Question About A Nice Ca. Buck

bigmoose

WKR
Joined
Apr 29, 2012
Messages
575
Location
Yerington Nv.
Here's a buck I was able to photograph for several years in the foothills. The first couple photos are when I think he was 2 1/2 years old. He's already a 4X4. The later photos are 4 years later. He's filled out and has his best set of antlers. This was the last year I found him.

Check out his face on the close up photo. Looks like some kind of hair slippage around his nose. Also, his right eye has something going on. You guys seen anything like this ? I've seen this on a tanned cape where the hair has slipped but not on a live animal.

2 year old r.JPG004r.JPGIMG_1544satr.JPGIMG_1544sattr.JPGIMG_1549r.JPG
 

bbkick25

FNG
Joined
Jul 15, 2018
Messages
16
He may have his nose up in a bird feeder or something similar trying to eat. Definitely have seen scars like that on Texas deer.
 
Joined
Jul 27, 2021
Messages
1,422
I would say from fighting. I have seen old whitetails scared up and even a eye knocked out like that.
 

mxgsfmdpx

WKR
Joined
Oct 22, 2019
Messages
4,183
Location
Central Arizona
This belongs in the blacktail forum


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Not so fast… He mentioned foothills so it’s VERY likely this is a hybrid buck. Just about all the foothill “black tails” when tested turn up as hybrids. Look at his tail shape, neck shape, and overall stature.

If he’s that close to golf courses and residence a lot of times they are sticking their nose into feed on things like bird feeders, corners of barn with hay, etc. The eye looks to be from a fight but could have easily stabbed himself with a garden tool or something sharp around the golf course.
 
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bigmoose

bigmoose

WKR
Joined
Apr 29, 2012
Messages
575
Location
Yerington Nv.
Yes, he's most likely a hybrid. He is a D5 buck that lived in the Pioneer area during the rut and winter. This was the only time of year I could find him.
 

kevin11mee

Lil-Rokslider
Joined
Jan 28, 2021
Messages
244
I'd say most California Mule deer are really hybrids. Generally if they are west of interstate 5 or the Sac River, they get classified as blacktail.
 
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