my non typical

[mrbb]

Well here is one of my non typical's, he has a serious issue with the right side of his rack growing down, and not correctly
Its funny as over the yrs now I have had 5 different bucks that grew racks like this on same side, at first I thought it was due to an injury, as one fall I found a right side rack broke off at the skull, had skull plate attached to it when I found it in, early Oct from what I gather was a little sparring that got carried away?
but now I am wondering if its a genetic deal, as pretty strange odds to have so many like this all from just injuries??


http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z457/mrbb1/2004_zps2bec66bc.jpg (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/mrbb1/media/2004_zps2bec66bc.jpg.html)


http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z457/mrbb1/2005_zps7308e072.jpg (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/mrbb1/media/2005_zps7308e072.jpg.html)


http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z457/mrbb1/2007_zps226736d4.jpg (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/mrbb1/media/2007_zps226736d4.jpg.html)


http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z457/mrbb1/2079_zps495e78f8.jpg (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/mrbb1/media/2079_zps495e78f8.jpg.html)

[hortontoter]

The fact being that you have had several deer with this characteristic tells me it is genetics. I've heard for years that an injury causes abnormal antler growth on the side that has been injured.

Here is a little experiment I'm watching this season on my cameras. This little guy showed up last December with a nasty wound from a shotgun slug. He lost his lower leg in late January.
10174

He survived the winter and is sporting antlers this summer. Both sides look very similar thus far. We will watch and see if any abnormal growth appears over this summer.
10175

This photo of him bedded shows his antlers pretty well.
10176

[mrbb]

yea they always say that the oppisite side of the antler from the injury is the side that will ne abnormal
But like I said over the yrs I have had several bucks now that all grew right side antlers that grew just like this, one made it for 3 yrs, it grew to the point that last time I seen it, its antlers looked like they were poking the eyte out on that side, I actually planned to kill it, feeling bad for it
but before hunting season came, it went MIA, I gather a local poacher got it, as its left side was very nice !
But he was at least 4 yrs old, so I guess he could have passed on a bunch of his genes!


I also have this buck, that I think might grow a split antler on the left side, will keep tabs on, but thats another deal here LOl


http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z457/mrbb1/2083_zps17225963.jpg (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/mrbb1/media/2083_zps17225963.jpg.html)

http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z457/mrbb1/Untitled_zps0bc6f4e9.jpg (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/mrbb1/media/Untitled_zps0bc6f4e9.jpg.html)

[mrbb]

here is a close up pic


http://i1190.photobucket.com/albums/z457/mrbb1/nontypical_zps53f8b552.jpg (http://s1190.photobucket.com/user/mrbb1/media/nontypical_zps53f8b552.jpg.html)

[hortontoter]

It looks like the antler socket is on the side rather than the top of the skull. It is interesting to see the abnormal growth of these antlers. I guess if they were all perfect eights hunting them would be less interesting.

[mrbb]

yeah to me that's what I loved the most about hunting deer, you just never knew what would show up, the rack could be huige or not, just never knew!
Its sadly one of the reasons now I don't enjoy it like I used to
as seems like these days where I hunt, there are very very few bucks I don't get to see prior to hunting season, so that feeling of
WHAT will show up, just isn't there like it used to be, here where I hunt for me anymore, or not very often any ways!
maybe , its the number one of the reasons I used to like doing out of state hunts so much, going in cold, and not having a clue what is there!(plus the added challange of finding them)
it was all a surprise when bucks came in, and seeing what they were , adding to the hunt for me!
guess knowing what you have isn't the worse thing to know, but it does take away some for me anymore
but I hate to say it, I love running trail cam's and building food plots, maybe more than hunting anymore!
so its a double edge sword !

[hortontoter]

I never thought of it in that way. But, you are right in some ways. Game cameras have changed my hunting habits in a big way. I used to be happy just to get a decent buck. Now it seems I know almost all the deer that are in the vicinity of my property. Now, only the best bucks get my attention. But, that allows me to study lesser bucks that I would have shot a few years ago. Even though I fail to take a buck most years I get more enjoyment from my time on stand.

Trail cameras has also peaked my wifes interest very much. She understands (somewhat) the reason that I'm drawn to the woods all the time. Every time I arrive home after a hunt she asks me which, if any bucks, that I saw. The only thing she doesn't understand is how I can watch these deer grow and then be able to kill one when the opportunity arises.

For most of us it is the chess game we play with these mature bucks that makes the game so interesting.

[Big_Holla]

That's pretty darn cool if you ask me!! Would really be interesting to see after a few years....

[mrbb]

well Dick, I agree, about the fact that now you know what you have, you seem to make passing on smaller bucks a lot easier, and sure get to see a ton of more natural movements, by allowing smaller bucks to just be watched,
But up here, and sure many places
what kind of kills me is, knowing in summer I have bigger bucks, and then come hunting season, most are gone on me, poached, then I know whats left, and most times there bnot deer I want to kill, thus making my hunting seasons anymore, more of a hope a stray buck shows up I don't know about
think yrs back before I knew what all bucks were in the area, added more excitement for me , now, I sit on stand most hunts just enjoying the day, with very low expectaions of ever killing a buck, of what I want

Bigholla
Yeah,I always like to see the non typicals grow/age
like I said I had one a few yrs back like this guy, and I got to watch him grow to almost 4 yrs, but again sadly, I think if he didn't have gotten killed that yr, he would have been in for a hard life the following yr, as them antlers would have maybe even killed him, growing into its eye socket

back in the 90's, me and a friend that used to feed deer/bears(he didn't hunt) had one that was like this, , but it grew to wrap around both its eyes,and we used to catch it and cut the one antler off, as it blocked the poor guys ability to see where it was going
we always waited till it was gard horded, but felt bad for the poor deer all summer, stumbling about, never really left my buddy's yard much due to it couldn't see where it was going
it lived to be about 6-7 yrs if I recall, but to be honest, it never grew a large rack, maybe 100 inches at most, just never made a larger rack after it was about 2

but was sure cool experience for me!
we believe it got hit by a car in the last winter we seen it!