Martie sent this crazy image and asked if I knew what was going on with this buck’s rack.
I ran it by QDMA biologist Kip Adams, who said:
“Hey Mike, those are the biggest drop tines I’ve ever seen on a spike! I know his right antler split but I couldn’t resist referencing a spike with drop tines!
It looks like he injured both his main beams early in the growing season. I’ve seen numerous bucks with a similar injury to one side of his rack, but never to both sides that occurred so low on the antlers. Many times the pooling of blood in the downturned antlers causes them to break and fall off but this guy was lucky to keep them. He’ll have the most unique set of antlers around his area this year, and since the injuries appear to be above the pedicles, he should have a normal set of antlers next year if he survives the hunting season.”
Those big blobs on the beam tips are pooled blood. “Blood will pool in low areas where the circulatory system isn’t removing it as fast as it enters,” adds Dr. Grant Woods. “That’s a unique buck!”
Great to have the comments back up! This is a unique situation. He must have gotten clotheslined by a horizontal branch or something to get both sides injured in the same way (and at the same time I’m guessing). The night image is really interesting…makes the antler look very waterballoon-like.
I have cameras in his core area. Check out my blog for further pictures of the buck.
I have trail cameras in his core area. Look for updates on this buck by going to my blog.
http://nantucketdeer.blogspot.com/
Marty’s the trail cam man in our neck of the woods.
Awesome looking buck. I look forward to seeing him once he’s shed.
A friend shot one with a spike on one side and a big drop on the other within a few miles of this guy.
I’ve also seen similar sheds from that area
got the open comments up and running again guys; been trying to fight spammers…for now let’s start talking again!