buck tore velvet- question

on Thursday morning I was putting out hay in the breeder pen, I saw a pretty good blood trail....I knew it had to be my breeder buck, I looked at him with the binoculars, he broke a 2" kicker, it is bent down but still on. the velvet is torn, but now it looks black and scabbed up. I have been watching him like ia hawk, he has never had more than 2 flies at a time land on his anlter, I am trying to see maggots but it is hard to see those little things if they are there because they are just to tiny. The weather has been in my favor since he broke it, cool most days, even some rain here and there. I do not want to dart him, but of course i will if i see maggots.

My question, Do you think it is ok to let this go, while keeping a watch for maggots? He is so close to being done growing and close to shedding, do you think he is going to be ok? Or should i dart and check for maggots under the velvet? He is acting 100% normal as of this morning, it is 60 degrees and cool this morning.

Darting is the best route, you will have peace of mind for one thing. If he is nearly done growing you won't hold him back by darting now and may save him. You can't always see the maggots under the velvet.

I had one do the same thing. Very little blood though. I think they are so close to rubbin off you should be fine. I will keep an eye on him for sure but he is grey and cold. Done gowin for sure.

It is most certainly a toss up, in my opinion if you are going to keep him as a breeder and cut his antlers anyway, just knock him down and take the antlers off. I have seen it before where a deer knocked a small kicker off like that, the deer was then knocked down and doctored up. Three days later it broke more off and needed treatment again. It is most certainly one of those things where it could go either way. Just like Mike said too, I have seen deer that have done just fine being left alone, they finish growing and shed out no problems.



-Johnny B

I agree with Johnny as far as it being a toss up.......I just had on brake off a flyer and he is fine....but a couple weeks before had one do the same and ended up with antler infection.......if you see any swelling start around the wound and antler put him down and get the antler off......good luck.......im thinking he will be ok......but keep watching him close......

Antlershed - Like others have said, it looks like a toss-up!



BUT...I think you may have to look at it like this: What do I have to gain by this choice or that choice...and what do I have to lose, ie ''What is the worse that can happen?''

Weigh your 'measure' of risk against your 'measure' of gain, and I think you'll know what to do!



Whatever you choose...hope the best for you!

I appreciate all your responses. I was just sitting in the pen, watching him for over 30 minutes, he had some flies on his face, but none are particularly bothering his antler. I am going to continue watching him like crazy, although i have darted over 200 deer without incident, the thought of darting this guy before breeding season scares me, because he is my best and if anything is going to happen it's always seemingly going to happen to your best, hat is the only reason i am hesitant to dart him til i know for sure i have to. I know i'll be continuing to pray for the knowledge to know what to do and when to do it. I am includeing a pic, it not that great as he is not close enough for detail, but if you look at his right antler, right at the very end of his main beam you will see the point that is hanging down.

I think if it is a clean break it is going to heal better than one that the bone has fragmented. we had a yearling that broke off one side and had to knock him out to treat. It was clean. But then he screwed it up again and it had several fragments. We watched it for a few days and those fragments started to sequester under the velvet and had to knock him out AGAIN and clean up the stump. He was bottle fed so obviously it was easier to keep an eye on.



Jerrilee Cave,DVM

Antlershed, it sounds like you are on top of it. Good luck and keep us posted!

i had one in early june break and needed taken care of.antler was hanging and needed cut of.velevet still attached can be painful to them adding stress...cut off broke antler pine tar and fly spray and he is ok.

Bruce said:

Agree he will probably be fine however, you may consider worming him with Ivomec or similar in the feed to kill anything wanting to feed on the blood/velvet.

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yup, bruce is write on, just remember when you use ANY worming stuff , after u use them follow up with shock efect or a nouther probic , deworming stuff what ever you use is hard on them ( in sides ) just my 2 cents ,

Thanks, I have been reading your responses and I have made a half dozen phone calls to some local deer farming buddies, the majority of responses have been, let him go, he should be fine, but keep very close eye out for him having an discomfort or change of behavior. Thats what i am planning on doing.

The whole herd is just finishing up being dewormed with wazine 17, a liquid dewormer i got at tractor supply, it goes in their water 1 oz. per gallon.

If you notice anything out of the norm with him don't wait another day. As soon as it cools put him down and work on him. I build a misting system that's motion activated and sprays the deer from nose to tail. This will keep the maggots out. www.opt-to-mist.com

Don't dart unless you see a reason. I have had many do this much worse and most healed withouit incident.

I did nothing so far and i dont think i will have to, he looks to be fine. Thank you to all that replied, I always read and respect everyone's imput.

Don't dart unless you see a reason. I have had many do this much worse and most healed withouit incident.

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Scott, this was my main approach, I really didn't want to dart at all if possible. I never had any points break on any bucks before (in velvet), so I was really nervous at first, but alot of people i talked to on the phone said unless you get a mojor tear close to the base of the antler, most every injury will be ok this late in velvet growing due to the decreased bloodflow in the antler.

I hope he is good to go, but I am still watching everyday for any changes in his behavior that might indicate somethings wrong.