Antlers’ Growth Is Dependant Upon Healthy Minerals

Posted by Peter Douglas on October 28th, 2019

In deer management, supplemental minerals have become a staple. While hunters may use minerals for several reasons, one of the chief reasons is encouraging herd health and increase antler size.

Using deer mineral of good quality is an economical and simple way of promoting antler growth and overall wellness of the deer herd. A properly developed deer mineral will by itself show noticeable results in antler development in the first year of use. It is vital to know when searching for products in the market that Minerals, Vitamins, Protein all are key elements in the growth of an antler. Salt alone won’t grow antlers.       

The most necessary mineral for antlers is phosphorus. Apart from being a healthy mineral for antler growth, phosphorus is also the most expensive mineral. It is so important that before any amount of calcium can be used by a deer for its growth, a certain amount of phosphorus has to be available in that particular deer’s diet. And before phosphorous and calcium can mingle, a good amount of Vitamin D has to be there in that buck’s diet. Interaction between vitamins and minerals is crucial for the healthy growth of the antler.

While major minerals are necessary for antler, trace vitamins and minerals cannot be ruled out as unimportant. For instance, apart from being good for growth and tissue health, a lack of trace mineral copper in a deer’s diet may lead to cases of Chronic Wasting Disease. It is crucial to note that vitamins, major minerals, and trace minerals, all are necessary for antler growth. Deer needs these in its diet on a daily basis.

A few of these are:

Selenium is significant for reproduction. It works together with Vitamin E to help a deer deal with stress. Selenium is also necessary for the proper growth of an antler.

Zinc helps in stimulating an antler’s immune system along with helping it deal with hard weather conditions such as extreme cold and snow, heat, and drought.

Manganese is a trace mineral popular for an antler’s normal reproduction and fetal development.

While it is known that mineral consumption takes place mainly from February to September, it is advisable that hunters feed their herds all year long. Basing one mineral site per 30 acres close to a water hole, food plot, or a trail won’t only provide an inventory of your stock and your neighbor’s stock, but also be beneficial for the entire herd.




Author’s Bio: The author is a blogger. This article is about the importance of minerals for antlers.