Deer Antler Question?

[weekender]

I have heard to same about cows, but don't have any close to home to compare movement. Here is what happens when you have too much time on your hands, (I should be out hunting poachers who shot on my land today but I did see 13 deer this morning). I called NC Wildlife and asked for a biologist. They connected me to Walter (Deet) James who was very nice. We had a discussion about antler color and also the tremendous number of mites we have been seeing on our deer. First he said the mites were normal and did not affect the meat of the deer. As for color he thought diet and rubbing but wasn't really sure. We hung up. Five minutes later he calls me back and has found this on the web;

http://www.whitetailstewards.com/art...characters.htm

down near the middle of the page is what these experts said about antler color

[Ace1st]

Im no expert..........but I do know that a few years ago we killed a large 8pt with Black Antlers. He was killed in an area that had been control burned the year before. The antlers were smutty/ashy looking just like the trees. So I think it does have something to do with what they are rubbing too.