Buck won't drop antlers

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Hollowroad Whitetails

Joined
May 10, 2010
Messages
375
Location
Hazleton, PA
Dear Members:



I have a two year old that hasn't dropped last years rack (It's May 10th). I bred this deer as a year and a half old to seven doe this past year. He bred those seven successfully but he continues to act like he is in rut. What I mean is that he still seems to be focusing on breeding, although he is not actually breeding. He is missing critical growing time and I was wondering if anyone has ever had this problem. I am also concerned about the fact that my doe that are in his pen will be fawning soon and whether or not he will hurt them.



Your suggestions are greatly appreciated.



Daniel
 
As of right now I cannot see any velvet, but I am keeping a close eye. Previously, my vet had mentioned the possibility of injecting him to bring down his testosterone levels. I decided not to do that because a side effect could be delayed anter growth. Well, as it turns out, he's not growing anyway. I know other farmers who have been farming deer for years and years and they never had a buck hold his antlers this long. Obviously, this will have a negative effect on the business aspect because I cannot adequately gauge his genetics to determine if I should continue to breed him and because anyone looking to buy his offspring will want to see what he looked like at 2 years. I am eager to find someone who can help.



Hope things work out for you on your end.



Daniel
 
Daniel-



Think about the options here...what if your buck pushes out the same inches as he's already holding onto-in my case it would be around 170ish added to 170ish from last year. He'd be a 340 class buck that you could breed then shoot for big dollars (hopefully). Either of us have a unique sitiuation, may be wise to think positively here.



Phillip Smith

660-815-1509
 
I don't know what to tell you about your bucks antlers. I've never came across this at my farm. But for the buck being in with the fawning does. I would take him out. Even my buck in velvet tryed to play with the fawns in the past. And I found one healthy fawn dead in the morning a few years ago. Ever since I've pulled the buck out and no longer have to worry, about that anyway.



Sandy Malone

Pasture Prime Farm

Rush, N.Y.
 
I agree with Sandy. I would take him out of the pen with fawns. They might be fine but better safe than sorry.

Nick Biser

Team Biser Whitetails
 
I would listen to your vet......the main thing now is to get his antlers off......it could be a mess for him if he hangs on to them and starts his new growth!!
 
Thank you to everyone for your helpful comments. I will move him from the pen for the safety of the fawns and have the vet inject him at the same time in hopes that we can lower his testosterone. I thought about moving him first and seeing if the isolation from the doe herd would cause his testosterone levels to fall but that would mean I might have to tranq him twice. He is so healthy and I hate to tranq him even one time so I think it is best to do everything at once.
 
If your going to put him down I would try to knock the antlers off first before I would have the vet inject him..........if you can knock the antlers off problem solved........don't get to crazy trying to knock them off as you don't want them to breack off way down in side his head........Good Luck with everything!!
 
Good news. Tonight during my evening feeding I was surprised to find that both antlers had dropped! He is behind in his new growth but at least he dropped. I want to thank everyone for all the helpful comments.
 
Thats great news.....I am glad for you. I think he will catch up on his growing! Just be glad they fell off. Now that is one less worry for you......now you can focus on fawns!!
 
Dan if this ever happens again try dropping the nutrition levels of your feed a bunch for about a week. I believe it's a better alternative than the injections.
 
Dennis, you're right, I am glad they fell off and that is one less concern. And Paul, that is great advice and if it ever happens again I will try that first. Thank you both.
 

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