Cutting antlers off breeder bucks

Just remember when and if you cut them DON'T cut them to short. As they still rub and to will lead to possible infection around the base from imbedded bark and what the hell ever else they decide to attack! ;-)) I like to leave them about an inch and a half. Just what has worked for me is all.

It will always have variables to cut or to not cut! One year I cut them all and had 2 fighting and a third came in and caught one from the side and broke his neck. Next year we left one on to keep the order in the pen and had good luck. The next year we had a really nice 2 year old that I decided to let keep his rack and drop it naturaly he was not bottle fed and was real laid back attitude..............Turned out to be his demise @ 241" and 250+ pounds plus we figured when the hormones kicked in he would be good to go.......Nope the others he had spent his whole like with started fighting and he got killed. Really ugly broke one horn out of his skull broke his jaw and nocked one eye out.

So this year we decided to leave everyones hat on....................Well ol Maxin Alike killed 2 other 2 year olds that he had been in with for the past 2 years. So next year EVERYONE gets a horncut!

stepheck said:

Just remember when and if you cut them DON'T cut them to short. As they still rub and to will lead to possible infection around the base from imbedded bark and what the hell ever else they decide to attack! ;-)) I like to leave them about an inch and a half. Just what has worked for me is all.

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I would heed this recommendation ''not to cut too short''. Although I've never seen the difference, cutting them short or leaving a bit of a stub, in their abilities to lose when it's time(but I say agian here that Gary has), but I have experienced infections around the bases of a fair amount of bucks.



Never before have I thought it could be due to ''cutting too short'' but it makes sense and I'll wager that that is exactly what it is caused from.

Especially when one considers that they will rub on the ''treated posts''!

''Treated'' splinters going in around the bases are nothing short of ''poison darts'' Even splinters off trees could not be good of course, but especially the posts.



Thanks for the heads up Stepheck...I think you nailed it

We have had deer that were sawed bang heads and damage pedicles and even crack a skull in one case. So by cutting them there is a chance you can screw up their antlers for future years. That is the trade off you risk, along with the trauma of either darting them or running them into the chute to cut the antlers in the first place. So either way there are risks -



Should mention that our pens have 45 degree corners so it is a little more difficult for a breeder to pin a doe in the corner.

cut them at 1 1/2 inches then hose clamp boxing gloves to each antler.

What r you guys using when cutting antlers. I have always wondered where some people get the rope saws, because I had one once and about 3 pulls and the darn thing broke.

WICKED WHITETAILS said:

What r you guys using when cutting antlers. I have always wondered where some people get the rope saws, because I had one once and about 3 pulls and the darn thing broke.

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new blade in a saws all.

I agree saws all is the best........but it does make noise!!

WICKED WHITETAILS said:

What r you guys using when cutting antlers. I have always wondered where some people get the rope saws, because I had one once and about 3 pulls and the darn thing broke.

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Although a saws-all is no doubt best, especially if they are older bucks with extra thick bases, a good bone saw works well also, which is what I have used more than anything else.

On one occassion I witnessed a guy use one of those rope saws you speak of and it went through the antler surprisingly fast. I would suspect though that using the rope saw might present some issues in getting/keeping the proper/desired angle.

In an effort to be thorough, here is another scenario and reason to cut them off: Leaving horns on can also be dangerous to and can cause problems if a buck takes sick when he is in with others that have horns on. As his dimeanor changes, it will be picked up on, capitolized on by his ''buddies'', and could end up being his ultimate demise that would have otherwise been, or at least could have been, a routine tranquing and administering of meds.

I've lost bucks before that I thought I could have saved had they not been in with other bucks with ''weapons'' of mass destruction.

I use a "short cut" hand saw...it's really sharp and works fast. It works better than a cordless sawzall for me.