Searching for antler sheds can be a fun end of winter pastime
March 4, 2021
Finding deer sheds is a great way to get outside and enjoy the last days of winter while assessing the deer in your area.
Photo by Sam Smith
Michigan has an abundant deer population, and many people enjoy searching or hunting for antler sheds as a late winter outdoor activity. The antler cycle is controlled by photoperiod, or day length. Male deer grow antlers rapidly in spring and summer. After the breeding season, as the days get shorter, the amount of the reproductive hormone testosterone drops. Testosterone controls the antler cycle; when testosterone levels drop, specialized cells called osteoclasts are activated. These osteoclasts eat away at the pedicle, or base of the deer’s antlers, which cause the antlers to become weak and eventually fall off. This cycle occurs annually in deer.