| Deer antlers are an incredibly fascinating biological | | | | vessels that are inside the horn. |
| phenomenon. The shape of antlers range from | | | | Deer, like elk and moose, have antlers, not horns. |
| very small sharp "spikes" to fantastical typical and | | | | Antlers, are not made of keratin, they are dead |
| non-typical racks. To better understand the parts | | | | bone that grow out of the skull of the animal. |
| of a deer antler, we will first examine some basic | | | | Antlers tend to be much longer than horns, and |
| deer antler terminology, the difference between | | | | have numerous branches. Deer grow yearly and |
| horns and antler then follow up with the correct | | | | shed their antlers on a yearly basis. Antler tissue |
| name for every part of the deer antler. | | | | is said to be fastest growing mammal tissue |
| Antler Terms | | | | known to man. Even the largest rack on a |
| Point: a projection on an antler that is at least one | | | | mature deer is grown in about three to four |
| inch long. | | | | months! |
| Rack: refers to the set of antlers on a particular | | | | Parts of a Deer Antler |
| deer. All racks are divided into two classifications; | | | | Pedicle: The base of the deer's antler, where the |
| typical or non-typical. | | | | antler bone meets the head of the deer. |
| Typical: typical racks are those antlers that look | | | | Beam: The central stem of the antlers, from |
| like a a classic or "normal" rack. On a 10 point | | | | which all other points arise. |
| buck (a buck with a rack that has a total of ten | | | | Brow Tine: The first division or point off of the |
| points,) the buck would show five matched points | | | | beam. |
| on each side, and the location of these points | | | | Bay Antler: The second division (or point above |
| would be in typical locations. | | | | the brow tine). |
| Non-typical: non-typical racks, by definition, are | | | | Royal Antler: The third division on the antlers (or |
| racks that do not look normal. They may exhibit | | | | point above the bay antler). |
| unmatched points (for example 3 points on one | | | | Surroyal Antler: The fourth division or point above |
| side and 5 on the other,) they can have points | | | | the royal antler. |
| growing off of other points or the points | | | | Fork: The end of deer's antlers, where the central |
| themselves may be abnormaly shaped. | | | | beam divides in two. |
| Antlers vs. Horns | | | | Palm: The end of a deer's antlers where the |
| Horns are found on mountain goats, bighorn | | | | central beam divides into several points, |
| sheep, bison and other game. Horns, unlike antlers, | | | | resembling the human hand. |
| grow all throughout an animals life. If they are lost | | | | Crown Tine: A tine growing at the very end of |
| or damaged for any reason, they cannot be | | | | the deer's antler, the points above the fork or |
| replaced. The surface of horns is made of a | | | | palm. |
| keratin, much like human finger nails. They are | | | | These terms should help you correctly identify |
| alive, in that they receive nutrients by blood | | | | and discuss the different parts of a deer antler. |