If you remember, last Fridays post, I started out telling about the deer who come and eat the hay that the goats spill on the ground.
Well, this morning when Rick went out to feed the goats he found a perfect set of white tail deer antlers laying on the ground. They were right next to each other, we have never found a set before. There must have been some frisky eating going on! I believed they shed their antlers by rubbing against a tree, so I decided to do a little research. I was wrong. It seems they rub against the tree in summer when they are scrapping off the velvet coating that covers the newly formed antlers.
White Tail bucks shed their antlers every winter and grow a new set during spring and summer. Hunting for these shed anters has become a hobby, called “shed hunting”. I even found a website that sells DVD directions goshedhunting.com or antleritis.com check out their fun video.
The antlers are fast growing, they start out as cartilage that rapidly calcifies. They are covered with a coating that looks like brown velvet. This coating carries blood that supplies nutrients to the rapidly growing bone. When the antler reaches full size the velvet is rubbed off. It is really intriguing, you can read about it on Wikipedia.
Now the burning question, “What do you think we should use them for?” There was youtube video on how to make a pipe. Yes, well my suggestions are leaning in other directions, possibly hand towel holders? Do you have any ideas?
Trinket Hangers– or better yet, dish cloth hangers!
Yes! They can drip dry. We will need to figure out away for them to be over the sink.
Hand-woven basket handles?! I like the towel holder idea too.
Beautiful, that is a great idea!
implants for goats that were born with no horns.
Funny! They may be a better design in combination with the woven wire fences. The goat horns push through but can’t get back out. These deer antlers would not go through the wire.
Be sure to store them in a rodent-free area. Mice, voles, etc. like to gnaw on them!
I saw a booth at the Lady Lions craft show in Kettle Falls in December that used antlers with greenery for wreaths and over-the-door garlands. Very cool!
Thanks for the advice!
Give ’em to me and I will make you a sculpture…..
Sounds good, especially if we can deliver in person!
Sheds are hard to find! Must be a good omen for 2013! I second the basket(s) suggestion!
I love good omens!