The Causes of Dark Deer Antlers

There are six factors that are responsible for " chocolate " antlers.

1. Buck age. The older more dominant bucks make many more rubs on trees than younger bucks, therefore their antlers tend to be darker.

2. Bark colouration of the predominant rubbing trees in the region, ie pine tree sap.

3. Genetics. Some strains of bucks have light coloured racks in their DNA while others have dark.

4. Time of year. Early in the fall, "new" antlers are darker and later in the season. Antlers that have been exposed to the sun and light longer are bleached out, especially in open habitats.

5. Habitat has a lot to do with it. Bucks that live in the thick dark timber as against open areas with ample sunlight.

6. Velvet shedding. When the bucks velvet peels off the antlers, blood stains the antlers.

Ground Blind Within a Natural Blind.

I've completed the setup of my ground blind for the Ontario fall bow season. The shooting lanes are cut and the blinds brushed in. Three and a half months until opening day, lots of time  for the deer to get use to the blind.

Setting Up A Ground Blind For The Fall Bow Deer Hunt

I recently purchased a new Ameristep Backstrap hub blind. Features are rugged hub wall design, 9 shoot through mesh window openings, quiet toggle window closures, carbon enhanced  Shadowguard interior, covered in Realtree AP camouflage. Dimensions 65"H x 63" W X 65" D. I am going to set it up today( 06/2/13) in my deer hunting area in order for the deer to get accustom to it.

I found this site for the blind in March and marked it with the GPS. There is a well traveled deer trail just 20 yards to the north and several rubs in the surrounding area. This spot is in heavy cover and I had to clear an area to set up the blind. The next job is to clear some shooting lanes and clear a path to enter and exit the site.