John Szabo, age 9, of Sayreville, N.J., for his question:

HOW LONG DO DEER ANTLERS TAKE TO GROW?

As a rule, the handsome stag loses his proud antlers in early spring. By March they have fallen to the ground.  But in a very short while, the little bumps on his forehead get ready to grow a new set. The growing antlers are covered with a thin layer of flesh and hairy skin that feels like velvet. The flesh has blood vessels to feed the bony antler material inside.

The new crown continues to grow all through the summer. When the autumn leaves are ready to fall, the deer is ready to scrape off the velvety covering from his newly finished antlers.

The male deer takes six months or more to grow his antlers, and each year he usually adds an extra prong to the branching crown. Come spring, he sheds the whole thing and starts growing another new crown.