What Causes Non-Typical Antlers?

[bullmack]

The old wife explanation (which I do not subscribe to) is testicle damage. Next is genetic and last is damage to the antler bud. My wife and I took pictures of this elk Monday at our cabin in interior BC.

 

[chaparrito]

I know from experience that damage to a horn bud or insufficient de-horning techniques in goats and cattle will result in the regrowth of a deformed horn. Makes some sense that a damaged antler bud might develop odd shaped antlers as well.
This is just a guess, and probably a bad one; as horns and antlers are very different structures.

 

[Lee Barner]

in white tail deer it is usually attributed to age and lack of some vital minerals/protein etc. never saw a non-typical elk before. neat. lee

 

[mtgianni]

I hunted a canyon in Idaho over a 15 year span, that almost every buck had a outlying tine on the left side. Not long maybe 2" or so. I attribute it to genetics, but I also believe in the testicular/hormonal damage and damage to the budding antler.

 

[Big Cholla]

Great Guess

I know from experience that damage to a horn bud or insufficient de-horning techniques in goats and cattle will result in the regrowth of a deformed horn. Makes some sense that a damaged antler bud might develop odd shaped antlers as well.
This is just a guess, and probably a bad one; as horns and antlers are very different structures.

One of my horse Vets in Colorado and I got to talking about this very subject and he opined that is probably a combination of factors, the main one being over rubbing of the antler buds resulting in damage. Combine that with too much testosterone and high protein food sources and the non standard rack will develop. ....

 

[walkinghorse]

This deer was just killed in Tennessee. Possible world record non-typical, and according to the article only 3 years old.

Johnson City Press:
Possible world record deer killed in Tennessee

 

[roarindan]

I'm bettin its caused by the "food plots".

 

[chud333]

I had always heard it was due to an injury to the deer's body on the opposite side of the affected antler. But then what about a Non typical on both sides of the rack?
Must be genetic but i really do not know.
At the newest Cabelas in Noblesville just up the road from us, they
have a full body mount of the number two Boone and Crockett
non Typical taken by a Hunter. 307 inches of antler and its a beauty.
He has brow tines that are 15 and 16 inches tall. Taken by a hunter
in 2012 here in Indiana with a shotgun. i believe 37 scoreable points.
A buck most hunters will only dream of seeing on the hoof.


Chuck

 

[ky wonder]

there have been female deer that have been taken with some odd racks

so I am going with genetics

I would guess it also happens in elk

 

[bullmack]

Besides the elk in my original post I've seen several elk with non-typical antlers. Here's another.

 

[shouldazagged]

This deer was just killed in Tennessee. Possible world record non-typical, and according to the article only 3 years old.

Johnson City Press:
Possible world record deer killed in Tennessee

I suspect he found some Cialis.

 

[retiredbadge8091]

I shot a Mulie once that had a four point rack (western count) on one side and a twisted spike on the other side. He also had one leg that had previously been shot up and heeled approximately 4 inches shorter than the other legs.

The DWR officer at the deer checking station, and other folks I talked to later said deer that suffer a leg injury will grow this type of deformed antler.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

I don't know the answer. Except for over 60 years of hunting I have taken one Mulie buck with a fork on one side & and 6 on the other. All spikes.

 

[rwsmith]

I think that......

.....any of the explanations can be valid except for the crushed testicles. Damage, congenital defect, malnutrition, you name it. Except for the crushed testicle thing.

 

[vonn]

A number of factors but genetics have to be number one in my opinion. Hunted the same lease for years and we definitely have two main types,one is tall,narrow spread with long tines and the other is wide with short tines. The tall bucks are generally larger and heavier bodied deer than the wide spread bucks. We don't really see many non-typicals. Pretty sure they get plenty of everything they need food wise.

 

[Onomea]

Ya know, them young bucks, some of 'em anyway, romp around the forest floor ingesting all sorts of magic mushrooms and stuff like that. Later, it catches up with 'em...

Just sayin'...