How Elk Grow and Shed Antlers (And Why It Matters for Your Dog)

The Incredible Cycle of Elk Antlers: How They Grow, Shed, and Become Safe Chews for Dogs

If you’ve ever seen a bull elk in full antler, it’s hard not to forget. Those massive, branching antlers can weigh up to 40 pounds combined and stretch more than four feet wide. Even more impressive, elk grow a completely new set every single year.

At Chomper Chewz, we only use 100% naturally shed elk antlers for our dog chews. That means no harm to the animal—just pure, renewable “antler power” for your pup. Understanding how elk antlers grow and fall off makes it easier to see why they’re such an incredible, sustainable resource.

In this article, we’ll walk through the full elk antler cycle—growth, velvet, hardening, shedding—and connect it to what ends up in your dog’s chew.

Antlers vs. Horns: Why Elk Antlers Are Naturally Renewable

First, a quick clarification that matters a lot for pet parents.

Antlers (elk, deer, moose) are made of bone. They grow from the skull, harden, and are shed and regrown every year.
Horns (cattle, bighorn sheep, goats) have a bony core covered in keratin and are permanent. They are not shed annually.

Elk are part of the deer family, so their antlers follow a natural yearly cycle: grow, harden, use, and then drop off.

That’s why our chews at Chomper Chewz can be:

100% naturally shed
Cruelty-free
Sustainably foraged from the forest floor

No antlers are taken from live animals—ever.

Step 1: Early Spring – The Start of Antler Growth

Early in the cycle, antlers start as small bony pedicles on the elk’s head.

The antler cycle is driven by day length and hormones, especially testosterone.

Here’s what happens after the fall breeding season (rut):

After the rut, a bull elk’s testosterone levels drop.
During late winter, his old antlers weaken at the base and eventually fall off.
As days get longer in early spring, new antler growth begins.

New antlers start as small, rounded bony nubs on the skull, growing from structures called pedicles. At this stage:

Growth often begins in March–April, depending on region.
Young bulls start a bit later and grow smaller antlers than mature adults.
Nutrition from the previous year (especially protein, calcium, and phosphorus) influences how big and complex the new rack will be.

Step 2: Velvet Stage – Rapid, Living Antler Growth

During summer, velvet-covered antlers grow rapidly, fed by a rich blood supply.

Through late spring and summer, elk antlers are in the velvet stage.

What is “velvet”?

Velvet is a soft, fuzzy skin that covers the growing antlers. It’s a living tissue packed with:

Blood vessels
Nerves
Hair follicles

Velvet delivers oxygen, nutrients, and minerals to the developing bone underneath. This allows antlers to grow at an incredible pace—often up to an inch or more per day at peak growth.

During velvet:

Antlers feel warm because of heavy blood flow.
The bone is still soft and spongy.
Damage to velvet can cause permanent deformities in that year’s antlers.

This stage is energy-intensive, so elk rely on rich summer forage to support both body maintenance and antler growth.

Step 3: Hardening – From Soft Bone to Solid Antler

By mid to late summer (often July through early August), antlers reach near full size and begin to harden.

Three key changes happen:

Mineralization: Calcium and phosphorus are deposited into the bone, turning it into a dense, solid structure.
Reduced blood flow: As growth finishes, blood supply to the velvet slows and eventually stops.
Velvet dries: The velvet tissue dries out, shrinks, and starts to crack.

Underneath the velvet is the hard, familiar antler bone—nature’s version of a powerful, durable chew material.

This is the same dense bone structure that makes naturally shed elk antlers:

Long-lasting for dogs
Highly resistant to aggressive chewing
Rich in minerals like calcium and phosphorus

Step 4: Shedding Velvet – Getting Ready for the Rut

As the cycle continues, antlers loosen and the bases where they attach become exposed.

Once antlers are fully formed and hardened, the elk no longer needs velvet. As blood flow cuts off, the velvet dries, peels, and begins to slough off.

During this stage (usually late August to early September):

Bulls rub their antlers on trees, shrubs, and logs to strip away the dead velvet.
Velvet hangs in strips and eventually falls off or is rubbed completely clean.
Freshly exposed antlers can look dark or stained from residual blood and tree sap.

By the time the rut begins, bulls have clean, polished antlers ready for one main purpose: breeding season competition.

Step 5: How Elk Use Their Antlers

After the rut, antlers detach naturally at the base, leaving a visible pedicle on the elk’s head.

Antlers are much more than decoration. During the rut, bulls use them for:

Display: Large, symmetrical antlers signal strength and good genetics to both rivals and cows.
Establishing dominance: Bulls lock antlers and push, twist, and wrestle to decide who controls a harem of cows.
Intimidation: Thrashing brush or clashing antlers can be enough to make a weaker bull back down.

Most fights are ritualized and about strength and stamina more than stabbing, but the antlers are still serious tools.

Step 6: Shedding Antlers – Why They Eventually Fall Off

Once the antler falls, it rests on the ground until it’s found by wildlife—or sustainably collected for chews.

After the rut, typically from late fall into winter, the cycle begins again.

Testosterone levels drop.
This triggers changes in a special tissue layer at the base of the antler called the abscission line.
Bone at the base is slowly reabsorbed and weakened, forming a natural break point.

When the connection gets weak enough, a simple shake, bump, or just the weight of the antler causes it to fall off. This is how elk “shed” their antlers.

These shed antlers are what we later find as naturally fallen antlers—the kind we use for Chomper Chewz.

Why shedding is an advantage

Shedding antlers may sound inefficient, but it actually helps elk:

Save energy: Carrying heavy antlers through winter would cost precious calories.
Avoid injury: Big antlers can get caught in snow, brush, or tight spaces.
Reset each year: New antlers reflect the bull’s current health, nutrition, and age—an honest signal of fitness.

From Forest Floor to Dog Chew: Why Naturally Shed Antlers Are Ideal

Once antlers hit the ground, nature and responsible foragers take over.

In the wild:

Rodents and other animals gnaw on sheds for minerals.
Sun, weather, and fungi slowly break them down.

For us at Chomper Chewz, the process looks different—and much more controlled:

Locate sheds: We forage antlers directly from the forest floor after elk naturally shed them.
Sort and grade: Antlers are inspected, graded, and cut into the right sizes for different dogs.
Hand-finish and smooth edges: This helps reduce sharp points and create safer, dog-ready chews.
Match to dog size and chewing style: We offer whole and split elk antler chews in small, medium, large, and jumbo so you can choose the right match for your dog.

Because elk antlers are:

Naturally hard and dense
Odor-free and mess-free
Packed with essential minerals

…they make an excellent single-ingredient alternative to rawhide, especially for power chewers.

If you’re ready to see the difference, explore our Medium Split Elk Antler Chew or browse all elk antler chews.

Antlers, Age, and Health: What Size Tells Us

Antler size is influenced by several factors:

Age:
- Yearlings: small spikes or simple forks
- Prime bulls (around 5–9 years old): largest, most impressive racks
- Very old bulls: often smaller or less symmetrical antlers
Nutrition: Poor habitat or bad forage years can reduce antler size.
Genetics: Some bulls are simply predisposed to grow larger or more complex antlers.

Because antlers reflect current health and conditions, they’re a good indicator of a well-managed, healthy elk population. When you choose chews made from naturally shed, sustainably sourced antlers, you’re supporting a cycle that respects both the animal and the ecosystem.

Why This Matters for Pet Parents

Understanding how elk grow and shed their antlers helps answer a few key questions:

Is this cruelty-free?
Yes. Our antlers are 100% naturally shed, collected only after elk have naturally dropped them.
Is it sustainable?
Yes. Antlers regrow every year, making them a renewable resource when sourced responsibly.
Is it good for my dog?
Elk antlers are:
- Long-lasting for many moderate to heavy chewers
- Single-ingredient, with no additives or preservatives
- Naturally rich in minerals like calcium and phosphorus

For sizing and safety tips, check out our article on “How long do antler chews last?” and our guide to choosing the best elk antler chew for large dogs in the Latest Articles section.

Give Your Dog the Best of the Elk Antler Cycle

From soft velvet growth in spring to naturally shed antlers in winter, elk go through an incredible yearly cycle. By the time that antler reaches your door in a Chomper Chewz package, it has already played its full role in the wild.

All that’s left is for your dog to enjoy a: