The Antler Cycle: What’s Happening in the Wild Right Now

Out in the wild, the antler cycle is in full swing. Deer, elk, and moose go through one of the most fascinating natural rhythms in the animal kingdom — growing, shedding, and regrowing their antlers year after year.

 

At Mountain Valley Antlers, everything we do starts with this natural process. Right now, depending on the season, antlers are either being shed or already beginning to regrow, and that means fresh, high-quality sheds are making their way to us.

A Yearly Cycle of Growth and Renewal

Antlers are not permanent like horns. Instead, they’re a unique extension of bone that grows at a rapid pace — up to an inch a day during peak season. Each year, after the breeding season ends, deer and elk shed their antlers naturally. This shedding usually happens between late winter and early spring, depending on the species and their environment.


Almost immediately, a new set begins to grow, covered in a soft, fuzzy layer called velvet. This velvet supplies blood and nutrients that help the bone grow strong and healthy. By late summer, the velvet dries and is rubbed off, leaving behind the polished antlers we’re all familiar with.
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Where We Are in the Cycle

Right now, across much of North America, the shedding phase is wrapping up. Bucks, bulls, and moose have dropped their antlers, and new growth is starting. Shed hunters are out walking ridgelines, valleys, and game trails, gathering these naturally discarded antlers before the forest reclaims them.


This is the season when our supply of premium-grade antlers is at its freshest. Each piece we offer at Mountain Valley Antlers began its life as a shed lying in the grass, snow, or dirt — a natural artifact left behind by wildlife. Because we only source freshly shed, A-grade antlers, this time of year is especially important for us and for your dogs.
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Why Antler Quality Depends on Timing

Not all antlers are the same. After an antler falls, the environment begins to affect it. Sun, rain, and soil can discolor or weaken the bone over time. That’s why we only work with premium, freshly shed antlers. They’re the healthiest, densest, and longest-lasting chews for dogs.
Competitors may collect and sell antlers long after they’ve been shed, when they’ve already been weathered and lost nutrients. We don’t settle for that. Our focus is on A-grade quality only, which means your dog gets the safest, strongest, and most natural chew possible.

What This Means for Your Dog

When you give your dog one of our antlers, you’re handing them more than just a chew. You’re giving them part of a natural cycle — a renewable resource that wildlife has left behind.

Nutrient-rich: Fresh antlers are packed with calcium, phosphorus, and trace minerals that support healthy teeth and bones.

Durable and long-lasting: A-grade antlers resist splintering and keep even the toughest chewers occupied.

Sustainably sourced: No animal is ever harmed in the process. Antlers are shed naturally, and we carefully select only the best for your pup.

Looking Ahead in the Season

Over the next few months, those same deer and elk that shed their antlers will be growing new ones. The velvet-covered growth you might see in summertime is one of the fastest bone developments in the animal world. By fall, those antlers will harden and be ready for the rut — the breeding season — before the cycle begins all over again.


This never-ending rhythm of growth, strength, and renewal is what makes antlers so special. Every chew we provide is part of that bigger story — from the wild mountains and valleys where the antlers fall, all the way to your dog’s favorite spot at home.

Bringing the Wild to Your Home

At Mountain Valley Antlers, we’re proud to offer products that connect your dog back to nature. Right now, while fresh sheds are coming in, it’s the perfect time to treat your best friend to a chew that’s authentic, healthy, and built to last.
When you shop with us, you’re not just buying a dog chew — you’re participating in a natural cycle that’s been happening for thousands of years. It’s wild, it’s renewable, and it’s the real deal.

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