Hole through buck antler….thoughts?

[JH83]

All,

I have sent this to some of the more experienced ‘deer men’ I know and so far no definitive theory. I suspect either a bullet in soft antler, or a parasite. I could find nothing evident in inspection, buck was an old campaigner, in very good condition, heavy for the area. I hadn’t seen him before so suspect he has wandered in from neighbouring permissions. Shot S Lakes. Hole goes straight through.

Thoughts on cause?

 

[Buchan]

A wound while in velvet. I have a stag with a .308 hole in the antler so a failed shot is possible

 

[.25-06]

Cracking head. Certainly looks like a pervious head shooting attempt

 

[tim@tcs]

Whatever caused it, it certainly creates a wonderful talking point and deserves a good mount!

 

[JH83]

Whatever caused it, it certainly creates a wonderful talking point and deserves a good mount!

Yes it’s going to be boiled out and done justice. It’s the great thing about roe, so many oddities!

 

[Dama]

I would suggest infection (pus) in growing antler. Such a fluid filled 'boil' would not calcify like normal antler and will leave a cavity after velvet sheds.

 

[nun_hunter]

Unless a very tough low velocity bullet I would expect a lot more damage than that and not a nice neat hole.

Maybe something poked through the antler that the deer ran into or an infection.

 

[Klenchblaize]

I’m not convinced it’s due to bullet impact. At least not from a centre fire chambering as the exit hole would be much larger and probably have shattered the antler.

K

 

[potshotpat]

I would suggest infection (pus) in growing antler. Such a fluid filled 'boil' would not calcify like normal antler and will leave a cavity after velvet sheds.

My money would be on that too

 

[Foxyboy43]

Hmmm.
They stalk walk among us!
Pal had a guest out a few years ago - all the gear, bells and whistles, top-end stuff.
Got in on a stag, classic “boiler room” shot - super, marvellous, amazing, etc…. shot taken, good reaction through bins but it ran over the crest, never to be seen again, bit of a puzzle…..
Two days later, same area, different client. Stag seen, crawled in and shot taken. Bang flop….

 

[Donkey Basher]

My money is on a puncture wound & abscess whilst in velvet.

 

[Klenchblaize]

Hmmm.
They stalk walk among us!
Pal had a guest out a few years ago - all the gear, bells and whistles, top-end stuff.
Got in on a stag, classic “boiler room” shot - super, marvellous, amazing, etc…. shot taken, good reaction through bins but it ran over the crest, never to be seen again, bit of a puzzle…..
Two days later, same area, different client. Stag seen, crawled in and shot taken. Bang flop….

View attachment 359902
View attachment 359903

But what a ‘trophy’ for the previous Client!

K