Abnormal Elk Antler Growth?

BigSkyHunter · 04-10-2006, 06:55 PM

My friend got this bull (his first elk with a bow) during archery season last fall in Montana. A 5 x ?. Was wondering if anyone else had seen something like this in the past and know what causes it? Thought it would be interesting to share with you guys.

BloodNtheboat · 04-10-2006, 07:04 PM

Ive seen a few different bulls with deformations similar to that in Oregon, 3 total, and all were in the same general area. Someone told me that it is not genetic, but thats hard to argue, when I have seen 3 different bulls with similar deformities in the same 10 square mile area.
I have heard that this can also happen when they are young and thier antlers are just begening to sprout, and the take a fall, or hit thier head smashing the nub and damaging it.
Curious too as to what causes this, as theese are just observations on my part.
Brian

Limbhanger · 04-10-2006, 07:07 PM

There was a bull near the Tillamook Airfield a couple years ago with an antler like that. It grew straight down along his front shoulder.

waterfowlin101 · 04-10-2006, 09:17 PM

I've seen one bull that had a similar looking "club". It was a bit more girthy at the bottom than that one...and only had a spike on top. Don't know where the guy killed it but he was getting it mounted.

All, I could think was how sweet it would have been to be a cave man and run accross that weapon.

You definately would have been top dog, and I'm sure it would have brought many a woman back to the cave...oooga ooga ooga.

Jon

BloodNtheboat · 04-10-2006, 09:36 PM

Jon, you are familiar with the area of the messed up elk I speak of, I almost got a shot at a branch bull there bowhunting that had a enormous club hanging down probably 6 inches thick at the end it was pretty neat, would have made a nice mount. All three bulls had some sort of a "club" like you speak of, did you see very many others like this when you were workin at the shop?

waterfowlin101 · 04-10-2006, 09:40 PM

Nope buddy...Just that one....

actually, I do know where that one came from :grin: ....same unit your talkin' about Brian.

JB

duckboy · 04-10-2006, 10:35 PM

One cause for those is that when the elk is in velvet early on, if they get in a fight, or fall and somehow injure the growing antler, it can grow in a strange way.

They can also have an injury at the growth plate on their skull, and that can cause antler abnormalities.

Like if you damage your finger, or thumbnail bed, your nail will always grow messed up.

BigSkyHunter · 04-10-2006, 11:58 PM

Quote:

One cause for those is that when the elk is in velvet early on, if they get in a fight, or fall and somehow injure the growing antler, it can grow in a strange way.

They can also have an injury at the growth plate on their skull, and that can cause antler abnormalities.

Like if you damage your finger, or thumbnail bed, your nail will always grow messed up.

Good info. Thanks duckboy.

Opportunist · 04-11-2006, 01:52 AM

8-9 years ago my dad killed a 5x? bull, that bull had a cyst in his left shoulder the size of a grapefruit. His left shoulder had the cyst and his right antler was deformed. I've heard this happens to deer/elk, if one side of the body has a wound then the opposite side antler will grow abnormally.

Bendman · 04-11-2006, 07:19 AM

Like others have said it�s most likely a broken base. He will shed normally and his antler (would have)

grown back like that every year. Several years ago there was a big article in Bugle explaining how that happens. Pretty interesting article.

BigSkyHunter · 04-11-2006, 07:38 AM

Thanks for the info guys.

BSH

Ni! · 04-11-2006, 10:54 AM

There's a bull like that in the area I hunt. I first saw him in the 2002 season when he was a fork. The left side fork was bent down underneath his chin. Since then he's only grown a spike on the left side that curves below his jaw like a 1/2 curl ram. The right side has been a 5 point the last couple of years.

Ni!

Chesapeake · 04-11-2006, 11:58 AM

My buddies Dad shot an elk that looked alot like that in I think the Henry in Idaho. They would see the bull every year and even had a name for him. One year they came across the bull in the brush and could only see the good side. They didnt realize it was the strange antlered elk and shot it. He has the rack in his loft with many others he never felt like getting mounted.