Dean Parisian
Well-Known Member
I belong to several organizations that are doing some good for the resources I enjoy. One of them is the Mule Deer Foundation. The following is an article I pulled out of a MDF magazine some time ago and thought I would share with friends at TNDEER.
The following was taken from an edition of MULE DEER FOUNDATION magazine. Auther unknown.
In 1894, W. Blasius reported that a female European roe deer grew a four-inch antler after a piece of window glass was accidently driven into her scalp!
Injuries to a buck's body, such as a broken leg bone can also cause a non-typical rack the next antler cycle. Years ago, biologists in Texas started noticing that deer observed in the field with leg injuries had a high frequency of abnormal antlers. They recorded 32 bucks killed by hunters with abnormal antlers and 22 of them had an injured leg. In the late 1960's, researchers amputated the lower portion of the rear legs of four whitetails and found that all of them developed non-typical antlers on the opposite side. It seems that injuries to the front legs result in atypical antler growth on the same side, but injuries to a rear leg affect antlers on the opposite side. This cross-over effect is called a "contralateral effect" (opposite side) and may be related to the fact that the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body and vice versa.
The GENETIC CONNECTION
There is no one "antler gene" that dictates how big or what shape a buck's antlers will be. Relationships between genes and physical characteristics are rarely that simple. There are many genes that act together to determine the shape, size, and mass of a bucks antlers. The expression of these genes is dependent on his ability to find a lot of groceries and survive to a ripe old age. Many odd points and abnormalities are the result of the animals genotype and genetic blueprint. We know that antler characteristics are inherited from the buck's parents, because a non-typical buck will produce a disproportionate number of male offspring with non-typical points. Also, females contribute half the genetic blueprint for antler quality to their offspring even though they don't grow antlers themselves. As a result, females that had non-typical fathers carry non-typical antler genes and may consistently produce buck fawns that will be non-typicals regardless who the father was.
Genetically-based non-typical points or characteristics can be seen year after year in an individual. A buck may have a small bump on the outside of his back tine at three years old, then a three-inch kicker in the same spot the next year and a four-inch kicker on each side at five years old. Palmated antlers which are "webbed" like a moose, are a good example of a characteristic that is genetically inherited in whitetails. Likewise, drop tines that descend out of the lower part of the beam cleanly with no sign of trauma are most likely of genetic origin. Most drop tines that you see are there because the buck had the genetic programming for them and lived long enough to prove it.
HORMONE PROBLEMS
The growth and shedding of antlers is incredibly complicated and involves an intricate coordination between several hormones and other blood compounds (not just testosterone) that stimulate and regulate antler growth. Interruptions in this complex annual cycle of hormones can cause strange things in the appearance of the antlers.
Non-typical antlers due to hormone problems are usually noticed when bucks stay in velvet and sometimes never shed their antlers. These non-typical gnarly velvet bucks are called "cactus bucks" because it looks lie they have a cactus on their head. Cactus bucks can be the result of many different hormonal conditions. Rarely, a deer can be a hermaphrodite, which means they posess an ovary on one side and an internal testicle on the other. These animals are NOT capable of reproducing and may not be able to have a normal antler cycle because of the presence of testosterone and estrogen. In some cases, true antlered does are mistaken for non-typical bucks because the lack of testosterone results in their antlers stay9ing in velvet and not being shed so they look like cactus bucks.
Sometimes the sex organs of males do not develop normally and do not produce the correct mixture or timing of hormones to have a normal antler cycle. One such condition is "Cryptorchid" bucks with internal testicles that never descended into the scrotum. Another situation that has been documented in several places is "Hypogonadal" bucks that have testicles descended into the scrotum, but never developed larger than a pea. Even when bucks produce all the right hormones, something else might interrupt the hormones from doing what they are supposed to do. These "endocrine disruptors" are compounds that can interrupt the hormone cycle either by reducing the production of hormones or by interfering with hormone receptors in the antler velvet. Endocrine receptors can from naturally occurring plants, herbicides, pesticides, and other chemicals and usually result in antlers staying in velvet. One class of hormone-like compounds that migh effect antlers in phytoestrogens, which are found in plants and similar to estrogen.
DISEASES and PARASITES
Various parasites and viruses can play a minor role in the occurrence of non-typical antlers by directly affecting the growing antlers. Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) can result in incomplete hardening of the antler tips because of damage to the velvets blood vessels before antler growth is complete. Hemorrhaging in the testicles can also affect their normal hormone production. The disease strikes deer in late July to August, which corresponds to the last stages of antler growth. Brainworm in elk clogs the carotid arteries that supply blood to the head and results in gnarly and malformed antlers. Ticks can attach themselves t velvet antlers and may cause misshapen antlers if they disturb the velvet and disrupt the flow of blood or minerals to the growing antlers.
ODDBALLS and FREAKS
Humans undoubtedly have always had a fascination of unusual antlers starting at a time when they brought their venison back to a cave. Oddball antlers provide a welcome break from the boring regularity of normal typical deer, whether it is a small subtle point where it doesn't belong that can hang a ring or an absolute freak. As we have seen, there are many possible causes of antlers growing in strange and wonderful ways, but injuries and genetics account for a vast majority of those we see in the field. There is normally some evidence of trauma to the animal or antler when injury is the cause. Oddities and freaks are normally not tolerated by nature and are quickly removed from the gene pool. However, an enormous non-typical buck is certainly not at a disadvantage when it comes to showing off for the ladies and battling for dominance. The fact that so many genetically-induced antler traits persist in nature tells me that female deer also find them intriguing and attractive. It is natural to become a bit numb to the parade of normal, typica antlers marching past us on social media, TV, YouTube, and websites. I feel like I am watching a screen saver sometimes. The unusual configurations will always make us stop and look closer because as William Cowper wrote in 1785, "Variety is the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavors".
The following was taken from an edition of MULE DEER FOUNDATION magazine. Auther unknown.
In 1894, W. Blasius reported that a female European roe deer grew a four-inch antler after a piece of window glass was accidently driven into her scalp!
Injuries to a buck's body, such as a broken leg bone can also cause a non-typical rack the next antler cycle. Years ago, biologists in Texas started noticing that deer observed in the field with leg injuries had a high frequency of abnormal antlers. They recorded 32 bucks killed by hunters with abnormal antlers and 22 of them had an injured leg. In the late 1960's, researchers amputated the lower portion of the rear legs of four whitetails and found that all of them developed non-typical antlers on the opposite side. It seems that injuries to the front legs result in atypical antler growth on the same side, but injuries to a rear leg affect antlers on the opposite side. This cross-over effect is called a "contralateral effect" (opposite side) and may be related to the fact that the right side of the brain controls the left side of the body and vice versa.
The GENETIC CONNECTION
There is no one "antler gene" that dictates how big or what shape a buck's antlers will be. Relationships between genes and physical characteristics are rarely that simple. There are many genes that act together to determine the shape, size, and mass of a bucks antlers. The expression of these genes is dependent on his ability to find a lot of groceries and survive to a ripe old age. Many odd points and abnormalities are the result of the animals genotype and genetic blueprint. We know that antler characteristics are inherited from the buck's parents, because a non-typical buck will produce a disproportionate number of male offspring with non-typical points. Also, females contribute half the genetic blueprint for antler quality to their offspring even though they don't grow antlers themselves. As a result, females that had non-typical fathers carry non-typical antler genes and may consistently produce buck fawns that will be non-typicals regardless who the father was.
Genetically-based non-typical points or characteristics can be seen year after year in an individual. A buck may have a small bump on the outside of his back tine at three years old, then a three-inch kicker in the same spot the next year and a four-inch kicker on each side at five years old. Palmated antlers which are "webbed" like a moose, are a good example of a characteristic that is genetically inherited in whitetails. Likewise, drop tines that descend out of the lower part of the beam cleanly with no sign of trauma are most likely of genetic origin. Most drop tines that you see are there because the buck had the genetic programming for them and lived long enough to prove it.
HORMONE PROBLEMS
The growth and shedding of antlers is incredibly complicated and involves an intricate coordination between several hormones and other blood compounds (not just testosterone) that stimulate and regulate antler growth. Interruptions in this complex annual cycle of hormones can cause strange things in the appearance of the antlers.
Non-typical antlers due to hormone problems are usually noticed when bucks stay in velvet and sometimes never shed their antlers. These non-typical gnarly velvet bucks are called "cactus bucks" because it looks lie they have a cactus on their head. Cactus bucks can be the result of many different hormonal conditions. Rarely, a deer can be a hermaphrodite, which means they posess an ovary on one side and an internal testicle on the other. These animals are NOT capable of reproducing and may not be able to have a normal antler cycle because of the presence of testosterone and estrogen. In some cases, true antlered does are mistaken for non-typical bucks because the lack of testosterone results in their antlers stay9ing in velvet and not being shed so they look like cactus bucks.
Sometimes the sex organs of males do not develop normally and do not produce the correct mixture or timing of hormones to have a normal antler cycle. One such condition is "Cryptorchid" bucks with internal testicles that never descended into the scrotum. Another situation that has been documented in several places is "Hypogonadal" bucks that have testicles descended into the scrotum, but never developed larger than a pea. Even when bucks produce all the right hormones, something else might interrupt the hormones from doing what they are supposed to do. These "endocrine disruptors" are compounds that can interrupt the hormone cycle either by reducing the production of hormones or by interfering with hormone receptors in the antler velvet. Endocrine receptors can from naturally occurring plants, herbicides, pesticides, and other chemicals and usually result in antlers staying in velvet. One class of hormone-like compounds that migh effect antlers in phytoestrogens, which are found in plants and similar to estrogen.
DISEASES and PARASITES
Various parasites and viruses can play a minor role in the occurrence of non-typical antlers by directly affecting the growing antlers. Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease (EHD) can result in incomplete hardening of the antler tips because of damage to the velvets blood vessels before antler growth is complete. Hemorrhaging in the testicles can also affect their normal hormone production. The disease strikes deer in late July to August, which corresponds to the last stages of antler growth. Brainworm in elk clogs the carotid arteries that supply blood to the head and results in gnarly and malformed antlers. Ticks can attach themselves t velvet antlers and may cause misshapen antlers if they disturb the velvet and disrupt the flow of blood or minerals to the growing antlers.
ODDBALLS and FREAKS
Humans undoubtedly have always had a fascination of unusual antlers starting at a time when they brought their venison back to a cave. Oddball antlers provide a welcome break from the boring regularity of normal typical deer, whether it is a small subtle point where it doesn't belong that can hang a ring or an absolute freak. As we have seen, there are many possible causes of antlers growing in strange and wonderful ways, but injuries and genetics account for a vast majority of those we see in the field. There is normally some evidence of trauma to the animal or antler when injury is the cause. Oddities and freaks are normally not tolerated by nature and are quickly removed from the gene pool. However, an enormous non-typical buck is certainly not at a disadvantage when it comes to showing off for the ladies and battling for dominance. The fact that so many genetically-induced antler traits persist in nature tells me that female deer also find them intriguing and attractive. It is natural to become a bit numb to the parade of normal, typica antlers marching past us on social media, TV, YouTube, and websites. I feel like I am watching a screen saver sometimes. The unusual configurations will always make us stop and look closer because as William Cowper wrote in 1785, "Variety is the very spice of life, that gives it all its flavors".
