Antlers Are a Useful Organic Product

A glimpse of a deer, elk, or moose with a large set of antlers is an awe-inspiring sight, but other than making the animals look majestic, what are the beautiful "racks" good for?

Deer, elk, and moose bulls in temperate climates grow antlers each spring through fall to impress female deer and spar with their competitors during the mating season. On moose, they may serve as parabolic sound collectors as well, according to an article in The Guardian about scientists George and Peter Bubenik, who tested their hypothesis that antlers greatly magnify the ability of moose to hear calling females.

When the autumn mating season draws to a close, deer and moose shed their antlers, usually in December, however elk keep theirs until spring. It takes two to three weeks for them to completely fall off. Like the loss of baby teeth, shedding antlers is not painful for the animals

The shed bones are useful long after they fall to the forest floor. Rodents such as squirrels, mice and porcupines gnaw on them for the concentrated calcium and minerals they contain. Some people make a hobby of hiking in the woods in search of the shed antlers, hoping to beat the small animals to it. This is commonly referred to as shed or horn hunting. Horn hunters can get points and awards for finding the best
antlers.

People have been using antler material since ancient times to craft tools, weapons, ornaments, and toys. Today the most common uses are: buttons, a variety of handles, lamp bases and chandeliers, and Western décor furnishings.

Of course, searching around for antlers in a great expanse of forest could very well be an exercise in futility. Seasoned horn hunters know where to look, and they often sell their finds to buyers who offer them for sale to the public. Most antler crafters purchase them from a supplier. Fortunately, this hobby does not require expensive tools to enjoy. A hack saw, drill with rotary rasp, nuts and bolts, and glue is all one need so get started. It's easy to go online and find inspiration for some classy items that can be made with antlers.

Antlers are also used as a dietary supplement. Since they grow very quickly, up to half an inch a day, a great deal of nourishment is required. People in China discovered more than 2,000 years ago, that small antlers in the velvet stage are packed with nutrients. The beautiful racks start out as velvet, a bony growth covered with skin and hair, and this skin is filled with blood vessels that supply the large quantities of vitamins and the minerals necessary to build up the bone. When antlers are mature, the velvet dries and peels off, often assisted by the animals, as they rub their racks against tree bark to speed the process. A summary of studies about the dietary benefits of antler velvet can be found at Vitamins in America.

To rub shoulders with antler enthusiasts of all kinds, check out the annual Antler Rendezvous, at the Teton County Fairgrounds in Jackson Hole, Wyoming each May.

Sources: James Randerson, "Moose's Sharp Hearing is Attributed to Antlers," The Guardian, Friday 21 March 2008.
Michael L. Laughlin, "A Summary of Research on Velvet Antler Dietary Supplements," Vitamins in America.