Mutant? Or Super Hero?

Reminds me of a three point I shot once, one horn with three points and a hair covered knob where the other horn shoulda been.

In early September, my trail camera captured a pic of his goofy looking North Carolina cousin.

very often deformed heads are caused by a leg injury (don't know why that is though) so a deer that has injured it's left leg will grow a derormed right antler. also if they take a heavy knock on the pedicle it will cause problems and they will always be deformed from then on.

steve

yeah i agree. or a part of some cynical government experiment.

Needs to be culled. Once a spike, always a spike.

skinewmexico, I think many whitetail experts will disagree with you on that one. I know a couple of folks who work at a deer pen who will most definately disagree with you.

Generally, a mature spike will either always be a spike, or if points develop in the next year or so, they won't be "such a much". When I say "mature", I mean 2-1/2 years and older. Texas Parks & Wildlife has observed mature spikes, and yes, some develop the common style of antlers, but they're not impressive as compared to bucks with normal development.

The pictured deer of this thread, however, are not what are usually seen as mature spikes. I've always heard of the effects of injuries on future antler growth, but have seen only one. It had a nice five-point antler on the left side, and a foot-high conical shaped point on the right and a "forest" of small spikes around the base. There was a scar of unknown origin on the left lower shoulder.

Which brings up the argument of taking them to get the genes out of the pool. In my case of farm country, sucking it up and culling this year for hopes of trophys a few years from now is worth it. In the case of public land, there are enough weekend warriors shooting the first thing they see to probably pass on this.

joebogey
Do ya reckon they're full brothers by different mothers?
Maybe their daddy was a hobo and rode the rails.

I told my 13 year old daughter that I'd mount him if she busted him tomorrow morning. He needs to leave the herd and he'll make a very odd wallhanger.

I've got her set up in a great place this year. Last year was her first and she took two does. Now if I can get her onto a buck, I think I'll have her hooked.

Click to expand...

I sure hope your daughter got him!

I don't agree with the idea that he needs to be taken out. There are way too many reports that reveal a deer does not grow into his potential for at least three years. After that third year is when you truly see what a buck is going to be.

Spikes are not always spikes. Freakish deer are not always freakish deer. Great 2.5 yr. old bucks don't always go on to become great 4.5 yr. old bucks.

Bottom line is that if you want to kill him or let your daughter kill him, that's great. Just do it for the right reason and don't use the excuse that he needs to be taken out of the herd. He is a young deer that still may have great potential.

If the freak antlers are a result of injury, the genetics are unaffected. That's about like thinking that if dogs' tails are cut off, generation after generation, they'll eventually "learn" to be born without tails.

If I had not shot this one, wonder what his antlers would look like next year?

I bet they would have maintained some of the character, but with a lot more mass. Probably a wall hanger as he already had good spread for a young buck.