Antlered Doe

[the keepa]

About two weeks ago, while sitting in our shootingshack, my son saw a deer that was still in the velvet . It was difficult to get a good look at the deer it being 300 yds. off, but I said that the deer was probably a female . He thought I was pulling his leg .
Today the same deer walked out about 50 yds. from the shack . Two fawns were with her , but we weren't sure if they were hers/his/its'. Awhile later we noticed that "Velvet" had teats which was confirmed when both fawns nursed .
The antlers are actually spikes about 4-5 inches long covered with a tan fuzz. According to the internet does with antlers are not that uncommon , but in 61 years of hunting this is a first for me .

 

[manitou210]

Saw one spike horned doe 1961 west quebec

 

[Workin Man]

For the last two years I have had a fork horn come in to one site accompanied by a smaller antlerless deer. Always interacts with other does and fawns like it is a doe, not a buck and it seems to keep the velvet while other deer have shed it. That property has changed ownership and I don't have access at the moment, so not sure if "it" is still around. I've only seen it during archery season and way beyond bow range. Everybody hunting the property thinks its an antlered doe, but no way to confirm it unless one of us gets "it".

 

[Skippy]

Interesting. So if you drop such an animal is it valid on your antlerless tag or on a buck tag only?

 

[mattpiloto]

Interesting. So if you drop such an animal is it valid on your antlerless tag or on a buck tag only?

I think it depends on the province. In Alberta, the tag is for either antlered or antlerless, antlered being any antler 4" in length or over. So here, at least, it would probably count as antlered.

 

[Fox]

Antlered in Ontario is antlered, you cannot use an anterless only tag on this antlered deer.

 

[bronco_mudder]

In Manitoba it would have to be tagged with an antlered tag. We have antlered, and antlerless tags here. To be considered antlered it needs to be 4 inches or longer if memory serves me correctly.

 

[John Y Cannuck]

In Ontario, if a deer has antlers (over 7.5cm long), it's legal to shoot (within seasons) with the standard deer license. You need an antlerless tag from the draw, to shoot antlerless deer (the so called 'doe tag')

 

[the keepa]

I think the MNR definition of "antlerless" would be a fawn or a doe .This deer is obviously a doe because it bore twins that suckle on her .

 

[ROY-alty33]

I think the MNR definition of "antlerless" would be a fawn or a doe .This deer is obviously a doe because it bore twins that suckle on her .

No it does mention ### only antler or antlerless. I'm sure they would like to see such a speciman though.

 

[Bowie]

Is this like the equivalent of a woman with a moustache?

 

[Workin Man]

Interesting. So if you drop such an animal is it valid on your antlerless tag or on a buck tag only?

It would be considered an antlered deer. We can get 4 additional tags for that particular WMU this year though and they are good for both antlered and antlerless.

 

[senior]

There have been two shot in this immediate area in the last 5 yrs!

 

[John Y Cannuck]

Yes, you can shoot her, with a standard tag. The ministry considers it a buck, as it has antlers, and, walking through the bush towards you, in season, no way you could tell it from a buck..

 

[coaken]

Last fall one was hit in front of my neighbours place. Made for lots of good conversation. It definately would fall under a "normal" deer tag in Ontario as long as the minimium of

"An antlerless deer is defined as a deer that has no antlers, or
has antlers that are less than 7.5 cm (3 inches) in length."

Direct quote from the regs posted by cut and paste and there is no mention of ###...

 

[snowhunter]

A mutant doe. I have seen an antlered cow moose scull in the Fort Nelson museum, B.C.

 

[krausb]

Is this like the equivalent of a woman with a moustache?

I was thinking exactly the same thing! But, yeah I guess it is.

 

[Skippy]

I was aware of the antlered vs. antlerless distinction, I guess it's obvious where this doe lies then.

I'd just be worried about running into a conservation officer who was having a bad day... but then again you;d be absolutly justified in thinking it was a buck, as you can't really see any more specific anatomy at 100yds.

 

[rlg]

Spiker with points

An Antlered Doe is uncommon, but most hunters have probably seen them without realizing it. It apparently occurs in about 1 per 1500 population and it is most likely caused by an abnormally high level of testosterone in the doe’s system. They usually look like a spiker, but if you look closely, they will have little points on the spikes.

 

[the keepa]

Saw her again this AM,with her two fawns .Got some video of her with the camcorder , but too far away to make out the spikes(lasered at 278 yds.) Once I download onto the VCR should be able to see the antlers better .
Watched the group for about an hour feeding on 2nd growth alfalfa, but didn't catch the fawns suckling .