Unusual Elk Antler

[WackyRoger]

His Normal Antler



His Unusual Antler





This was a 7 to 8 year old Bull Elk. He had a broken left rear leg on his left side that had healed what looked like many years ago. This injury is what caused his right antler to grow in a strange way.


TOTALLY WACKY roger

[ishino]

very unique indeed!

[WackyRoger]

ishino wrote:

very unique indeed!

ishino thanks for looking and for taking the time to comment.


TOTALLY WACKY roger

[d-sr]

I'm confused. What does a broken left leg have to do with a strange right antler? It is unique as you say though.

DonR

[WackyRoger]

d-sr wrote:

I'm confused. What does a broken left leg have to do with a strange right antler? It is unique as you say though.

DonR

Don I can't tell the why's but over the years I have notice if a elk is injured on his left side his right antler will grow different than his left. Maybe someone can explain why this occurs.


TOTALLY WACKY roger

[WackyRoger]

A better answer

From Leonard Lee Rue III's Way of the Whitetail.
" It is well known that the right part of the brain controls the left side of the body and vice versa. In deer, an injury to the leg on one side of the body shows up as malformed antlers on the opposite side. This condition usually manifests itself for the rest of the deer's life and is known as contralateral condition "

It is also noted that this contralateral condition is more commonly seen in antler deformities in rear leg injuries.

Since I didn't know I looked it up using google.

TOTALLY WACKY roger