Why some mule deer have split ears?
- IdahoMuley
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- IdahoMuley
- Spike
- Posts: 82
- Joined: Sun Jan 25, 2004 5:09 pm
- Location: Idaho
Well you know it's just this younger generation mule deer bucks now-a-days. They split their ears, hang out past their curfew, and don't come home at all sometimes. 8)
Actually I believe the harsh winters are more responsible than other factors (predators, antler to antler conflicts, fences, etc.). There's not a lot of blood into this area anyway and severe cold does make them brittle and able to split.
In my part of the country where it's mild winters (Columbian Blacktails) I have rarely seen bucks or does with split ears. However, mule deer in cold country tend to have more. Who knows, maybe it is the younger generation bucks. 8)
BOHNTR )))-------------------->
Actually I believe the harsh winters are more responsible than other factors (predators, antler to antler conflicts, fences, etc.). There's not a lot of blood into this area anyway and severe cold does make them brittle and able to split.
In my part of the country where it's mild winters (Columbian Blacktails) I have rarely seen bucks or does with split ears. However, mule deer in cold country tend to have more. Who knows, maybe it is the younger generation bucks. 8)
BOHNTR )))-------------------->
- IdahoMuley
- Spike
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akw270:
You're kidding me right? "Nice and warm" Utah? I remember one September I was bowhunting monster muleys at 11,000' in some back country in "warm" Utah. One of those summer thunderstorms blew in and promptly dumped a few inches of snow and produced some frigid wind. Brrrrrrr! Nope, I think Utah can get cold enough. If that's what it feels like in September, I can imagine what December feels like. :D
Now keep in minds guys, I'm about to complete the 7th day of temperatures ABOVE 93 degrees and it's only March! :( Unfortunately that what happens when you live in the Sonoran Desert of California.
BOHNTR )))------------------->
You're kidding me right? "Nice and warm" Utah? I remember one September I was bowhunting monster muleys at 11,000' in some back country in "warm" Utah. One of those summer thunderstorms blew in and promptly dumped a few inches of snow and produced some frigid wind. Brrrrrrr! Nope, I think Utah can get cold enough. If that's what it feels like in September, I can imagine what December feels like. :D
Now keep in minds guys, I'm about to complete the 7th day of temperatures ABOVE 93 degrees and it's only March! :( Unfortunately that what happens when you live in the Sonoran Desert of California.
BOHNTR )))------------------->
BOHNTR, your exactly right about the cold weather splitting the ears. I won't pretend that I am all knowing and that this was a simple question to answer (as if I have to point out to you all that I don't know EVERYTHING!). I was watching a discovery channel special last night and they covered this exact subject. When the weather gets extremely cold, the deer's body diverts the blood flow to more vital parts of the body. When this happens, the ears get cold, brittle, and then split. I guess it's relatively painless since they more than likely are numb by that point anyway (Still don't sound too pleasent to me).
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- IdahoMuley
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