Is rack shot-off or ...?

[Jameson]

The rack

the break

fighting?

the good side

the eye

Was the rack broken from a slug shot or from fighting? Any foresnec(sp?) scientists out there?

The buck was taken on the ML opener 2007. Two, three weeks after slug season. During slug season the neighbor shot at two bucks, missing both. If the rack was complete, I think it would have had a spread equal to the ears. Likely a 2 1/2 year old.

So, broken from being shot-off or fought-off? Thanks!

[icehousebob]

Looking at how the break is worn and rounded, it had to have happened well before the slug season. It would either be from an early fight or even from a late summer accident. Deer have been known to catch their antlers on branches when they are cleaning off the velvet and it might have been broken off on a tree.

[surewood]

I'd have to say sparring in the early season to establish dominance. Could be wrong though.

[harvey lee]

I would agree that the damage was done more than likely while the deer had velvet or from sparring. Many times one will also notice that the bucks ear tips have tears in them from fighting.

I'm not sure what all those scrathes are from on the tines but, many racks that I have have those same scratches in them.

One can repair those tips that are broken if you don't mind spending a little to have it done. I have a brow tine on one of my larger bucks that was broken and had three inches missing on one side. Repaired it and it looks very good.

[Jameson]

Thanks for the replies.

I was kind of hoping it was shot-off. Better story!

No fixing going to happen on this rack. It's fine just how it is. The broken antler did screw up my plans to make the rack into a set of rattling antlers .