Posted By slawman on 12/09/2007 7:30 AM
From what I have HEARD, they have antler memory, that if it has an abnormality like a drop tine or split tines it will come back next year in the same manor. thats how these deer farms are producing giant freak bucks, they sedate them when their young and damage their antlers and produce non-typical monsters , and of coarse with great nutrition.
Whitetail deer antlers are products of genetics. The deer will maintain a drop tine throughout it's life. However if the deer's antlers are damaged in velvet they will only have it for that growth season. Deer cannot regrow acquired traits. By damaging the antlers on purpose at a young age they would only be damaged that year. By damaging them on purpose they don't change the deer's genetics. Non-Typical deer antlers and drop tines are anomalies however they are genetic anomalies that agian will carry through each year. Though the antlers may get bigger or more massive or even add points the general shape or characteristics of the antlers will remain relatively unchanged. There is a small exception if the deer experiences some sort of severe trauma to the area where the antlers grow that could affect it's ability to grow an antler on that side(s). Or the antler that grows will be small and defective becuase the cells that produce the antlers are damge but this would not create and non-typical record book deer it would produce and an ugly deer. I hope this answers your question and i'm not trying to step on toes just clear up confusion  |