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Dark Horned Theory
#7220150
07/10/18 02:27 AM
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Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 459
HVILLE HNTR
OP
Bird Dog
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OP
Bird Dog
Joined: Oct 2008
Posts: 459 |
One of my stands sits in the middle of an open field with sparse cover nearby. Have noticed the deer that frequent this feeder generally have lighter colored horns as a rule of thumb. Then have another stand which overlooks a small right away surrounded by dense forest. Deer at this spot sometimes have darker horns (not always though). My theory is that the deer at the 1st stand spend more time in direct sun exposure which slowly but surely bleaches their horns. Am l on to something or is it really just all genetics?
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7220160
07/10/18 02:32 AM
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Joined: Jul 2010
Posts: 6,862
HuntnFly67
THF Trophy Hunter
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I’m convinced it’s sun exposure.
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HuntnFly67]
#7220191
07/10/18 02:55 AM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179
therancher
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
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Antler color is a combination of genetics, sun exposure, and what they rub on. My experience is genetics is the most influential.
Crotchety old bastidge
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: therancher]
#7220330
07/10/18 11:42 AM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,950
don k
THF Celebrity
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Antler color is a combination of genetics, sun exposure, and what they rub on. My experience is genetics is the most influential. Very true rancher. I have a dark antlered Buck that has had dark antlers probably for at least 4 years now. Even the hair on his body is a little darker than the others. He is getting old now and his antlers are not what they used to be. But you can tell by the color of the velvet he will still have dark antlers.
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7220381
07/10/18 01:02 PM
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Joined: May 2006
Posts: 31,055
HWY_MAN
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Bucks rub on cedars around here and it tends to darken the antlers.
Yes! A Weatherby does kill them deader.
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7220496
07/10/18 02:47 PM
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Joined: Jan 2016
Posts: 7,759
snake oil
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
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I've always heard it's what they rub off on......
"You may all go to hell and I will go to Texas".
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7220500
07/10/18 02:53 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,950
don k
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
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This is a dark antlered Deer
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: don k]
#7220501
07/10/18 02:56 PM
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Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179
therancher
THF Trophy Hunter
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THF Trophy Hunter
Joined: Jul 2013
Posts: 7,179 |
Antler color is a combination of genetics, sun exposure, and what they rub on. My experience is genetics is the most influential. Very true rancher. I have a dark antlered Buck that has had dark antlers probably for at least 4 years now. Even the hair on his body is a little darker than the others. He is getting old now and his antlers are not what they used to be. But you can tell by the color of the velvet he will still have dark antlers. I’ll post some pics from this year to prove it later. Your pic is definitely a darker antlered deer.
Crotchety old bastidge
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7220504
07/10/18 02:57 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,950
don k
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This what most Deer look like. See the difference in the color of the velvet. The dark one had 13 points a couple of years ago. Last year had 11.
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7220525
07/10/18 03:15 PM
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Joined: Oct 2004
Posts: 39,536
redchevy
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Very interesting, I never noticed different colors of velvet. Thanks for sharing.
It's hell eatin em live
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7220533
07/10/18 03:25 PM
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Joined: Dec 2011
Posts: 5,294
8pointdrop
THF Trophy Hunter
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What they rub on will darken the bases a little, but chocolate horned vs white horned is mostly genetics.
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7221379
07/11/18 10:41 AM
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Joined: Jan 2013
Posts: 19,650
Pitchfork Predator
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Genetics primarily what they rub on secondary.
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7221437
07/11/18 12:41 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Is this buck going to be light or medium or dark color horn?
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7221467
07/11/18 01:17 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 5,918
Jgraider
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I"m no biologist, but every buck I see looks the same while in velvet. I believe it's what they rub their antlers on that determines coloration.
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7221624
07/11/18 03:45 PM
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Joined: Jan 2011
Posts: 65,517
SnakeWrangler
THF Celebrity
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Curious how diet might affect it. We have many “chocolate” antlered deer around here..
I believe in science and I’m an insufferable [censored] Actually, BBC is pretty damn good "You Cannot Simultaneously Be Politically Correct And Intellectually Honest!"
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7221728
07/11/18 05:21 PM
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Joined: May 2009
Posts: 2,216
kyle1974
Veteran Tracker
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Posts: 2,216 |
minerals in the food, what they rub on, and exposure to sun. Later in the season a lot of deer will tend to have lighter colored horns, especially in low brush areas. most deer's antlers are WHITE under the velvet. It's some of the blood staining and sap from rubbing out that gives them the color.
I think genetics plays a little part. I've seen deer raised in pens that have nothing to rub out on turn out with very light colored horns. Deer from those same pens that finish out in the pasture will typically be much darker.
Last edited by kyle1974; 07/11/18 05:23 PM.
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: stxranchman]
#7221746
07/11/18 05:48 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,950
don k
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Is this buck going to be light or medium or dark color horn? I don't know. I can't see the antlers very well. What do you think?
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7221747
07/11/18 05:49 PM
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Joined: Jun 2015
Posts: 11,534
rickym
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Definitely not light colored, but not gonna be chocolate either.
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7221798
07/11/18 06:33 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7221805
07/11/18 06:41 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,605
fouzman
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
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Posts: 2,605 |
I knew the hard horned version was just waiting for a reply.
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7221808
07/11/18 06:44 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 2,605
fouzman
Veteran Tracker
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Veteran Tracker
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stx, what's your theory on dark versus light antlers?
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7221825
07/11/18 07:13 PM
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Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 248
hunting_guy
Woodsman
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Woodsman
Joined: Sep 2015
Posts: 248 |
I don't know the scientific answer, but from personal experience I see a lot more chocolate horned bucks in south Texas and northwest Texas... only thing in common with that is red dirt. Which biologists tell me have a lot more nutrients.
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7221829
07/11/18 07:15 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
What color velvet would you call these bucks? Light or medium or dark? 1st buck Both images are of the same buck.
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: HVILLE HNTR]
#7221843
07/11/18 07:28 PM
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Joined: Aug 2008
Posts: 14,950
don k
THF Celebrity
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THF Celebrity
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Posts: 14,950 |
Here is the dark antlered Buck July 2016. Nobody has killed him so I can't give that picture.
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Re: Dark Horned Theory
[Re: hunting_guy]
#7221844
07/11/18 07:29 PM
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Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296
stxranchman
Obie Juan Kenobi
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Obie Juan Kenobi
Joined: Aug 2010
Posts: 60,296 |
Are idiots multiplying faster than normal people?
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