just another piece of the puzzle

[wtnhunt]

We had strongly felt this particular deer we got hundreds of trail cam pics of this year was one that we passed on last year.  He had a big body last year and we thought he was mature, but three of us hunting on our farm all passed the deer due to his antlers being splintered and with hopes he might grow a normal rack this year.  Only thing that did not make sense was that his goofed up rack was goofy on his right side last year and this year on the left, always thought the antlers would continue with irregularities on the same side from one year to the next.  We had clues such as a notch in his left ear that we assumed was from fighting that were on the late season 17 pics that were also on this buck this year.  The white/grey face is not something we see too often either and would seem unlikely a buck we knew made it though left the area and another one with similar features moved in.  We had noticed at one point the buck had a golf ball sized spot on his jaw on the right side about mid jaw.  We assumed that was from fighting.  It was not until I pulled the jawbone yesterday before taking the head to the taxidermist that I noticed the third molar on the right was broken in half, about midway in the jaw.  Did not think a lot about it until talking with the taxidermist and he mentioned that was interesting that tooth was abscessed and right away thought about the deer's jaw.  No doubt in my mind this was the same deer.  

  

 

[Rhino]

Yep sounds like it is William. 

For what it's worth though...It's my understanding that a messed up rack on one side that's not due to an injury may not occur on the same side annually...or at all.  From an injury...yes...naturally...no.  A buck with non-typical points can change from year to year too.

[wtnhunt]

Thanks for the reply Al, interesting to see how a buck makes transformations.  Are your oddballs in MO still around?

I do remember reading about contralateral condition where an injury to one side would lead to irregular antler growth on the opposite side.  That would make sense since he clearly sustained injuries to his right side last winter and he has a goofed up left side.  

[dbHunterNY]

i agree with what Al said. also seems to me that buck is only 2.5 or 3.5 years old.

[wtnhunt]

1 hour ago, dbHunterNY said:

also seems to me that buck is only 2.5 or 3.5 years old.

That was a December pic with the buck being rundown hard.  His antlers were busted badly very early on and he was still the dominant buck.  It was very obvious in 17 that he had been fighting a lot and chasing does hard.  Here was a thread from last year where I asked for thoughts on age

Seemed the consensus was that he was mature.  I plan to take his jawbone in to the biologist at our local office in the near future.