True Red Deer Spike

Red deer shed their antlers once a year, after which they regrow. A yearling stag is called a "Spießer" (spike) and is in its "first head." At this age, the animals typically bear an unbranched antler, the characteristic spikes.

After shedding in spring, usually between early April and early May, the growth of the new antler begins immediately. During this growth phase, the antler is covered by the so-called velvet, which supplies the tissue with nutrients. Once the antler is fully developed, the velvet dies off and peels away in tatters. The deer remove this by rubbing their antlers against trees and bushes – a process known as "fegen" (fraying).

Fraying 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," the deer already develop more complex antlers, often as forked antlers (Gabler) or with multiple points, depending on age, predisposition, and habitat.

Specifications:
Original image
Shed, slight gnawing marks