? for a Gamewarden

[Codie]

Reffering to the definition of a "buck deer" from the TPWD hunting guide, it defines it as any deer the has "hardened antler coming through the skin".

What do they define as "hardened antler"?

Is a velvet antler considered a "hardened antler"?

I would think it would be, but if it is, can not figure out why they would place an emphesis on the antler being a "hardened antler" since there is no other antler out there other than one that is either in velvet or out of velvet (and either one is hardened). The fact that they put the word "hardened" in there could make one believe that there is another type of antler (like a undhardened antler) to take into consideration, which to my knowledge there is not. Why would they not just say a buck is any deer with an antler protruding through the skin?


We have a young buck (we won't shoot him this year), but as a hypothetical - he has 1 spike horn about 3" long that is still in full velvet on his left side and nothing (not even a bump under the skin) on the right side. Common sense tells me that this would be tagged as a buck, but the way it is worded in the TPWD book could almost convince me that he should be tagged with an antlerless tag.

Thanks in advance!

[bwssr]

a buck, in A.R. counties he is legal

[Todd-ty729]

Use a turkey tag!

Maybe a red drum tag if you are out of turkey tags!








I was kidding about the drum tag. Everyone knows they are only found on fishing licenses.

[Mac...]

That's a great question!!!
Never even thought about it like that before.
Either way, I've never seen an in velvet buck durring the season.

[Codie]

Use a turkey tag!

Maybe a red drum tag if you are out of turkey tags!








I was kidding about the drum tag. Everyone knows they are only found on fishing licenses.

I thought about a Sandhill Crane Tag

[Todd-ty729]

I thought about a Sandhill Crane Tag

Great minds think alike!

[Todd-ty729]

Codie, I'd bet if you asked 5 game wardens the same question you may get 6 different answers!

[bowhntrmatt]

A velvet covered antler is not a hardened antler.

[Texastaxi]

I "think" it's refering to button bucks, that don't have horn that breaks the skin ... those can be shot as antlerless.

If you followed the velvet logic, you could shoot a big knarly cactus buck as an antlerless.

[Codie]

I "think" it's refering to button bucks, that don't have horn that breaks the skin ... those can be shot as antlerless.

If you followed the velvet logic, you could shoot a big knarly cactus buck as an antlerless.

I realize that is what they are reffereing to, but they could clarify it by just saying any "antler protruding through the skin" because saying it has to be a "hardened antler" just makes me wonder if there is such thing as a "unhardened antler".

[BrianL]

Is velvet skin? I would guess no.

[take'emdown]

Velvet is skin up to a point, the antler isnt even bone up until a certain point, it is cartilidge and an abudance of blood. In fact deer velvet is used medicinaly for several types of things.

[Todd-ty729]

In fact deer velvet is used medicinaly for several types of things.

Buck Fever?

[flywise]

I realize that is what they are reffereing to, but they could clarify it by just saying any "antler protruding through the skin" because saying it has to be a "hardened antler" just makes me wonder if there is such thing as a "unhardened antler".

I shot a stag nontypical buck a couple years ago and his horns were soft and in velvet in december. Maybe that qualifies as unhardened antler

[Branham]

Antlers are made of true bone that is fed by blood which is carried in the outer velvet covering. Velvet antlers are hot to the touch, with brushy hair and a waxy feeling coating.

Deer need both protein and minerals to grow their antlers. This is in contrast to horned animals whose horns are made of keratin (like fingernails), who do not shed, and who need only protein to grow their horns optimally. Appreciate too that whitetails must grow a new set of antlers every year, while animals who have horns only need to add gradually to their existing horns.