Ask The Biologist

Hole in the Head Buck

Hole in the Head Buck

By Bob Humphrey

Antler shedding and skull injuries are serious business for whitetail bucks.

QUESTION: I was out shed hunting recently and found an antler that at first I thought was a shed but when I looked closer it had part of the skull still attached. My question is, is this a shed or was it broken off in a fight? Also, will this deer survive? — Will M.

ANSWER: Without a picture or further description, it’s hard to say whether the antler was broken or cast off, although either is possible. In winter, hormonal changes cause connective tissue to break down along the interface (abcission line) between antler and pedicel. The base of a shed antler is normally slightly rounded with a rough but relatively uniform surface. However, damage to the skull or some other injury could cause an irregular abcission line and occasionally shed antlers will have small bony protrusions on the base. In that case, the buck should be fine, although it might show some evidence of non-typical antler the following season.

Long before they shed, antlers are used in combat and can break. More often it is points, tines or sometimes the main beam that breaks — but occasionally the pedicel will break. Whether the buck survives usually depends on the type and severity of the injury. If the skin is broken, it could result in infection. If the skull is fractured, it could lead to a brain abcess. Both injuries are often fatal. However, if the injury is not too severe and there is no infection, the animal could survive, although it, too, will likely grow a non-typical antler the following year.

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Antler shedding and skull injuries are serious business for whitetail bucks.
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