British Columbia CORE Hunting Practice Exam

What are annuli in relation to deer antlers?

1. They indicate periods of growth

2. They are used for mating rituals

3. They represent the shedding periods

4. They measure the thickness of the antler

The correct answer is: They indicate periods of growth

Annuli are rings or markings that appear on deer antlers, and they indicate periods of growth. Each annulus corresponds to a specific year in which the antler grew, reflecting the age of the deer. As deer age, they typically produce antlers with more annuli, which allows hunters and biologists to estimate the age of the animal. This information is crucial for wildlife management, helping in understanding population dynamics and ensuring sustainable hunting practices. The other options do not accurately describe the function of annuli. Mating rituals are more closely tied to behaviors and displays rather than the physical characteristics of the antlers. While deer do shed their antlers, the annuli themselves do not represent these shedding periods but rather the growth periods of the antlers. Lastly, while the thickness of the antler can vary, the annuli are not a direct method for measuring thickness but serve primarily as indicators of age.