Via Flickr:
Copyright © 2011 Deborah M. Zajac. All Rights Reserved.

A Buck’s antlers are covered in a skin called Velvet. They grow and shed one set of antlers a year which start as two little buds. They are filled with blood and the nerves are quite sensitive during this period. When mating begins the antlers have shrunk, the Elk has rubbed all or most of the velvet off, and they become hard making them effective weapons for combat in rutting season.
This particular Buck has 26 females in his Harem. That is quite large. I believe the average is 20 females.

Point Reyes National Seashore, California, Tule Elk Preserve,

Nikon D300s| Nikkor 80-200mm 155mm @ f8| 1/1000sec| ISO 800| Manual Mode| Tripod|