Fallow deer

1 Jan 2022

These antlers belong to fallow deer and grow during the rut, from the Latin rugire ‘to roar’, namely the mating season when aggressive males compete for mates.

The antlers are branched extensions of the skull that are shed and re-grown annually. They are composed of bone but also connective tissue, nerves and a blood supply. The rut is triggered by shortening day lengths, with the season for fallow deer in Ireland peaking in October.