Cougar attacked buck??

[haleysgold]

1st pic is the buck on my nephews trail cam. Note the right antler...looks like it's rotting off...

2nd and 3rd pics are taken by me with my camera. I think I was shaking when I took it so it's a little blurry. Looks like the same deer to me. Pics taken about 1 mile apart and 1 week later.

Now look at his hind end !!

There's been a cougar spotted several times in my area this summer.

I don't think coyotes could do this to a healthy, mature buck.

I do think a Cougar could do it though !!! No way I'll ever know but I could see him being attacked and damaged his antler. A big cat swipe down his bung could be how this happened.

What do you think?

[fr0sty]

Ouch

[mntatonka]

possibly hit by a car too, with road rash all down that side. Although without any broken legs, that's not too likely.

[hockeybc69]

Good old fashioned vehicle hit if you ask me....

God they are tough buggers....

[mwal]

I would say car hit. Snapped antler road rash cut. A cougars claws are like hooks if the buck fought it off it would have long deep cuts from claws plus antlers has been snapped not likely type of injury from a cougar. Big patches of hair rubbed off when rolled by vehicle.

Mwal

[MahtowaDave]

My bet is vehicle hit also. The reason I say this is that that is the way the one my wife killed with our van looked like when I found it the next morning. Hers died of internal bleeding but same antler deal and rear end and side appearance. No broken legs on hers either. Do I know that is what happened here? Heck no, but I think its as likely as anything else.

[DaveT]

I vote vehicle but if an animal did it it was probably coyotes.

[laker1]

His hide is loss on the one side like he was sliding down the highway. Vechile hit all the way.

[pikerliker]

My thoughts too Dave. A cougar will go for the neck and either break it or choke out the animal. A coyotee will team up with another, chase and bite at the rear and back legs to try to wear it out. Not sure if either is the case with this deer though?

[Abndoc]

Something else wrong with this buck or 2 different injuries, no road rash in first picture.