07/12/16 05:58 PM
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Joined: Jul 2015
Posts: 374
StephensCnty308
Bird Dog
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Bird Dog
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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?
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: Hoytman]
#6367590
07/13/16 04:16 AM
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Joined: May 2016
Posts: 32
sbyrd85
Light Foot
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Light Foot
Joined: May 2016
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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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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,951
don k
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Normal colored.
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: Hoytman]
#6367720
07/13/16 01:36 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,951
don k
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Dark
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: deerfeeder]
#6367724
07/13/16 01:40 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,055
HWY_MAN
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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. Buck's around here get real dark colored antlers from rubbing cedars.
Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
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Re: dark colored antlers?
[Re: deerfeeder]
#6367793
07/13/16 02:34 PM
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Joined: Apr 2007
Posts: 60,483
BOBO the Clown
kind of a big deal
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kind of a big deal
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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. 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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