robdre56

i heard ticks cuase it

KYDeerHunter03

A friend of mine shot a buck that had antlers similar to that and the taxidermist he took it to also said that it was caused by flies or another bug that burrowed into the antler while it was in velvet.

StillHunter90

I have only seen a couple of deer with those holes and I have heard afew different things from people. Ive heard the bug idea,The birth defect idea,damage suffered to the head from fightingor fromsome other blunt/tear trauma, and another birth idea the fawn suffers some kind of damage while still in the womb of the pregnant doe. All of these are hear say so I dont know if any of these are correct. Im really interested in finding out myself now.

bhunter50

most of the defects of this nature that I have seen were said to have been caused by the fly larva theory.

Windwalker7

D) All of the above



It happens when the deer are in velvet. Those antlers are full of blood at that time of year. If you ever have the chance to feel the antlers on a pet buck when it is in velvet, It is very hot to the touch because of the blood flow.

This blood does attract insects. The fly larve is probably the most common cause. Sticks, barbed wire fence, ticksand other things can cause damage too.

furgitter

Make a cool candle holder wouldnt it?

uncle matt

.22

That's my story and I'm stickin to it!

Mdbowhunter16

Yea its some kkind of bug that burrows in the antler.

nctaxi

It is from a fly larvae, or so I have been instructed. You wouldn't believe some of the things that live in and on deer. The grossest I ever found was a grub like thing living up a deer's nose. Big honkin' thing. Fairly common here in NC

CamoCop

x2, atleast this is what a biologist told me. i also have an 8 point with a hole in the antler like what you shown.