These tines continue to grow longer as new tines are formed. It takes four months for the antlers to be fully formed. The final size of the antlers or rack depends on the age of the deer. A yearling buck develops two long tines without any branching. Older deer grow sets of antlers with branching tines.
Most deer develop their largest antlers between the ages of four and six years.
An old deer's antlers are smaller than they were when he was in his prime. A typical rack of a mature buck has eight points or tines with four tines on each antler. White-tailed deer with such large racks are quite rare as these are the deer the hunters prize most. All male deer do not grow the same size antlers. The size of the antlers is determined both by diet and heredity.