mama I believe 308 has it nailed. On one of our places in MS several years ago we had an outbreak of just the exact same thing as is pictured. Our biologist assured me the meat was ok and that it was actually a sign or more common of herds in an overgrown state which for SURE is the case in many parts of MS. They sure are FUGLY but don't seem to bother the deer and aren't harmful too us. Think of them as "deerwarts".

Might wanna start layin the does low for a couple of years,
RA