ORIGINAL: _Dan
Like Iasked before, why are they always in the same general area? Why is it never by the bases or on the tines? Why is it always on mature deer? Sorry to say that it has nothing to do with fly larva, sticks, fence, etc. It has everything to do with how the antler grows and how the vessles dry up.
Deer have ears that twitch, They twitch their ears often to shu away flys and such. Since the base of the antler is closer to the ears, insects have a hard time doing anything there because they are constantly shued away by those twitching ears.
Now if an insect were to land on the antler farther away from those twitching ears it wouldn't be so concerned by them. Where would the farthest place be to get away from those ears?
Ever watch a deer in the summer (antler growing season), they are constantly being harassed by insects. Watch those ears. Always swinging around to chase them away.