deformed racks
 

i have my trail cam out and i've been getting about atleast 3 or 4 different bucks that are kinda screwed up.

2have 4 points on 1 side then a 10 or 12" stub on the other side
1 has 2 tines goin straight up on one side and a big mess in the middle
and the other side has a few points also
but then i also have 1 buck i think that is normal a small 8.

the biggest is the 8 with the 4 on one side then a stubb and i think one of its kids has the same thing but a smaller rack.
there properly fed the guy feeds them corn in summer and winter when no one hunts and i've put out some homemade minerals out there

any idea whats making them grow like this i'll post some pics later. there are a couple in the trail camera posts.thanks

RE: deformed racks
 

Sounds like it is genetic. Several years ago on my property I had a few very similar bucks as you do. I shot every one I could that had the one side stub, didn't matter how big they were,and in the last 3 years I havn't seen any like that.

RE: deformed racks
 

It sounds like one deer that is messed up is passing his genes on to many deer. Or it could be that a few deer in the area are passing these bad genes. Pretty much the only way to get rid of the bad genes are to shoot the deer. Just invite some friends over and tell them to shoot only the bucks with screwed up antlers. Then hoprfully you will see some bettergenes in your bucks.

RE: deformed racks
 

Sounds like freezer filler to me since most guys would pass on such a buck. That's ok, I'll take a gimme like that anytime.

RE: deformed racks
 

heres a couple of them
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=172233319/PictureID=3681204868/a=103591650_103591650/t_=103591650
http://www2.snapfish.com/slideshow/AlbumID=172233319/PictureID=3681218424/a=103591650_103591650/t_=103591650
still have to go check the camera for recent pics.

RE: deformed racks
 

Most deer with one messed up antler will grow normal antlers the next year.

It can happen due to injury or sickness during the growing period.

Lots of times bucks lose an eye in the rut the year before then have a messed up antler on that side the next year.

Genetic defect would be the last and least likely of any of these scenarios to be the cause of the things that you are seeing.

I've watched a deer for 5 years that is huge. Last year we were planning on taking him (he was 7.5) but when we found him he had a huge spike on one side. We let him walk. This year we have had a ton of rain, and he is bigger than he has ever been. You would have never known he had a huge spike on one side last year.

RE: deformed racks
 

I think the only 2 causes of this that I know of is malnutrition and just plain ole' bad genes.

RE: deformed racks
 

my best friend has the same problem one side is fine the outher just drops if I was you I would shoot as many of them as can

RE: deformed racks
 

An easy way to figure out if it is genetic is to let them go one year and then kill them the next if they have it again.

RE: deformed racks
 

spoken like a true high fence eficianado.