What causes deformed deer antlers?

Question

I have seen several 'racks' that ranged from very badly deformed to moderately deformed and wonder why.It's commonly believed that bucks do not fight while the antlers are in the velvet stage so if that's true it must be some other injury, vitamin deficencey or bad genetics.Anyone knowing anything about this please post a answer, Thanks

Answer 1

The reason for this can be the same for many other deformities. It can be cause because of a vitamin deficiency or bad genetics, they are two very good reasons that would cause this, so really many different things can form it.

Answer 2

The growing bone—or antler—is full of blood vessels and nerves. Antlers are covered by a hairy skin called velvet. Injuries occur easily to the soft, sensitive growing bone, and accidents during this state cause many deformed antlers.

http://www.youngbucksoutdoors.com/Storie...

During the summer, the buck deer is not often seen. He restricts his movements to prevent damage to the rack. If a buck sustains injury to the velvety tissue the rack may become deformed or bleed. Injury can cause the tines to be blunted or to develop abnormally. As summer progresses, the level of the male hormone, testosterone, increases. The hormone slows and stops antler growth and causes the deer to shed the velvet.

http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/antl...

Rocky Mountain elk (Cervus elaphus nelsoni) bearing malformed antlers have been observed in northern Arizona during the last 10 years. We collected measurements from 28 skulls of bulls bearing abnormal antlers from the Hualapai Indian Reservation in northwestern Arizona. Most abnormalities were unilateral. Deformed antlers were smaller and had fewer points than normal ones, and originated from deformed pedicles. The abnormal pedicles tended to be larger, and varied in orientation and location relative to normal pedicles. Some males lacked pedicles on 1 side, and the deformed antlers originated directly from the frontal bones. Similar antler and pedicle abnormalities have been documented in other elk populations in northern Arizona. The appearance of the abnormal pedicles was consistent with fracture and subsequent repair of the bones. Such damage might be incurred during sparring among males, and multiple factors might predispose the pedicles to injury.

http://www.jstor.org/pss/3672757

Answer 3

Vitamin deficiency, or genetics are possibilities,

and it's true they don't fight till the rut begins,

but any damage to the delicate 'velvet' while the

antlers are forming could also have that effect.

Unless you're seeing a lot of deformation at one time, I'd

be more inclined to suspect that.

Answer 4

some times the bump into things