THE INCREDIBLE, INDELIBLE SHED

Cervidae, the deer family, is almost entirely defined by the fact that they have antlers. So why then are these iconic structures lost every year, only to be grown back at a great nutritional cost to the animal? Every male member of the deer family leaves the very symbol of his deerhood somewhere in his home range after the breeding season is over. It is often said that one’s trash is another’s treasure, and so it is with shed antlers. Since we all admire the beautiful antlers that adorn members of the deer family, there is great interest in finding, collecting and displaying them. Sheds are welcomed prizes presented to man and mouse as a reward for a hard day’s effort afield off the beaten path.

All the deer in the world are descendants of the small, deer-like animals, such as Procervulus, that ran around Eurasia a few million years ago. Procervulus not only had large canine tusks, but also primitive forked antlers that may have been shed in some years, but there is evidence they were not shed every year. This means Procervulus was very likely at the point in development of the deer family when real deer began. This might very well be the root of the entire deer family and where antlers, as we know them, were born.

The earliest true deer that consistently shed its antlers appeared about 6 million years ago. There were several varieties,