Elk Antler Growth

[PaBone]

I'm curious how far along the antler growth is on western elk compared to elk in the East. Here's a picture from the other day of a Pennsylvania
elk. Anyone seeing any velvet bulls of late.

 

[Marble]

This was on May 4th. California Rooosevelt

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[insanelupus]

Spotted about a dozen Rocky Mountain elk yesterday, still a small spike bull packing hard horn, though they were pretty small.

 

[Indian Summer]

Western Wyoming 2 days ago.

 

[Buckshot85]

I’m guessing plenty of rain for good forage will help?

 

[Pony Soldier]

Usually the young bulls will look like that at this time and will grow up to be a small six or a five. I don't see many big bulls anymore. They just don't live that long.

I remember when people didn't try to kill every bull that we would see some nice herd bulls in the making by mid-June. Now I usually just see the little rag horns hanging around with mama.

I was quite surprised when the neighbor sent me a picture of a young six point with last years horns still attached in late April.

Many years ago I killed a 4x5 bull still in velvet the day after thanksgiving. The teeth showed he should have been a spike. There appears to be some variety in what they do.

 

[wakedye]

This is from may 20 in Utah

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[IDElkmagnet]

This is a bull that shed 3 months before this pic. June 17th

 

[SaltyUte]

Taken 06/24 on the Wasatch Back.