Why some velvet and others not?

[colorado russ]

Is it the antler size that has the bigger bulls keeping their velvet on longer than the smaller racked bulls? It was pointed out on my trail camera pics that 2 bulls were on the camera the same day but like 7 hours apart with the bigger one still in velvet but not the other.[attachment=0]<!-- ia0 -->052.JPG<!-- ia0 -->[/attachment][attachment=1]<!-- ia1 -->049.JPG<!-- ia1 -->[/attachment]

 

[mtnmutt]

I attended a seminar by Chris Roe, a wildlife biologist. He indicated regrowing of antlers has to do with when they dropped their antlers. If the smaller bull dropped his antlers earlier than the larger bull, the smaller bull would start growing antlers earlier than the larger bull. This may account for the larger bull still having his velvet.

Last year for opening week, I saw a spike who still had his velvet. That was a surprise to me.

 

[Bullnuts]

Most spikes I\'ve seen stay in velvet throughout that first year. I don\'t think they have the urge to rub those antlers clean until they start to branch. Not sure why, but maybe it\'s the testosterone level.