Elk Antlers

Asymmetrical Antler Growth

It’s becoming more difficult every year to find elk with symmetrical antlers. There really is no such thing as perfect symmetry in antler growth. However, the distinct difference in right side versus left side is significant today. If you happen to find a nearly perfect, symmetrical set of elk antlers, well then you’ve found a real trophy.

It seems the left side (from an elk’s point of view) is the better antler of the two. This doesn’t always hold true. It can be either side and often is.

What has caused asymmetrical antler growth in Elk? I’d like to ask a wildlife biologist that question. If you are such a person please send us a message at JRLear@Elkheaven.com

My brother Gary captured this bull in September 2002. I was behind him about 50 yards, cow calling when this bull walked right past him hiding behind a large boulder. The elk spooked just a little from the sound of his digital camera saving an image to disk. He ran up this little hill and looked back to try and locate what made that funny sound. His antlers have good length for a young bull but they are very asymmetrical. He looks to be a 4x4 with some antler damage. I wonder if his antler growth is environmental or genetic. I’d like to think his long tines mean he will be a big elk one day. That would be genetic.

This other elk photo I took while calling for my brother. I was on a game trail a little way up a steep ridge. This elk was a mature 6x6 but something happened when he was growing his antlers. His right side is perfect and very nice. While his left side is damaged or stunted in some way. This was a relatively young bull. Maybe 6 years old. You can tell by his large body and thick neck. This picture was also taken in September 2002 deep in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. My brother and I had just come off the ridge where we found evidence of elk beds. On the edge of an aspen grove that just “looked like a great place for elk” I gave out a cow call. Sure enough this guy answers from his bedded position about 75 yards away. He couldn’t see us and we couldn’t see him. After a few more pleading cow calls he decided to check us out. My brother was in front of me about 50 yards ready for a picture. This elk walked within 5 feet of him. All that separated them was a pine tree. The elk stood there and bugled just feet away from him. He said the sound was deafening at that range. The bull eventually passed by, still looking for that cow – me. He peaked from around a tree and I froze. Notice how smart bulls will always stop short, behind a tree, or face you head on? It’s not easy getting this close to a big bull. It’s even more difficult taking a nice photo of them. He is a magnificent bull. It’s times like this that make it worth all those hiking miles, getting up early in the morning, staying out late and drinking filtered water from the creek. Too bad those moments only last a few minutes. I just wish we had more time and the mating season lasted longer. For all the work we put into this the season has a very short peak. Makes me look forward to next year though. Seeing these same elk with different, and hopefully bigger, antlers.

Of all the elk we saw this year 50% had asymmetrical antlers. As far as we could tell. Some were nearly perfect while others made you look twice and wonder what had happened to them. Is antler growth a product of their environment or genetic? It’s a valid question that deserves an answer. If it is environmental then are we to blame? We’ll be out looking for these antlers and searching for the answer in April 2003. Hoping to get an up close and personal look at their shed antlers. If we’re lucky we’ll find one.