Pair of real red deer spikes

Red deer shed their antlers once a year, after which they regrow. A "spiker" refers to a one-year-old stag that is in its so-called first head. At this age, the animals typically wear an unbranched antler, the typical spikes.

After shedding in spring, usually between early April and early May, the growth of the new antlers begins immediately. During this growth phase, the antlers are covered by the so-called velvet, which supplies the tissue with nutrients. Once the antlers are fully developed, the velvet dies and peels off in shreds. The deer remove these by rubbing their antlers against trees and shrubs – a process known as "freging".

Freging also changes the color of the antlers: initially light, they darken due to plant saps and resins. In the following year, i.e., in the second head, the deer develop more strongly formed antlers, often as forked antlers or with multiple tines, depending on age, predisposition, and habitat.

Specifications:
Original image
Not shed, cut
Price per pair