Doe with antler

Last year when running the does thru before AIing, I noticed one of my 2 yr. old does had an antler started on one side. It was about an inch long and was in velvet form. The other day I notice that the antler had grown. It is very dark and about 2" long now and appears to be balling up for an additional point. Last year she took to AI and gave me 3 healthy fawns and seems to be very healthy looking. Has any one out there experienced this ? Is there any data or science behind this type of incident? I have seen pictures of antlered does before but thought it to be somewhat of a rarity. Maybe not so rare after all. Comments?



Tom

Tom,



This is a 5 year old doe that I got from Brad Heath last year, she was supposed to be bread but never had a fawn. Instead she grew a long spike and it was looking like it was going to fork then one morning I go to check on the deer and she is running around with her antler flopping around! Dont know how she did it but it was broken and hanging alongside her face and looks to be filling with blood as it is getting bigger.

I had a yearling, thought it was a buck. Tranq it double checked it was a doe. Have no experience if the extra bond on their head helps her offspring, time will tell. Rold Gold over Oscar Jr doe.

I have heard of guys putting a casturating ban around them and they fall of. Just a thought! Good Luck

I had a doe that produced a doe with horns every year she had a doe fawn. I have a yearling out of her now that is growing a 4 point set of antlers right now. If I am not mistaken I believe that a few of AGN Whitetails does had horns. I posted on this once when I had my first antlered doe. I couldn't find the old post though. I believe Nedry spoke of a few great producers he had that had up to 6 points.



I have heard people speak of antlered does both ways. I have not held on to one long enough to even see what she would produce. I can tell you this about our yearling doe that we have though. She was bottle fed and tame as a fawn. Now she is simply the worste, attitude wise, doe I have ever owned. This is the first one I have had that developed an attitude like this. She is simply crazy. I have had half a mind to put her down as I am worried she may just hurt herself to much. She is what defines a fence crasher.

Maybe this is the deer version of coming out of the closet?????



Deer live in a small and personal world, they are only concerned with what will effect then now or in the very near future, an antlered doe has been antlered her whole life to what ever extent the antlers grew, some deer exhibit these actions some are worse than others. Nature has a collection of laws that deer are programed to follow,some some ease through their world and some have to charge through it. If this is just one doe and she is not endangering any others just watch her if she was on my farm and her behavior was causing problems with other deer or her actions may turn into harming other's fawns .....well that is one of the criteria we use when we have to cull the size of our doe herd.

My antlered doe isn't the tamest of the bunch, but also isn't at the far end of the pen if you walk out to look at her. She seems to be mothering her fawn well. I pulled 2 doe fawns from her and left the buck on her. She is out of GB Webster and a Whiley sister--K Whitetails --Brad heath owned Whiley - what is the pedigree of the doe you bought from him? Does she have any Whiley in her? Whiley was bought off my brothers farm long ago from brad . I had one of the last few full whiley sisters left until a few years ago she died. It would be interesting to see if there is some blood relation to these does with antlers or if it is simply coincidental. Thanks for the comments everyone.



tom

I believe here in Ohio Levi Mast has an antlered doe but am pretty sure he hasn't gotten her to breed. Im pretty sure he said that she must produce testostrone and which prevents her from conceiving i geuss.

I was at RDM Wildbunches farm and they have a doe with a 6 point rack...they have gotten fawns from her for a couple years now.......crazy!! I guess it's like a woman with a mustache and a beard

I am collecting antlered doe pictures if anyone would be willing to share them with us. Presently working on an article about antlered does. Any help you can offer would be great. If your picture is used, we will send you a complimentary copy of the big fall issue of Deer Tracking Magazine, for you or a friend.



Look forward to your replies,

Thanks,

Tara <<

I have a doe with an antler and she just had triplets out of Blue Mountain Bill. She had twins last year, i guess we will see if her doe fawns have antlers....

At least you have something with bone on their head!! Just kiddin. Lindsay like your add, hope to see you in Austin. 401 K looks great. ZZ

thanks Monty!!!! We will be there on Friday!