Messed up Deer in my Yard

308 · Jul 27, 2015

I've had these two bucks hanging around for 3-4 years now. They used to be very healthy looking when they were younger, but something has happened. One of them, the oldest, looks like he had his jaw broken a couple years ago, or is suffering some disease. His antlers were in the past, nice 4-points, but now they are not looking so well with the little bumps and non-symmetrical growth. The other is his younger, more dominant buddy who lost half of his rack a week ago. I found blood on the ground near the feeder, then saw him later that day with half his rack gone.

My main concern (not that I can do anything about it) is the older buck...his mouth and jaw are in real bad shape, but it does not keep him from eating well.

Here are a few pics. Comments/thoughts are welcome.

Certaindeaf · Jul 27, 2015

Looks like it got falcon punched by Chuck Norris. Poor thing.

ZA_Survivalist · Jul 27, 2015

If you feed him, maybe soft foods to make it easier?

Mark W. · Jul 27, 2015

They will taste just fine.

coyotecaller · Jul 27, 2015

Wow! As a hunter, I'm saddened to see this. Hate to watch animals suffer. Could have been some beautiful bucks, come season. I wonder if someone tried head shots with a gun on them with horrible marksmanship or if they survived getting hit by a vehicle? Though on the body, there is no visible road rash or body wounds. I can only guess but my hunch is that it's caused by man, rather then a medical issue. They look healthy otherwise.

308 · Jul 27, 2015

ZA_Survivalist said:
If you feed him, maybe soft foods to make it easier?

They get Purina Antler Max. Small pellets like rabbit food. One thing for sure is Mr.BrokenJaw has no problem eating. He grabs cherries from the neighbor's tree and I've watched him eat the green husks off walnuts. He also likes the small quaking aspen shoots popping up all over the yard...thankful for that I am.

308 · Jul 27, 2015

coyotecaller said:
Wow! As a hunter, I'm saddened to see this. Hate to watch animals suffer. Could have been some beautiful bucks, come season. I wonder if someone tried head shots with a gun on them with horrible marksmanship or if they survived getting hit by a vehicle? Though on the body, there is no visible road rash or body wounds. I can only guess but my hunch is that it's caused by man, rather then a medical issue. They look healthy otherwise.

There has been construction in the nature park by our house for the last couple years. I thought maybe he got spooked and ran into their construction fence or a tractor, or may fell into one of their pits. Like I said, he was fine a couple years ago and that was prior to construction.

Garg · Jul 27, 2015

Poor babies. We have a lot of deer through our land, once I noticed one of them had a horrible abscess on one of it legs. I am guessing coyotes tried to take it. Haven't seen that one for about a year. I always try and make sure they feel safe here, just in case I need them later. Recently the wife and I were alarmed to a sound out back, and witnessed about 20 or so Elk moving through the back area. Quite a sight.

filsonhand · Jul 27, 2015

I wonder if they are eating a bunch of human food from the local parks.

Do they have tumors on them also??

308 · Jul 27, 2015

filsonhand said:
I wonder if they are eating a bunch of human food from the local parks.

Do they have tumors on them also??

'snota tumah!

filsonhand · Jul 27, 2015

308 said:
'snota tumah!

Well spoken Aaaanold

jbett98 · Jul 27, 2015

Check this site out on what's called "Dork Deer"

https://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct...=Qg_w5Kyk7nmEyCOJnAU9zw&bvm=bv.98717601,d.cGU

coyotecaller · Jul 27, 2015

308 said:
There has been construction in the nature park by our house for the last couple years. I thought maybe he got spooked and ran into their construction fence or a tractor, or may fell into one of their pits. Like I said, he was fine a couple years ago and that was prior to construction.

I doubt either of those(respectfully), because deer, especially bucks, are mostly nocturnal in the wild and their pupils dilate much more then our human eyes can, so vision is not an issue in the dark for them. They wander in the timber and hard walking clear cuts night after night without breaking their legs. Even under stress during hunting season, I've witnessed spooked bucks run for a particular direction back in to the woods. Most times there was a beaten path or at least a visibly used route, so they have an escape plan in the back of their mind, for just in case it seems.

Member 5605 · Jul 27, 2015

I think the other thing you could call them "Derp Deer"

elsie · Jul 27, 2015

I think antlers like that are usually caused by an injury of some sort, where the antler is damaged. It would be consistent with an injury to the jaw as well.

Or it could be a disease. I'd forward it to ODFW or some college professor type.

elsie

Stomper · Jul 27, 2015

Almost looks like a fungus is attacking their hornage...

Talin · Jul 27, 2015

Just an observation post: Nice use of your lense and good quality of the close ups, solid detail and you can see what you are talking about in all of your photos ...... Hope they do well for the remaining time in their lives.