How do antlers and horns help some male mammals gain mating opportunities?

In the context of zoology, antlers and horns play a critical role in sexual selection, a process where specific physical traits grant males greater success in securing mates. These structures help male mammals gain mating opportunities primarily through two mechanisms:1

• Combat and Prowess: Males use antlers and horns as weapons in contests of strength against other males. This stylized fighting, such as interlocking antlers or ramming with horns, allows males to compete for dominance or defend access to females. By winning these encounters, successful males often secure more mating opportunities. This behavior has evolved to minimize lethal injury, favoring "wrestling" or display over goring.1234
• Display and Signaling: Beyond physical combat, these structures serve as important display organs during courtship. Larger antlers or horns are often perceived as indicators of health, genetic fitness, and age, making the possessor more attractive to potential mates. In some species, the size of these structures directly parallels the male's position in the dominance hierarchy, which helps minimize unnecessary fighting by signaling status to rivals.53