My good friend and neighbor shot this buck a few years back during muzzle loader season in central Wi. He was offered good money for this buck and passed on it because of the characteristics of this buck. Can someone explain the holes in the antlers and what may have caused this???

another

another

No idea, but very cool looking.

I've heard that ticks or a fly larva damaged the antler while in velvet.

I believe its where the blood vessels were when the buck was in velvet. And when they dry up, the only thing left is the hollow cavity. Im not entierly sure though.

BTW thats a nice buck!

Taxidermist friend of mine told me that its from some kind of fly larva that gets in there during the velvet stage and leaves those holes.

I have shot bucks with this, and one time my dad shot one that had a stick stuck in the antler, so maybe it's from a stick pokeing into the antler while its still soft.

I highly doubt it is from a fly larva or sticks. I have seen a lot of them and they are always in the same general area on the rack. If it were sticks or fly larva they would be in different spots on different deer, but they aren't.

BowHunter46 has the best explanation.

great guys thansk for the answers, i was thinking it may have been where some tines may have been growing that got damaged during the growing season..he sure is a gorgeous buck none the less. Ill post pics of the entire mount when I get home tonight.