bsurplus2003

Ok heres the winner, The buck runs into the brush from being chased, branch pokes a hole into the antler which is facing the outside of the beam, Its starts to bleed, which of course attracts flies. The flies then lay there eggs on the wound cause of course they want there offspring to feed, by the time the egg is ready to hatch, the antlers start to harden, which inturn killes the egg and your left with a hole from which the egg was trying to grow from the wound started by the branch?...................LOL WE ALL WIN............THERES THE EXPLANATION.
Brett

Windwalker7

To be honest, I searched and searched also didn't find much. I too found most references about bot flys talking about the nasal issues.

I do know that antlers, when in the velvet phase, are tender and do get injured sometimes. If an antler were to get harpooned by a crabapple thorn, what would that area of the antler loook like once the antlers hardened?

Bsurplus makes a very good point with that last post.

I just can't buy the theory that it is somehow hereditary or they just grow that way.

I've taken a few bucks that have that sorta acorn shaped tip at the top of a tine. These are just where the antler was damaged when in velvet.

You'd think a deer breeder would have the answer.

Northernforest

Most of the time it is a Bee sting when they are in velvet .

Or could it be a droptine that is not strong enough to stay attached and drops off when they are in velvet.

_Dan

1. Crazy, eh? You'd think you'd be able to find more on the subject on the internet.


2. I feel the same way, except from my point of view. I have only seen it on mature deer and it is always in the same general areas. If it were from flies or sticks you'd think it would be in other spots on the antlers as well. [:-]


I'll keep looking..........[&:]

Windwalker7

More hearsay


http://www.wvdnr.gov/Wildlife/Magazine/Archive/02Fall/Racking_Up_The_Points.shtm

_Dan

Still just another article with no real proof.

Hey, I'm not saying I'm right either....I just can' find any real studies to back up your claim.....or mine either......

So....it's just another article in my eyes.

Let's keep looking.............

bsurplus2003

If some one had a pic of an antler with the hole on the inside then the bot fly might have some merit, but bot flys arent found all over the us. We dont have them here I think, so to me its apparent, the outside beams are the area of the holes, Ive just heard from to many reliable sources about branches and twigs. If you look in most holes you will see were there is still velvet, that the buck coudnt rub off. That in turn....if theres velvet then there shouldnt be any velvet in the center......If that makes sense.
Brett

Windwalker7

Might not be bot flies but maybe blow flies.


Blow flies are those shiny green and blue flies. Also known as sh!t flies You see then on dead stuff and....you know....poop.

It could be possible that there was an injury and a maggot from a blow fly got in there after eggs were layed on the wound.


It is definitely some kind of damage.

Although proof is hard to find.

Roadkillwarrior

-You might be on to something.

furgitter

Mabe its all the mineral supplements we feed them. Ive got no formal education on the subject, but I do know growing too fast isnt good. Other than that I gotta go with an injury while in velvet. Then the blood vessils get pinched and nutrients are not delivered to that spot, so it cant grow.Kinda like a scar on a tree.