Pair of real red deer spikes

Red deer shed their antlers once a year, after which new antlers grow. Yearling stags are called "spikers" (Spießer) and are in their so-called "first head" stage. At this age, the animals typically bear unbranched antlers, the characteristic spikes.

After shedding in spring, usually between early April and early May, the growth of new antlers begins immediately. During this growth phase, the antlers are covered by a velvety skin, which supplies the tissue with nutrients. As soon as the antlers are fully formed, the velvet dies off and peels away in strips. The deer remove this by rubbing their antlers against trees and bushes – a process known as "freging" or "polishing."

Freging also changes the color of the antlers: initially light, they darken due to plant sap and resins. In the following year, i.e., in the "second head" stage, the stags develop more complex antlers, often as forked antlers or with multiple points, depending on age, genetics, and habitat.

Specifications:
Original image
Not shed, cut
Price per pair