Roe deer antler?

[Billabong Karen]

Originally Posted by Dogghound

It looks like its been cast to me rather than broken off. As im sure you are aware this occurs between October and December when testosterone levels start to drop.

Ah - I thought they cast later, starting in around mid-November. I must say, it does seem most likely to be a cast, since the dog found nothing else (so unlikely to have been a road kill or a shot deer), and no fence or similar it could have got caught in. Hopefully this is a young one that just cast a little early.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

Ah - I thought they cast later, starting in around mid-November. I must say, it does seem most likely to be a cast, since the dog found nothing else (so unlikely to have been a road kill or a shot deer), and no fence or similar it could have got caught in. Hopefully this is a young one that just cast a little early.

Its not really early though, as they can cast as early as the beginning of October. Im not sure you could say how old it is from just this.

[Billabong Karen]

I'm just trying to picture the roe deer I know live in or around this area. There is certainly at least one healthy adult buck, and two possibly three does, and I have seen this year's young with the does. I think there is also a rather skinnier hanger-on, possibly a youngster from last year. Perhaps he is the one the antler originated from...

Now that the leaves are falling it will probably soon be easier to spot them again.

[Billabong Karen]

Almost bumped into three healthy and well-fed roe deer today on the morning amble with the dogs ... Not an antler in sight, and no sign of the rather thinner smaller animal. These three looked bursting with health.