Hi, I have read some other post on here about broken legs and heard of some amazing stories of how they healed. I had a buck that will be two this spring. I was darting him and for some reason he took off really fast and when he ran away I could not believe my eyes his back leg about 3 inches above his hock was twirling around just made me sick. I have never had this ever happen before. I guess when he bolted some how he put to much pressure or at a bad angle or something to cause his leg to break. I first thought maybe he got it caught in a limb or something like that but there was nothing there but bare ground. My question is has anyone had a break like this and is there any chance it will heal. I darted him and gave him some banamine and excede. When i grabbed the leg it is broke in half about three inches up above his hock you can feel were it is broke and the two ends are overlapping. I dont know how it will heal but a lot of post on here say you will be amazed how they will heal from a broken leg. I just want to do the right thing with him if anyone has any knowledge about a break like this and if it can heal please let me know. If I need to I will put him down just dont want him to suffer if he has no chance at all to heal. I do have him in a pen all by himself now and can still nose with his pen mates through the fence that he was in when it happened. Thank you, for listening and hope to get some feedback.
Joined Apr 2009
1,485 Posts | 0+
Vaughn, MT 59487
I personally would cast it before the skin gets torn. I have found lower leg breaks do better when you cast or splint them. Upper leg breaks I will try to let nature fix that. Plus if the weather turns real bad without cover there is a good chance because of blood flow it might freeze. I'm talking zero and below.
Joined Aug 2012
303 Posts | 0+
Billings, MO
We had a similar situation. It happened after we reversed him, so we did not want to knock him down again. It is about a month later and he is almost back to normal. We kept an eye on him to make sure it did not puncture the skin. We also put him in a pen with a really calm buck and kept food and water near him. Best of luck.
Joined Oct 2009
3,165 Posts | 1+
upstate ny
Even thou he can nose through the fence with others i would try to get a fawn or two in with him or another calm deer. Less apt to run the fence at the least.
Thank you for the responses. I am in Missouri Jack so hopefully the worst of our winter is over. I am sure we will get a few cold days and some nights yet but hopefully the below zero stuff is over. I would think it would be considered a high leg break its about three inches or so above the joint by the tarsal gland area. Have you ever seen a leg that broke like that after it was killed. How do they heal if the bone does not meet up together were it broke and is over lapping at least it was when laying down. Does it just form a big knot all around it a fuse together or just build a bunch of scare tissue around it. There is quit a bit of flesh around where it is broken and no signs of it coming through the skin. Does that sound high enough that it doesnt need to be splinted? Brad was your bucks leg broke that high? Did any of your bucks that did break their leg did they grow a normal rack on the opposite side the following year? I heard it will or can affect their antler growth on the opposite side at least the first year. This close to antlers starting to grow im sure it will affect both sides some. Again Thanks for the response Brad, and Jack I will post how hes doing in a couple months if theres no problems before then.
Joined Apr 2009
1,485 Posts | 0+
Vaughn, MT 59487
The rack is usually not right after a break as the body sends calcium to the break to fix it. Usually only the next year antler growth is changed in apearance To me a high break is above the next joint up in the real meat area above the knee joint. Yes as you discribe the break it will heal with a lump of bone in that area. I would fix this deer's leg. But like all question on care everyone has an opinion and that is mine. I would use the casting material that you put in hot water. First you put on cotton wrap and then some type of wraping material I like the stuff that is like horse wrap which is a little elastic but be careful not to make it too tight then the casting material over that. Five weeks later remove the cast with a drummel tool. This has worked for me.
I had a buck that broke his leg in about the exact same spot your describing,happened in oct 2012, did not puncture the skin and we left nature take care of it,healed up fine,i would also be careful you don't stress him out more by taking him out of his normal pen,we had left ours in the same pen and just kept a close eye on him,now you would never know he broke his leg.Heres a picture of him this last summer as a 2 year old 2013
