Unusual munty antlers ???

[Hubertus_]

Hello there was hoping that someone with more experience could shed some light on this unusual muntjac buck which was shot over my land about 8 years back. I don’t have records of weight/antler size unfortunately.

He was unusual for a few reasons, firstly he was the biggest buck I’ve seen over my patch of land before or after! (Was the first taken in an area where no one had hunted for many years to my knowledge).He was travelling with a doe glued to him which I haven’t seen in that manner before either. Mainly what made this munty unusual was the antlers. They were strange in that they look more like a goat, strait with a wide girth. I have been searching online at medal bucks etc and can’t find anything like this myself.

Any ideas? Maybe just an old buck, older then the usual in an area stalked regularly?

 

[NoIDeer]

I would say he's a younger buck due to the length of the fur part of the pedicle and he looks to be in velvet.

 

[Hubertus_]

He did not have chewed up ears like some seasoned stags so yes perhaps you are right. I had not considered that he could be a youngster just due to his size and diameter of antlers compared to young bucks I’ve seen.

 

[deerstalker.308]

Young health buck, long tall slender pedicles in velvet, as they get older the pedicle gets shorter and they slope more and create more spread and develop a coronet, young Bucks have almost no coronet and just straight tall pedicles with an antler spike on top.
you often see Bucks and does close to each other, any doe with or without young at foot will either be in season or soon to come into season, so the Bucks will scarcely be far from a doe past 7 months of age.

 

[deerstalker.308]

Old buck, going back, all coronet, no brow tines, sloping to the sides barely any pedicle

 

[deerstalker.308]

Younger but very strong head, tall thin pedicles




and an older (gold medal) head, mature, broad pedicles, big coronet circumference and sloping.

 

[Hubertus_]

Thanks for your help. Glad I joined the SD and found the old Photos or else I would still be wondering about that buck! He seems to get bigger each time I tell the story

 

[T.eddie]

this has been really useful for me as well, thanks for all the info everyone

 

[Darkwoodecho]

As stated, young Buck in velvet, below may illustrate, from right to left, 1st "button" buck, no antlers, 2nd (yours but free of velvet) first "head", then others older or unusual.
Hope that is of interest.

 

[baguio]

As stated, young Buck in velvet, below may illustrate, from right to left, 1st "button" buck, no antlers, 2nd (yours but free of velvet) first "head", then others older or unusual.
Hope that is of interest.View attachment 197888

Out of interest, did the centre one also have a left leg injury? I suspect that it did.

 

[Darkwoodecho]

yep!

Out of interest, did the centre one also have a left leg injury? I suspect that it did.

 

[fizzbangwhallop]

Similar to the OP’s before it was done.


cheers
Fizz

 

[EssexBigMac]

Caught this head on a trail cam with a single antler, is it a young buck with defect or lost it in a fight? Sorry he was at the wrong angle

 

[foxdropper]

Not many mature bucks escape with no injuries when they are in their prime .Torn ears ,snapped fangs ,gashes to the face but just one antler is quite rare I’d say .

 

[deerstalker.308]

Not many mature bucks escape with no injuries when they are in their prime .Torn ears ,snapped fangs ,gashes to the face but just one antler is quite rare I’d say .

would agree with this unless it happened to be a lucky shot when the antlers were partially cast.... as there is no indication of when the snap shot was captured that may or may not be an option, failing that, it would be a rare old injury for a munty to suffer without the involvement of something large and mechanical (car). They wouldn’t likely have sufficient force/strength to break them in a fight readily between two Bucks.

 

[EssexBigMac]

The camera is in a small garden with roads on 3 sides so I’d imagine it’s car accident. Watch this space

 

[Tim.243]

This buck had an antler but guessing the neck shot dislodged the one I saw in the scope.

Only One…..

This buck has been on my trail cam loads of time including last night with one antler missing in the picture. Past pictures of him the left one was nearly straight, no matter there are a number of them showing so a few need dealing with. Same spot from 10 days ago, if he had stuck to his night...

www.thestalkingdirectory.co.uk

 

[EssexBigMac]

We’re practically neighbours @Tim.243 so imagine it won’t take long till you get him. Save some for me

 

[baguio]

would agree with this unless it happened to be a lucky shot when the antlers were partially cast.... as there is no indication of when the snap shot was captured that may or may not be an option, failing that, it would be a rare old injury for a munty to suffer without the involvement of something large and mechanical (car). They wouldn’t likely have sufficient force/strength to break them in a fight readily between two Bucks.

View attachment 208418

That's just cast. If you press on the other antler it will come off in your hand.

 

[EssexBigMac]

@baguio will have to get the little guy first. From camera footage he’s only coming to mine at night.