Moose drop (shed) their antlers early each winter. They are able to use the muscles in their nose so as to not get water in their nostrils when they pull up aquatic plants with their shovels (the lower part of the antler) to eat. The shovel is also thicker and can be carved on both sides. The upper part of the antler is called the palm. Every antler is different. Even a set of antlers from the same animal will be different.