I have a couple questions but let me tell the story about it first . Last year I saw a buck on the weekend after season ended with one antler I am guessing that had he had a matching other side he would have been in the 180s I just assumed that he had knocked it off fighting. then about 3 or 4 weeks ago I think I saw him again about 4 miles from where I saw him last year , missing the same side but the antlers are still growing so I cant say how identical his antler is to last year. I am assuming it is the same buck . now for the questions , Has anyone seen any situations where a deer would never grow an antler again ?I just assumed it would grow back again next year. and if a deer were only growing one antler would you think the other one would grow larger than it would have otherwise?
questions about mule deer with one antler
- Thread starter joens
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Umpqua Hunter
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If antlers are damaged in the velvet, the same damage will often reoccur in following years. We have a blacktail photographed with game cams over a period of a few years that broke his antler off one year (we can see it hanging to the side in some pics that year), then the same lack of an antler occurred the following year.
wy-tex
Veteran member
If he damaged the pedicle beyond natural repair it may not grow back. Genetically he could only have one. That would be an interesting skull to see.
any pics? I had a big buck last year that had at least 180 on one side and the other side was no bigger than my hand. like has been said it must have been damaged at one time, its crazy how it stay that way after shed time and regrowth. its like I becomes part of the genetics, retains some sort of memory of sorts, it would be interesting to know why.
Hilltop
Veteran member
I have seen several examples like that where the animal had an injury on a leg opposite the weird or short antler.
gonhunting247
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- Jan 21, 2014
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Usually opposite antler on a rear leg injury and same side on a front leg injury if I remember right. As stated above, a badly damaged broken antler especially at the base, can cause a permanent deforming. The problem could just be genetic also. Always interesting to get first hand experience with that type of thing, that's for sure!
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Pedicle damage. They can break them off or fubar them fighting or shedding. Sometimes it can be some sort of blood flow issue (it'll cause acorns as well and make those spots really fragile). Typically won't be genetic, birth defect possibly. Genetically they're whatever the good side expresses, which causes me to scratch my head on the UT mgmt hunts.
SGM
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mallardsx2
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Thanks for the replies . I really was not wanting to use my tag for him but he is in the area where I like to hunt so we will see how season goes. have not had a camera or phone any of the times I have seen him .
gypsumreaper
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- Mar 13, 2014
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I've also heard of a deer only has one testicle the opposite antler will grow larger than the side with a testicle. No data to back that up just what I've heard in the past. Also heard that deer with no testicles will grow way bigger and not shed velvet due to not having the testosterone drive to breed. But once again I've only heard that no experience whatsoever
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sheephunter
Active Member
I've read a couple interesting theories along these lines. One theory was that if a buck had testicular damage (like from jumping a fence) that could cause him to not grown an antler on one or another side. I also read once a writer (I don't remember who) had a theory that some huge bucks were asexual and would stay way up in the high country instead of coming down and rutting; that's why nobody ever sees them 'til they show up on winter range, and you never see young bucks that look similar (antler-wise), as these bucks are not breeding and passing on any genes.
I have no idea if these are proven theories (especially the second one) but they are interesting thoughts.
My brother and I found a deer a lot like what you're describing. We were going to let this buck go, until I couldn't see a clean break on the missing antler. I was 95% sure it wasn't a broken antler, so my brother shot him. I would imagine this deer was like this his whole life.
gypsumreaper
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gypsumreaper
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Buddy said he wasn't sure if it was a growth, tumor or he had been shot. I just figured it was good for this post as that one antler on that side is completely messed up.
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Nate K
New Member
I have killed two mature whitetail bucks in Tennessee that had unbalanced racks that I believe were due to injuries. I shot an 8 point (hopefully the pictures work) that had a bullet lodged in the right side of his neck covered in gristle and the left side of his rack was about 30% smaller than the right. I shot a 9 point last fall that had a bullet in his left ham and a smaller right side of his rack. The 9 point was less noticeable due to a broken tine on the bigger side. Both wounds appeared to be a couple of years old when I harvested these deer.
Oh, and 8 point and 9 point are eastern counts!
Oh, and 8 point and 9 point are eastern counts!
haha I was looking for a spit bucket and a stream of chew spewing out.Nah. just eatin sunflower seeds.
shootbrownelk
Veteran member
I shot a mulie buck some years back that was huge bodied, I saw he had antlers, but didn't get a clear look because he was in a thick greasewood patch. I shot him and when I got to him I saw that he had antlers still in velvet and they had the look of cactus...points everywhere but only the size of my hand. He has well over 20 points and upon field dressing him I noticed that his nuts were about the size of 2 peas. If memory serves, he was quite tender and tasty. He lived next to an irrigated alfalfa field.