Lost Antler

[Musky Buck]

Just curious as we have all seen a few 1 antlered deer in our days. I've had 1 nice buck on camera many times, this weekend I went and checked the camera again and most of the 9 bucks or so are on there again, the nicest buck which was the only shootable 1 of the gang is now a non-shootable as he only has 1 antler and he's likely just a larger 2.5 year old, where'd it go or why'd it fall off, it is completely missing right down to the base, couldn't see any piece of it left on his skull. He hasn't had velvet since the 20th of August ? He didn't seem injured in any way ? Any clues ?

[Sorgy]

good question. 4 years ago I called in 7 different bucks durring the rifle season and 2 only had 1 antler on there heads. One was a 1 1/2 year old spike/fork and the other appeared to be a 2 1/2 year old with a 4 pt side.

Neither buck appeared to have broken beams or anything of the such. Do they drop this early ever?

Later

Steve

[Musky Buck]

Right on, it seemed so strange in a way, Sept. 29th picture he had both sides, looked like he would rule the roost unless a new buck came into the area, Oct. 1st next picture of him it's gone with no visible piece left, he'll be lopsided until he sheds the other 1. I doubt he was fighting but who knows, when he's on the camera there usually is other bucks with him yet and they seem to show no aggression toward each other as they mop up the remaining acorns, kinda crazy how nocturnal they are, we see 0 before dark in the field but once dark I've had over 2,000 pics since mid-august. Next trip to dads might have to walk a bit and see if I can find it in the field or on there main trail, would like to see what the base of that looks like.

[nonteepical]

post some pictures

[walleyehunter80]

good luck finding it before snow fall, cant wait for the pictures

[certified jumbo]

wow,

i'd love to see pics too. many times on hunting shows i've seen bucks with broken sides, probably mostly due to fighting. But i have to say i've never seen a broken side in my day and i've seen many bucks. Many times i've seen broken points,but not a whole side. No doubt it happens, i've just never seen it in person.

[Odonata]

I shot a buck a few years back that had just over three inches of antler on one side; broken. The other he had no antler, just an antler base. When I cut it off, it literally looks like a button. Point being, the buck had very little of his rack left and at first I thought his antler was shed until I realized it was broken right down to the base.

[slimngrizzly]

If he shed it now, it could only be because of severly poor health! Ive seen it in later october where buck had shed and died but never this early.

My bet is he got "locked" and snapped with a bigger buck... or more likely has a close call with a vehicle!

[Musky Buck]

Good thoughts, I would doubt a vehicle as they shouldn't need to cross our road yet and it's basically a 30mph area anyway, definitely not saying he shed it, imagine the look on my dad's face and mine when we both said oh no what the ....the only shootable on film in 2 months and he's a 1 horned guy. My guess is fighting with another or maybe it was loose somewhat long before it fell off ? I think I saved a picture when he had both sides but deleted last weekends where he was 1 side, but camera is there and will save a 1 horned shot and then I'll come back and post the pictures, I should've saved the close up shot where you really get a perfect look and there is 0 visible horn left. He looked very healthy overall.