Antlers GONE

[Fletch]

So I shot what I thought was a good doe this morning.

 

 

When I got up to her I found out it was a he. Both antlers are gone at the pedicle. Black and ooze. Any ideas as I’ve never seen this.

 

 

 

 

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[WNYBuckHunter]

Wow, thats the earliest Ive ever seen a buck shed its antlers.

[dbHunterNY]

had a 2.5 yr old buck taken on the co-op last year that had shed it's antlers.  hunter thought it was a big doe.  that was the 2nd weekend in December though.  stress or injury can make them shed early. don't know if you process your own, but was it injured at all?

[BizCT]

Maybe an underlying health issue caused the buck to lose them early? Or maybe caught up in some fencing or something?

[The_Real_TCIII]

Did you get the hide off? I wonder if you’ll find an injury


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[turkeyfeathers]

You kicked them off to tag it as doe.....you bastid !   Just kidding off course 

I'm going with ran into car and stress  caused the drop  

I shot a BB years ago thinking doe. Walked up to "her"  flipped "her" over to field dress and yelled "ballz, literally"

[silent death]

The big bucks figured out a way to survive lol ....didn't work the way he planned I guess

Edited November 22, 2017 by silent death

[Fletch]

Is that how they look a while after dropping? I’ve seen broken ones and fresh shed which are bright red/ pink.

 

And otherwise it looks healthy and acted healthy till it got lead poisoning of course. I have not skinned it but no injuries stood out and belly was full. It does have a bunch of ticks but that is usual. It will go to the processor in a couple days. See what he says.




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Edited November 22, 2017 by Fletch

[wooly]

Sure looks like an infection or injury induced "shed" to me.

Get out there and find them babies! WOOOHOOO!!!

[Fletch]

15 minutes ago, wooly said:

Sure looks like an infection or injury induced "shed" to me.

Get out there and find them babies! WOOOHOOO!!!

Oh hell no Wooly I've looked for years and never found a shed! You're a dang legend to me!!

[Zuke]

I’d have to think underlying health issue. Infection within the head somewhere.

[wooly]

4 minutes ago, Fletch said:

Oh hell no Wooly I've looked for years and never found a shed! You're a dang legend to me!!

This would make a great story and cool set of antlers to call your first!

Hang onto that skull. You never know what will turn up down the road.

[stubborn1VT]

I wondered if he got too close to Wooly.  Couldn't wait!

[Freytown]

Hunted yesterday in AR unit and had a spike buck walk by me. He only had one horn (5-6 inches), so some are starting to drop I guess. 

[mowin]

Shot many "does" over the yrs during the late MZ.  None have ever looked like that. They are fairly clean with no black goop. 

I'm saying injury caused the early loss. 

[Fletch]

That’s my thought. Never seen them black and oozy. I went over the deer again and looks fine. It’s still hanging so we will see what’s up when the butcher gets it


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[Renegade Hunter]

Any word on an injury? My buddy shot a deer a few years ago that he thought was a large doe. Turned out it was a buck that had already shed. Had a big slice through its brisket. Looked just like the one you posted. 

Edited November 29, 2017 by Renegade Hunter

[NFA-ADK]

I would have to agree with infection or disease along with the stress it caused. 

[crappyice]

How do we feel about eating steaks from a deer with a black oozing head? Not sure I could trust it (or any processor sayin have at it)


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[Dom]

Is it possible this happened durring the growth period?Got tangled in a fence?Just some ideas that I can think of

[eagle rider]

I’d call a whitetail farm and ask them what they think. Seems early for a shed to start. Sounds more to me that something is wrong with that deer.


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[Fletch]

Deer had no injuries or anything that would indicate anything was wrong with it during butchering. I’m eating it so if I disappear from here. It’s been fun!!


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[mowin]

53 minutes ago, Fletch said:

Deer had no injuries or anything that would indicate anything was wrong with it during butchering. I’m eating it so if I disappear from here. It’s been fun!!


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Thanks for the update.  Enjoy the good eats...

[Grizz1219]

On 11/22/2017 at 2:46 PM, Biz-R-OWorld said:

Maybe an underlying health issue caused the buck to lose them early? Or maybe caught up in some fencing or something?

Thinking definitely something health wise caused this... Far to early for any buck to drop his horns without being caused by his health... 

[LET EM GROW]

I took a a buck that shed its antlers early mistaking it for a doe on last weekend of Gun years back. But he had taken a slug across the top of his back across length wise from one side to the other. From opening weekend, (I know the guy) Poor deer. Damn near laid wide open. Probably did him a favor, could tell he was acting weird.