Roe deer antler?

[Billabong Karen]

My old labbie found this little antler in the woods on our walk on Saturday. I am pretty sure it comes from a young roe deer.



My question: I thought they shed their antlers in late autumn? Could this be from last year (though it still had hairs sticking to it), or is this possibly the remains of a deer that died earlier in the year? Hopefully not...

[Dorts]

Karen, it looks like one of this years Roe antlers, recently shed or possibly knocked-off through a fight with another Roe buck. Most antlers that have been laying around for any length of time usually show clear marks from where they have been nibbled by mice.
Dorts.

[Billabong Karen]

Thanks for that. Any idea of the age of the buck?

[muldonach]

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

My old labbie found this little antler in the woods on our walk on Saturday. I am pretty sure it comes from a young roe deer.



My question: I thought they shed their antlers in late autumn? Could this be from last year (though it still had hairs sticking to it), or is this possibly the remains of a deer that died earlier in the year? Hopefully not...

Strange looking thing really - it is a roe antler, they do shed in late autumn, it could be from last year - how much hair was sticking to it? If it was from a deer that died this year - then there should be other remains in the vicinity, although your dog may not have been the first to find it.

The pearling appears to be well worn but not chewed? If that is the case it has been actively fraying

Its a little bit unusual to see a roe antler with such vestigial points, there is really no co-relation between antlers and age, although the coronets are well developed which would possibly indicate that it is not that young, the antler is both short and light which would lead towards either a young or poorly nourished beast.

Cheers
mac

[Billabong Karen]

Originally Posted by muldonach

Strange looking thing really - it is a roe antler, they do shed in late autumn, it could be from last year - how much hair was sticking to it? If it was from a deer that died this year - then there should be other remains in the vicinity, although your dog may not have been the first to find it.

The pearling appears to be well worn but not chewed? If that is the case it has been actively fraying

Its a little bit unusual to see a roe antler with such vestigial points, there is really no co-relation between antlers and age, although the coronets are well developed which would possibly indicate that it is not that young, the antler is both short and light which would lead towards either a young or poorly nourished beast.

Cheers
mac

If there had been any other remains, believe me Bones (my dog) would have found them... There was not a huge lot of hair sticking to it still, will take another photo this evening and post it tomorrow. There are quite a lot of roe deer around this area and as far as I can tell they look healthy and well-nourished.

[Billabong Karen]

Here is a another photo, showing the hairs. It looks fairly fresh to me (not that I'm an expert).

[Dogghound]

Quite odd really, there is a possibility that the tines have been eaten by deer, small mammals etc, as the tine contains most nutients, although it doesnt look like it.

It is more likely that the deer suffered an injury or hormone/diet imbalance during the growth of the antler.

[muldonach]

Originally Posted by Billabong Karen

Here is a another photo, showing the hairs. It looks fairly fresh to me (not that I'm an expert).

It is fresh, and it has been broken off not cut off

Cannot see a young beast with antlers like that getting into a scrap during the rut unless trapped by a dominant buck. Similarly a mature beast with an antler like that would be too old or infirm to offer a serious challenge.

Unless there is a fenceline or other obstacle which could cause a snap off in the area that the old dog found it I would suspect that your antler has been carried to the point you found it at and dropped once interest has been lost.

Cheers
mac

[Billabong Karen]

The antler was found in bushes at the edge of a marshy area. No fence or similar. So it's a bit of a mystery... I'll keep an eye open for a one-antlered deer, and let you know if I see anything. Thanks for the comments at any rate.

[Dogghound]

Originally Posted by muldonach

It is fresh, and it has been broken off not cut off

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.