Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Elk Hunting => Topic started by: wheels on July 12, 2019, 05:57:17 PM

Title: anttler growth finish ?
Post by: wheels on July 12, 2019, 05:57:17 PM: just curious when antlers are finished for the most part? My summer starts next month thinking of doing some looking then. thanks
Title: Re: anttler growth finish ?
Post by: STIKNSTRINGBOW on July 12, 2019, 10:47:27 PM: Really, as far as I understand it, it depends on the animal.
More mature animals (those with larger antlers) drop later, but grow faster.
I think it has to do with pedicle diameter.
The more circumference it has, the more nutrients and blood passes into growth.
However...
When you see antlers with a bulbous tip, it shows that this blood and nutrients are collecting, indicating that it is feeding something.
That would mean it still is growing.
.
By this time of year you should be able to see the formation/symmetry of the finished antler.
Mass has been established, its only length left to grow.
.
Honestly, if it looks big, what else do you need to know?
.
But, if you are scouting this time of year it is more important to find access points, travel areas, and cows.
Knowing the bulls are in the area is great, but they have different dietary needs.
Once the first scent of estrous hits the wind, everything changes.
The bulls will be looking for cows.
Title: Re: anttler growth finish ?
Post by: Bango skank on July 13, 2019, 12:00:07 AM: Quote from: STIKNSTRINGBOW on July 12, 2019, 10:47:27 PM
Really, as far as I understand it, it depends on the animal.
More mature animals (those with larger antlers) drop later, but grow faster.
I think it has to do with pedicle diameter.
The more circumference it has, the more nutrients and blood passes into growth.
However...
When you see antlers with a bulbous tip, it shows that this blood and nutrients are collecting, indicating that it is feeding something.
That would mean it still is growing.
.
By this time of year you should be able to see the formation/symmetry of the finished antler.
Mass has been established, its only length left to grow.
.
Honestly, if it looks big, what else do you need to know?
.
But, if you are scouting this time of year it is more important to find access points, travel areas, and cows.
Knowing the bulls are in the area is great, but they have different dietary needs.
Once the first scent of estrous hits the wind, everything changes.
The bulls will be looking for cows.

Mature bucks and bulls tend to drop earlier, not later.
Title: Re: anttler growth finish ?
Post by: jackelope on July 13, 2019, 06:54:51 AM: Big bulls are pretty much done growing by now I think. I was able to document this guy a few years ago. He didn’t change much from early July to hard horned.

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190713/09200d1830d79161d52bd5fc02fec26a.jpg)

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190713/e24942bc5aad39d1ebbd1768ce7f78c7.jpg)

(https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20190713/f16a8205b0d4dcd530741e6061eeb9a5.jpg)
Title: Re: anttler growth finish ?
Post by: wheels on July 13, 2019, 09:57:33 AM: thanks i guess it was something i was curious about im sure ill get over there this summer to look around find spots just was thinking if i seen bull how much it might change but but mid aug pretty much done
Title: Re: anttler growth finish ?
Post by: big wood on July 14, 2019, 07:23:27 PM: Is that a wild elk
Title: Re: anttler growth finish ?
Post by: jackelope on July 14, 2019, 08:06:06 PM: Quote from: big wood on July 14, 2019, 07:23:27 PM
Is that a wild elk

The one in my pictures?

If so, 100% wild. Killed by the guy in the picture during the WA special permit muzzleloader season, 2013.
Title: Re: anttler growth finish ?
Post by: huntnnw on July 14, 2019, 09:48:45 PM: most people seem to think if it has velvet its growing and that is wrong there is lengthy process to the antler becoming hard.
Title: Re: anttler growth finish ?
Post by: CackleBird98 on July 14, 2019, 10:21:46 PM: Saw this guy today, I figure he's probably pretty close to done. If not, he'll be dang nice. :yike:
Title: Re: anttler growth finish ?
Post by: big wood on July 15, 2019, 03:55:19 PM: Quote from: jackelope on July 14, 2019, 08:06:06 PM
Quote from: big wood on July 14, 2019, 07:23:27 PM
Is that a wild elk

The one in my pictures?

If so, 100% wild. Killed by the guy in the picture during the WA special permit muzzleloader season, 2013.
thats a dam nice bull
Title: Re: anttler growth finish ?
Post by: jackelope on July 15, 2019, 09:42:36 PM: Quote from: big wood on July 15, 2019, 03:55:19 PM
Quote from: jackelope on July 14, 2019, 08:06:06 PM
Quote from: big wood on July 14, 2019, 07:23:27 PM
Is that a wild elk

The one in my pictures?

If so, 100% wild. Killed by the guy in the picture during the WA special permit muzzleloader season, 2013.
thats a dam nice bull
Indeed. He was 399” and change gross. I got several hundred pictures of him over that summer on 3 different cameras.
Title: Re: anttler growth finish ?
Post by: Gentrys on July 15, 2019, 09:43:53 PM: Date is correct on this pic. Just losing velvet on the 18th of August. Have pics of this same bull 2 days prior and velvet is intact.
Title: Re: anttler growth finish ?
Post by: ASienkiewich on July 16, 2019, 07:42:58 PM: Quote from: Gentrys on July 15, 2019, 09:43:53 PM
Date is correct on this pic. Just losing velvet on the 18th of August. Have pics of this same bull 2 days prior and velvet is intact.
That’s probably one of the coolest trail cam pics I’ve seen. Thanks for sharing!

Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Title: Re: anttler growth finish ?
Post by: jakeweb on July 16, 2019, 08:26:53 PM: This one was mid August a year ago
Title: Re: anttler growth finish ?
Post by: jakeweb on July 16, 2019, 08:29:13 PM: And this was August 8th.