Although antler shedding may seem pretty cut-and-dry in relation to nutrition, the effects of latitude seem to vary the results of antler shedding. For example, northern deer generally have a shorter and more intense rut. Biologists know the farther north a deer lives from the equator, the narrower the window of antler growth and rut. Because of this compressed timeframe, dominant bucks in the North generally drop their antlers before lower-ranking bucks. The exact cause of this is not fully understood, but most likely results from a rise in testosterone followed by a rapid decline due to a constricted rut. From a survival viewpoint, this makes sense, because bucks in harsh environments must cease all rutting activity if they intend to make it through the winter.

Contrary to northern deer, dominant deer in the South seem to shed their antlers later than subordinate bucks. University of Georgia deer researchers believe the longer and less intense rut, plus the more temperate climate, allows many southern bucks to be in better physical condition than some of their northern cousins. This advantage allows dominant southern bucks to sustain higher levels of testosterone over lower-ranking bucks, thus helping maintain their rank in the male hierarchy by keeping their racks.

The exact physiological cue of antler shedding in deer is complex. In short, decreasing day length signals the testes to lower the levels of testosterone which, in turn, causes the antlers to shed. Antlers are shed when a thin layer of tissue called the abscission layer disconnects the antler from the pedicle. This absorption of bone-to-bone between antler and pedicle is the fastest deterioration of living tissue in the animal kingdom.

Wildlife biologist Kip Adams from the Quality Deer Management Association (www.qdma.com) states, "The final color an antler becomes partly deals with the total time it took the buck to shed his velvet. If the velvet took a long time to shed, the existing blood most likely stained the antler and made it darker. Conversely, if a buck quickly sheds his velvet, the antler would be lighter in color." Most likely, the amount of moisture in the air, combined with oxidation during velvet shedding, determines the antler's final color.