Chronology of Antler Velvet Shedding in Captive Louisiana White-Tailed Deer

Little research has been conducted on the effects of photoperiod, birth date, or other factors on the antler cycle of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the southeastern United States. Consequently, we studied the chronology of antler velvet shedding of 59 captive Louisiana whit-tailed bucks from 1986 to 1991 to test For effects of age, birth date, photoperiod, antler characteristics, and body mass. The age of bucks when they shed velvet from their first antler sets was negatively related to birth date (r 2 =0.82; P<0.001; age in days=582.42−0.78 [julian birth date])