August 2022 - 29

genetics for antler growth, but we can
manage for habitat and nutrition, which has
a dominating role on what happens to the
survival and growth of offspring, " Monteith
said.
Well-nourished moms require more and
better-quality forage. With that, male offspring
have a better chance of reaching their full
genetic potential, including antler size.
Age demonstrates the potential of antler
development. It's long been known it takes
years to see what a bull or buck will produce
for antlers in size and configuration. Nutrition
plays a role every year in antler growth; poor
food and water access stunt growth, regardless
of genetic potential.
Wacky-racked bucks and bulls can be
a genetic phenomenon. Tammy Hoover's
photo of the tremendous nontypical mule
deer buck proves that notion. The buck
supported similar variations of the heavy, odd,
yet character-rich antlers in the several years
she observed him. What an amazing buck.
Most aberrant antlers are not linked to
genetics. Ian Tator, Wyoming Game and
Fish Department terrestrial habitat program
manager, shared the results of research from the
Auburn University Deer Lab. Steve Ditchkoff,
who conducted the research, concluded that
" 75 percent of antler abnormalities in whitetailed
deer result from skull trauma to a male's
pedicle, the spot where antlers grow from the
skull. " Given that bucks and bulls regularly
spar or fight to determine breeding status,
skull injuries are not unexpected. Injuries to
the pedicle early in life means abnormal antler
growth will occur annually.
Look closely at the photo of the bedded
bull elk with three antler beams, one growing
out of the middle of his forehead. While not
readily visible, antlers developing like that
typically grow from the damaged pedicle. The
bull with his weird left antler growing like a
long club has a normally-formed right antler
with six points. Just below that right antler,
above the eye, another antler that looks like
a short spear grew off his skull plate.
After examining the photo of that bull,
Jim Heffelfinger, wildlife science coordinator
for the Arizona Game and Fish Department
and full research scientist at the University
of Arizona commented, " Antlers are such
strange and fascinating things. And while
there is plenty we don't know; we do know
that any injury to the skull - even among
This bull elk has a club-like left antler and a normal-shaped right antler. Growing below that is a short, spear-like third
antler beam about 5 or 6 inches long. (Photo by Tim Christie)
females - can cause an antler to grow from
that spot. There's something about the healing
of the injury and the bone reformation that
transitions into a spot for an antler. "
Looking at that bull's ears - or what's left
of them - he's been a brawler. Such clashes
can easily explain the abnormal deformity of
his left antler and the spike growing in front
of his right antler.
Does skull damage influence an animal's
personality? Likely not, but many years ago, I
crossed paths with a bull elk with a 24-to-36inch
spear-shaped antler growing vertically
from the side of his head. He was an illtempered
malcontent, and every encounter I
had with him during the fall rut he aggressively
charged at me with no provocation. Long after
the rut in late November I was photographing
bighorn sheep on a hillside when we spotted
each other. Despite being several hundred
yards from the elk he immediately headed
toward me. Knowing his erratic, belligerent
nature I retreated to my pickup rather than
face his uncertain intentions. I often wonder
whether his aggressiveness was somehow linked
This bull elk has a three-beam antler formation that
usually is the result of injury incurred earlier in his
life. (Photo by Tim Christie)
Wyoming Wildlife | 29

August 2022

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of August 2022