Many antler peculiarities such as rack shape, tine length and configuration, and other specific features, are unquestionably hereditary. But skeletal injury, or direct injury to the growing antler, can produce abnormal antler formations. Ozoga said those formations shouldn't be confused with malformations caused by poor nutrition, old age or poor genetics. He said genetically or nutritionally controlled antler abnormalities show on both beams. A one-sided antler oddity usually signifies an injury.
Good nutrition is required for button-buck fawns to grow large pedicels.
Often, the larger the pedicel, the larger the antlers will be at a later age. Antlers can grow at the rate of a half-inch per day, but body growth takes precedence over antler growth. He said there are only two possible solutions to poor nutrition. One is to reduce deer numbers to more closely match the capacity of the natural habitat. The other is to improve the habitat by cutting, burning, planting or fertilizing to restore the land's capacity to support healthy deer.