Shedding is usually an easy process, but there are exceptions.
QUESTION: I have found several sheds over the years. I sometimes find an antler with part of the skull plate attached. I wanted to know how this affects the buck, and if he will recover from this injury?
ANSWER: It depends largely on how much skull material is attached to the antler base.
Under ordinary circumstances, changes in day length prompt hormonal changes that cause an abscission line to form between the skull pedicel and antler base. The tissue breaks down, and the connection becomes weaker until the antler falls off. The line is usually flat or slightly rounded but occasionally it’s less “clean” and smooth, possibly having small, jagged pieces.
This usually has no effect on the buck or future antler growth. Occasionally, in the event of injury, aging or disease, larger pieces of the pedicel or skull plate remain attached to the antler. If enough skull tissue is removed, bacteria can enter the open wound, possibly resulting in an abscess that can eventually result in death.
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