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Bucks antler... Could this be maggots?

A

Allegheny Whitetails

Joined Aug 2011
32 Posts | 0+
Russell, PA
I have a buck that I noticed today has a small buldge at the tip of his left main beam. It is a little red and looks like it may have been broken recently but I want to be sure it isnt maggots shy of darting him. What do you guys think? Pics below...





Pen58-16-1128.jpg


Pen58-16-1125.jpg


Pen58-16-1120.jpg
 
Jacob it looks more like an antler infection to me. We had this happen last year to one of our bucks. He wound up breaking off the antler at the exact spot where it was swollen after he shed his velvet.
 
I would keep a real close eye on it. Take pictures a couple times a day if you can get that close. If you see any white spots on the edges of it at all, knock him down and cut them off. If he is a shooter and you want to keep the antlers on, then you have a bit more difficult of a call to make. I dont notice any fly eggs though. That is my opinion however. Take it for what it is worth.



-Johnny B
 
It does not look like the maggots that I have experienced on antlers in the past......usually the velvet turns real dark black and if you look close enough you can see it actually moving from the maggots.......I think it just may be blood built up from him bumping his antler.......keep an eye on it but I really don't think it is maggots......good luck!
 
Antlers often rupture the vessels that feed blood and leave a void that bleeds inside, creating the bulge you see. This bulge is sometimes weaker due to the bone not forming as dense as in normal layered antler growth. Early stages of velvet grows so fast that it passes it quickly. Later velvet is not feeding the antler as much as just keeping the velvet skin alive, and isnt usually a problem either. Its actually quite common. Nice looking animal.
 
I would guess that he broke the tip but not the velvet and I would judt keep an eye on him. But i'm betting no maggots! Good Luck
 
Thanks everyone. Not one person I have talked to said maggots and most everyone thought just a broken tip or build up of blood. He is doing great still and no signs of weakness/sickness of any kind. I will let Greg know your thoughts and opinions



Jake Colwell
 
Jake, from what I have seen in the past with my bucks, this is more like a bruise. He has bumped or broken that antler and damaged it. I think he will be just fine. BUT, watch if the skin gets broken and it oozes. Then it could get infection or maggots.



Nice Buck !!
 
Thanks Jack I just looked yesterday evening and it is forming into a drop tine now. It is a little more swollen but may turn out ok. We will continue keeping a close eye on him until hard horn! Hes a Rolls Royce/Blackout by the way
 
Jake, my guess is that it is a Bott-fly larvae. It probably wont hurt anything, and will leave a hole in the end of his beam. I have taken them out before and they are nasty creatures. I have also seen them under the skin on the bodies of Whitetails and on Cotton-Tailed Rabbits. If that is what it is you might notice slight movement around the opneing on his antler. He looks like he is tame. Nice buckand tell Greg that I said hello Darren
 
Robert Bittinger said:
i have a four year buck rubbing antlers today.i just checked on him and he is a bloody mess.kind of early. last year early sept.robert
Click to expand...



ya seen a wild ( little ) guy 4 point rub today n mount a ( tame ) doe we have here in are yard ,, she had no part of it .lol. and all of his red ( summer ) hair is gone . odd to me ????:p
 
I have a yearling that started shedding about 2 weeks ago one side is very dark and the other is a little bloody. But is still great!



here is the updated pic of my buck and deffinately a broken tip



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pen58-29-1117.jpg
 
He is beautiful!! I had the same problem this year with one of mine....kept damaging it over and over.....drove me nuts worrying! The Vet and I have kept a close eye on ours and he is now starting to rub his....all bloody.

Why so early this year???
 
a coulpe years ago i had a two year old buck rub out on Aug 11-13, not sure which day, i was working out of town, i saw him in velvet on the 12th before i left, when i was back on the morning of the 14th he was all cleaned up. I never had heard of anyone that had a buck rub out earlier than that, but i am sure it happens in the wild every year.
 

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