Antler Index was made by me to help show the stages of antler growth by year. I hope you find this helpful!
[[Anter Index was created (& drawn) my Clary of Lord of the Herds, and is copeywrite to her. Please don't touch it. Thanks]]
TINE COUNT is decided # on BOTH Antlers. So 10 tines is 5 per antler. 12, six, etc.
At 1 year, antlers start as little fur-covered bumps at the top of the skull.
By the time the pricket is two years, the antlers have grown out a little.
When the pricket is 3, he'd have 6 tines, all fairly short.
Four years is the year where major beam growth (the long part of the antler) grows & starts to curve slighty.
Another tine is grown by 5, giving about 8 tines. Beams begin to curve more.
At 6 years, the antlers have 1 year left to grow, the beams have continued to curve outwards and the brow tines have noticably curved.
Most antlers stop growing by 7 years, the antler beams are fully curved, and the 10 tines have also curved more and grown larger. Most stags have the 10 tines, but it may take 'till 8 or 9 for some to reach this stage.
Some stag's antlers will grow more tines, giving them 12+. These are called royals and are found between the ages of 7+, although stags can become royals at the ages between 5 & 6, it isn't common. Once a Royal, always a Royal. Royals are uncommon, not rare, but uncommon. Royals are usually stronger and 'fitter' than others, as their antlers show.
Please remember that these are typical happenings and that each deer is different so there can be minor differences, like tine entery. Also keep in mind that antler growth is affected by diet (nutrients) so Lowland stags will more likely have bigger antlers than Highland because of the nutrient content of food.
