What is wrong with this deer?

[Brown Dogs Matter]

Hopefully not CWD. He's got a nice set of antlers, but you may want to call a biologist if you actually down him. The sample area is inside the skull, and KDFWR would need some tissue from there in order to diagnose.

I sent a screenshot to a biologist that I know from KDFWR. It'll probably be Monday before he gets back with me - in case he asks, what county is this pic from?

 

[davers]

View attachment 64925

Had this buck come in earlier this week. The rack looks fine but the deer is looking like he is not doing well. I know that bucks can wear themselves down during the rut, but he looks like he has something else going on.

What do y’all think?

Can't say for certain, but he might be a survivor of E.H.D. You might want to go ahead and take him and called your area Wildlife Biologist. Don't want to scare anyone here but he just might have Chronic Wasting Disease (C.W.D.) I believe the State would issue another Buck Tag. But take him out & call the Biologist.

 

[Brown Dogs Matter]

Surprisingly enough, my biologist buddy already replied. Here's his thought on the matter -

https://www.northeastwildlife.org/disease/brain-abcess-syndrome

 

[carnivore]

I would try to take him out and would discontinue using corn to prevent spreading disease.

 

[davers]

Surprisingly enough, my biologist buddy already replied. Here's his thought on the matter -

https://www.northeastwildlife.org/disease/brain-abcess-syndrome

Good article!

 

[hardtimes]

Surprisingly enough, my biologist buddy already replied. Here's his thought on the matter -

https://www.northeastwildlife.org/disease/brain-abcess-syndrome

Thanks. If you don’t mind to, could you please PM me the biologist contact information or I can reach out to KDFWR on Monday.
I actually have video from the cam of the deer. The deer doesn’t show any signs of having difficulty when he is walking around and feeding, it’s just his appearance.

 

[scastle]

shouldn't we as hunters take animals like this out of the herd.I see post all the time of broken legs and other wounds and no one wants to kill them, because it will cost me my buck tag. I don't know, hate to see things suffer when they could have been taken out. just my thoughts on the matter

 

[ojibwa62]

I know if a buck us really running does they can lose as much as 30% of their body weight..

 

[carnivore]

shouldn't we as hunters take animals like this out of the herd.I see post all the time of broken legs and other wounds and no one wants to kill them, because it will cost me my buck tag. I don't know, hate to see things suffer when they could have been taken out. just my thoughts on the matter

I think most people would do the right thing in or out of season and choose not to post it here. Deer with a bum leg usually do fine but many deer that are suffering have infections and cannot be eaten. I wouldnt even judge a person for not tagging it as long as they dont take any meat or antlers.
Ive done it with permission (called kdfwr) They asked if it was a buck, when i told them it was a doe i was instructed to shoot it and only tag if i could salvage the meat. Im not sure what they would have said if it was a buck but i suspect they would have told me to tag it if i wanted the antlers.

 

[ojibwa62]

Hopefully not CWD. He's got a nice set of antlers, but you may want to call a biologist if you actually down him. The sample area is inside the skull, and KDFWR would need some tissue from there in order to diagnose.

I sent a screenshot to a biologist that I know from KDFWR. It'll probably be Monday before he gets back with me - in case he asks, what county is this pic from?

I thought about CWD and it is a possibility.. If it is you can say bye bye to using corn.

 

[carnivore]

I thought about CWD and it is a possibility..

That would be a very big deal.

 

[ojibwa62]

That would be a very big deal.

I added to my post .. in States I have lived in when cwd showed up baiting was all but banned and the use of natural deer urine was also banned or being looked at.. the later doesn't bother me because the synthetic lures work just as well.

 

[allseasonhunter]

But then again what do biologist know. I mean I have one who autopsied a double lung shot deer that lived and all the experts on here said it could never happen. I'd say listen to the majority answer posted here and not what your biologist said because he isn't right.

 

[beauhunter41031]

I wonder if deer can get Johne’s disease,I see it in cattle sometimes where they literally crap themselves to death

 

[WildmanWilson]

I’d say CWD is near zero since there have never been any in the state. EHD is a very high possibility. It could be a number of other things as well. If you don’t want him then let him go and see what happens. Nature takes care of itself pretty well. Other than being skinny he seems ok to me.