loneranger
Well-Known Member
Most of the bucks Ive taken have generally cream colored antlers. This older buck this year has a dark chocolate color all the way to the ends of all the tines. What causes this? Old age ? minerals in diet? Thanks
I think its only related to the trees they rub that gives their antlers the staining.
Here the bucks living mostly in coniferous woods trend to be darker than the ones found in deciduous or mixed timber.
My experience with color of racks are attributed to two things: 1) Where do they bed? Dark woods leans toward darker antlers. 2) Type of trees the buck is rubbing....
Bucks at home that spend the majority of there time in big thick woods and rub on hardwood saplings have darker antlers. Bucks that are out in the sun or open areas racks get bleached out. Just my opinion......
I believe it's how clean the velvet is taken off and how much blood remains on the antler then time they spend in the light. More light exposure means more bleaching.