These conditions meant the deer would quickly regain any weight loss from winter stress. As the days grew longer, in late April or early May, increased daylight triggered a gland at the base of the deer's skull. This caused the buttons on the buck's skull to produce a fleshy, bulb-type growth resembling fuzzy, fat thumbs. As June approached, the main beam began to sprout branches of the same material. The buck was growing his antlers for fall.
Antlers start as living tissue.
They are soft, consisting of veins and arteries that carry blood to fuel growth. The tissue is very delicate. Growth continues into late August or early September. The size and number of points, or tines, on the rack depends on several factors, such as how well the buck wintered and how much nutritious food he ate while in velvet affect growth. Heredity also plays a part in rack development.