gamestalker
member
Yesterday one of my Son's killed a mule deer that had a very deformed antler. The deer was a spike, and it had two very unusual things going on. First of all it was still in full velvet, which is something I've never seen this time of year in the 40 + years of hunting. But the most shocking thing was the non typical antler that was pressed hard against his head and followed all the way around and under his jaw. I've seen some pictures simular to this one before, but not pressed hard against his head and jaw. I'm betting this little spike was having a very tough time surviving because he could barely open his mouth, and his skull had a depression where the antler was pushing into it. I would doubt he would have survived another year, and especially once his rack got bigger.
A good friend of mine came back from a Wyoming antelope hunt some years back. He had taken pictures of a dozen or so mounts the rancher had of some mule deer and antelope with very non typical, non typical racks. One of the very large antelope had a horn that had grown across his mouth in such a way it almost completely covered his mouth. He almost had no hair on one side of his face, because he had to lay his head side ways to the ground to eat. And a mule deer with a rack that looked like a tumble weed. I'm guessing it probably had 70 or 80 pencile like branches.
I've always wondered what causes such strange antler growth, and I've heard it can sometimes be caused by an injury when they are starting to get their first growth? A G&F biologist also said genetics play a big part in it too.
A good friend of mine came back from a Wyoming antelope hunt some years back. He had taken pictures of a dozen or so mounts the rancher had of some mule deer and antelope with very non typical, non typical racks. One of the very large antelope had a horn that had grown across his mouth in such a way it almost completely covered his mouth. He almost had no hair on one side of his face, because he had to lay his head side ways to the ground to eat. And a mule deer with a rack that looked like a tumble weed. I'm guessing it probably had 70 or 80 pencile like branches.
I've always wondered what causes such strange antler growth, and I've heard it can sometimes be caused by an injury when they are starting to get their first growth? A G&F biologist also said genetics play a big part in it too.
