deformed racks

[BSK]

I don't know what happened last year, but I'm seeing more bucks with one or both antlers severely deformed than I've ever seen in a single season.

 

[Jcalder]

I'm starting to think we have a gene that causes it. Third buck this year I'm probably 6-7 years that's jacked up, and they weren't the same deer

 

[megalomaniac]

You had a bully buck last year and got a bunch of pedicle injuries. Did you notice more bucks with broken racks last year than normal?

 

[FourWFarm]

I have noticed this as well. More spikes and one horns this year.

 

[BSK]

You had a bully buck last year and got a bunch of pedicle injuries. Did you notice more bucks with broken racks last year than normal?

Yes.

 

[megalomaniac]

Yes.

As you know, bucks have different personalities... some are lovers, some are fighters. Gotta remove those fighters ASAP. I've got one that has taken over a 3.5ac plot and the bedding area beside it that is beating up every buck that comes near. I'm killing him tomorrow when conditions are right, just hope he hasn't done too much damage already.

 

[Carlos Viagra]

I've explained this several times already guys.

When does carrying fawns bed down on steep hill sides, their offspring's racks tend to grow more on one side than the other.
Also it's exacerbated during the peak moon phases. (This is known as Bernoulli's principle and can be found in the ID-10 T section of his book.) Basically its caused by the gravitational pull of the moon, combined with the steep hill sides.

Hang around Brian, and pay close attention...there's lots more to learn here.

 

[peytoncreekhunter]

I've explained this several times already guys.

When does carrying fawns bed down on steep hill sides, their offspring's racks tend to grow more on one side than the other.
Also it's exacerbated during the peak moon phases. (This is known as Bernoulli's principle and can be found in the ID-10 T section of his book.) Basically its caused by the gravitational pull of the moon, combined with the steep hill sides.

Hang around Brian, and pay close attention...there's lots more to learn here.

So it's kinda like hillbillies having one leg longer than the other because of walking and standing along the hillsides...

 

[ttf909]

My kin were all from ocoee mountains . G.g gp fell out of one of his hay fields this one time . Thats why we all have one leg shorter than the other . Polk County pride right there.

 

[TboneD]

So it's kinda like hillbillies having one leg longer than the other because of walking and standing along the hillsides...

Everybody knows that only happens with cows.

 

[backyardtndeer]

You had a bully buck last year and got a bunch of pedicle injuries. Did you notice more bucks with broken racks last year than normal?

Likely this is the reason.

 

[Hawk103161]

I don't know what happened last year, but I'm seeing more bucks with one or both antlers severely deformed than I've ever seen in a single season.

I totally agree. I have pictures of three that are messed up.

 

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

As you know, bucks have different personalities... some are lovers, some are fighters. Gotta remove those fighters ASAP. I've got one that has taken over a 3.5ac plot and the bedding area beside it that is beating up every buck that comes near. I'm killing him tomorrow when conditions are right, just hope he hasn't done too much damage already.

How have you been able to pinpoint him as the culprit? Just curious.

 

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

I don't know what happened last year, but I'm seeing more bucks with one or both antlers severely deformed than I've ever seen in a single season.

When the season is over and you have time please share some pics. I would be curious to see if it is clearly pedicle damage or body injury.

 

[BSK]

Hang around Brian, and pay close attention...there's lots more to learn here.

Thank you sir! ;)

 

[BSK]

Here's two with malformed right sides. The buck in the 2nd video was around last year and was one of our first bucks with a truly malformed antler.

 

[TNGRIZZLY_]

This is a great post, I am still learning something new.

 

[Lost Lake]

I can't tell you how many bucks we've killed on our farm that resemble this over the last 25 years. We had a reprieve for about seven years, and we've started to see these again.

This guy was old, and dressed over 200. Got him last year in rifle.

 

[BSK]

Very cool. Thanks Lost Lake.

 

[LenS]

I don't know what happened last year, but I'm seeing more bucks with one or both antlers severely deformed than I've ever seen in a single season.

So I saw this one chasing does yesterday. What would cause his rack to look like this?

 

[megalomaniac]

How have you been able to pinpoint him as the culprit? Just curious.

Based on observing 10s of thousands of deer over the years, combined with the behavior of this buck and they way other bucks reacted to him on trail cam photos, plus the early scarring on his back (FIGHTING in mid Oct, not just sparring), then the disappearance of most older bucks on this camera location.

When I killed him, he was even more beat up than photos just a few days before. Plus he had already broken off part of his R main beam.

In fact, the only reason I was able to kill him was he came marching stiff legged and bowed up from 250 yards away to beat up the poor little 2.5yo that was feeding under my stand. After he made the first charge at the younger buck and stopped, I let him have it at 50 yards.

 

[Outdoor Enthusiast]

Based on observing 10s of thousands of deer over the years, combined with the behavior of this buck and they way other bucks reacted to him on trail cam photos, plus the early scarring on his back (FIGHTING in mid Oct, not just sparring), then the disappearance of most older bucks on this camera location.

When I killed him, he was even more beat up than photos just a few days before. Plus he had already broken off part of his R main beam.

In fact, the only reason I was able to kill him was he came marching stiff legged and bowed up from 250 yards away to beat up the poor little 2.5yo that was feeding under my stand. After he made the first charge at the younger buck and stopped, I let him have it at 50 yards.

That's very interesting. Thanks for sharing.

 

[JCDEERMAN]

You had a bully buck last year and got a bunch of pedicle injuries. Did you notice more bucks with broken racks last year than normal?

I believe this is correct and was worried about that going into this year. Last year, for whatever reason, was extremely intense - I saw more bucks with 1/2 racks and broken off tines/beams than I can ever recall. The majority of the very few bucks we have on camera so far this year have a nice side and a "dink" side. More than likely pedicle damage.

 

[BSK]

So I saw this one chasing does yesterday. What would cause his rack to look like this?

Three primary causes exist for deformed antlers: 1) injury to the growing antler in velvet, 2) body injuries, 3) pedicle damage from an antler being knocked off before it is ready to fall off. I also suspect skull damage due to fighting can play a role, although that has not been documented in the scientific literature as well as the other three causes.

Severe deformation of both antlers like on your buck is almost certainly due to pedicle damage. I have one like that. He first showed up last year as a 3 1/2 year-old. Crazy, stubby spikes on both sides (first picture below). This year, we call him "Satan" for his huge spikes (second picture).

 

[Ski]

Here's two with malformed right sides. The buck in the 2nd video was around last year and was one of our first bucks with a truly malformed antler.

I've got a buck in Ohio that could be twins with the buck in your first video.

 

[Falconi]

I heard about the rear leg, opposite antler deformation from my neighbor the other day. He shot the deer depicted in the How Old is Goofy thread. That deer had a rear leg injury so that might have been the reason for Goofy's deformation.

Edit: Source of above quote.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

This really isn't an antler deformity, but he will get your attention when you see him!! His skull plate appears to be broken but it isn't floppy so i am thinking it may be healing back this way. I have watched him a few times and you can see where the skull plate that the antler is connected to has moved significantly.

 

[Jcalder]

11 point. Might be a 6" spread.

 

[BSK]

That's a crazy one Jcalder!

 

[BSK]

You had a bully buck last year and got a bunch of pedicle injuries. Did you notice more bucks with broken racks last year than normal?

This could be our "bully" buck. He's already got a busted up rack (several broken off points) and he just walks around with a really bad attitude.