Bad genetics or some other cause?

[Southern Sportsman]

I've gotten several pictures of these deer, one of them has a decent right side and poor left, the other has a decent left side and no right that I can see. Neither deer is very old, but is this a genetic trait we should try to eliminate? Thanks for suggestions.

 

[Bucket]

I'm no biologist, but the antler traits you are seeing are most likely caused by injuries and not genetics. Furthermore, antler genetics aren't as simple as 8pt father produces 8 pt sons. It has possibly more to do with the does than bucks, so killing a deer b/c of bad "genetics" is certainly not something I would practice. These bucks could very well have normal (and bigger) antlers next year.

 

[Half Rack]

As Bucket stated, most likey an injury of some type.

 

[BSK]

One antler highly malformed is almost always injury-induced rather than genetic (deer do not have one set of genetic codes for their right antler and another for their left antler--just codes for "antlers"). That type of malformation could be caused by a body injury, or more likely, an injury to the antler pedicle.

 

[Southern Sportsman]

Thank you very much, that was what I was wondering. Maybe in a couple of years, I can kill them both and put them together to make one great rack.

 

[Football Hunter]

Thank you very much, that was what I was wondering. Maybe in a couple of years, I can kill them both and put them together to make one great rack.

Good idea :)