Oddball deer even more odd now
susie
Member Posts: 7,694 ✭✭✭✭
Caught this deer on camera early this year while still in velvet with what looked like a "third" antler. When I paid closer attention it looked as if he was blind in his right eye. I began to wonder if he grew the third antler as a defense to his one remaining eye.
Now, in mid-December he appears to have already shed his two main antlers. All of the other antlered deer I'm catching on camera are still have their antlers. They usually don't start shedding until late January, early February. It may be that due to the heft of his antlers he sheds and grows earlier than most. Or the other possibility is that there are two blind in one eye deer with an eye protector.....??? The first pic is deer with blind right eye, no main antlers and the "third" antler still in place over the remaining eye. Second pic is velvet off and antlers looking very weathered at the beginning of November. Last two are of him still in velvet earlier this year.
I'm going to walk the farm and nearby areas to see if I can find his sheds. Would be great to have them.
Comments
That eye sure is messed up. Mother Nature can do strange things if that is what happened.
Think the 3rd antler is on the GOOD EYE side/ the good eye glows in the camera.
Not sure how to upload a picture, but will give it a first try.
Watch the bottom of your screen to open the picture.
Bucks lose their antlers when their testosterone drops after the breeding cycle ends each year. Could be that this apparently old buck has a low level of testosterone and shed his antlers early? I have seen (although rare) younger bucks shed their antlers by mid December. I have also seen some bucks carry their antlers into late March.
Um, yeah, 3rd antler possibly grew to protect the eye is what I opined in my OP. Lol at the pic. We have plenty of little ones around so I'm thinking that isn't the issue.
I bet you're right. His neck is already very thin. A few of the younger bucks appear to be working on growing some hefty racks. More than likely his offspring. One four pointer already has a base that looks massive for so few points. Shape of his rack is also trending to the same shape.
Interesting.
Here's the tree he demolished:
Rubs on trees that size or larger always make me a little more interested in what's making them.