Deer Science Archives - Page 26 of 44

17 08, 2016

Deer Racks: What Causes a Weak-Side Antler?

admin2020-06-10T09:16:46-04:00August 17th, 2016|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management, Deer Science|1 Comment

Our friend Danny from Maryland sent this picture and asked this question: Is there any chance this deer’s antlers will eventually even out? Or will he most likely always have an uneven rack based off his genes? He doesn’t appear to have suffered any injury to cause this. The vast majority of whitetail bucks grow even or largely symmetrical and typical antlers. Although the buck in this picture may not appear hurt now, there is a strong likelihood that he sustained some injury earlier this year. “I think the buck in the picture was injured,” says QDMA biologist Kip Adams. “His left antler looks normal, just minus a brow tine. His right antler has a good-sized brow and then 3 stubby [...]

12 07, 2016

Buck with Massive Stomach Growth (Hernia)

admin2020-06-10T09:16:47-04:00July 12th, 2016|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Deer Management, Deer Science|2 Comments

Hi Mike: I found your website and see that you have a lot of knowledge about deer. I'm not a hunter, but love the herd of 9 deer that frequent our yard on most days. I saw on your blog a post about a deer with a massive growth. I am sending this email and pictures of a huge growth that is on one of our bucks. Have you ever seen anything like this? As you can see it is a huge growth/tumor/abscess hanging from his abdominal area. I am hoping you can give me an idea of what this might be. It has been there for about 3 weeks...started out much smaller and over the weeks has continued to grow. He is still [...]

7 07, 2016

Deer with Huge Growth: What is This Thing?

admin2020-06-10T09:16:47-04:00July 7th, 2016|Big Deer Stories, BigDeer, Deer Science|2 Comments

Blogger Danny sent this image he got recently, and here’s what he said about it: "I sent this picture to a local game warden who sent it to one of his biologist friends who thinks it is a cutaneous fibroma caused by a virus. I looked back on your blog at a similar post, and that is what you said was the real name for the growths or warts can appear on deer. "But I’m not 100% certain that this isn’t her eyeball bulging. I remember last fall seeing a doe in the front yard that appeared to have a swollen eyeball, but nothing near the size of what it is now. That thing is huge! "But I guess it’s possible [...]

5 07, 2016

3 Tips to Age Summer Bucks

admin2020-06-10T09:16:47-04:00July 5th, 2016|BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management, Deer Science|Comments Off on 3 Tips to Age Summer Bucks

From Cody: I recently put up my trail cam and captured a picture of a deer I have never seen before. I have more than one photo of this deer so I know he is continuously coming back into my area. I can’t seem to age him and was wondering what your thoughts were? I am from the great hunting state of Iowa and also wondering if this is a normal size for a buck this time of the year. Whitetail bucks can be tricky to judge in late spring and summer when they are happy, lazy, fat and stress-free, especially in high-producing agricultural areas with great nutrition. Many people overestimate the age of a buck now. I ran [...]

20 06, 2016

June 20, 2016: Strawberry Moon & Summer Solstice

admin2020-06-10T09:16:47-04:00June 20th, 2016|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management, Deer Science|Comments Off on June 20, 2016: Strawberry Moon & Summer Solstice

We talk a lot about moon phases on BIG DEER Blog because I believe the moons in the fall especially the full one in November sparks big bucks to move and hence is a great week to hunt. My ongoing interest in the moon turned up this: Today’s full moon, which coincides with the summer solstice, is a rare and once-in-a-lifetime event. The last time the full moon lined up with the longest day of the year was back in June 1967. Today there will be approximately 17 hours of light. This Full Strawberry Moon gets its name from the Algonquin tribes, who took it as a signal to gather strawberries and ripening fruit. As far as fish and game [...]