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Velvet disappearing question

RUGER

RUGER

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Ok so my buddy was driving out of his driveway Saturday morning and saw a dead deer just off in the field.
He got out and walked up to it and it was a beautiful 8 point, still in velvet, probably 1 1/2 year old.
He was kinda mad because he is all about only killing big mature deer.
He looked it over and decided it was a vehicle kill, as the rear leg / hip area was destroyed and visibly broken to bits.
Anyway, he snapped a picture of it and went on his way.

He returned home about 5 hours later and looked over at the deer and the antler that was sticking up in the air was COMPLETELY clean and he said it was slick as if it was late November and he had completely rubbed it all off.
Antler was white as snow, and slick as a button.

The only thing I can think of is some kind of insect or ant maybe ate it all?
Buzzards had not yet been on the deer and there were no other signs of anything touching any other part of the deer.

Anyone ever seen or heard of anything like this?


He does not drink and I have seen the pictures.
 
RUGER said:
@BSK ever heard of such ?
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I have not, but I would go with birds/crows.

And as I've tried to get many hunters (and even professional biologists) to understand, "dark" racks come from the bleeding of the velvet when it splits. No blood, no staining and the antlers are bone white. Obviously, a deer that dies before the velvet splits on it's own can't bleed onto the rack hence no staining and the antlers are bone white.
 
BSK said:
I have not, but I would go with birds/crows.

And as I've tried to get many hunters (and even professional biologists) to understand, "dark" racks come from the bleeding of the velvet when it splits. No blood, no staining and the antlers are bone white. Obviously, a deer that dies before the velvet splits on it's own can't bleed onto the rack hence no staining and the antlers are bone white.
Click to expand...
Interesting info, BSK.
 
BSK said:
I have not, but I would go with birds/crows.

And as I've tried to get many hunters (and even professional biologists) to understand, "dark" racks come from the bleeding of the velvet when it splits. No blood, no staining and the antlers are bone white. Obviously, a deer that dies before the velvet splits on it's own can't bleed onto the rack hence no staining and the antlers are bone white.
Click to expand...
Pssss Seek One said otherwise, lol just kidding just kidding. I couldn't help myself and I'm bored.
 
Insects would be my guess. Sure doesn't take flies and gnats long to get on stuff, add in some ants and imagine they could clean velvet of pretty quick.
 
Hduke86 said:
I would but I'm on the neighborhood watch app to see which rose bush Ol Estate Donkey is going to bed under this evening and then I have to make sure I turn the sprinkler timer off so I don't disturb his pattern.
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God I love the people on this site! :p
 
I heard from a old cattle farmer that buzzard will eat the eyeballs first. He has had several newborn calves lose an eyeball due to buzzards. He has even gotten a depredation permit to shoot buzzards. So with all the nutrients in velvet that is fresh, I wonder if a buzzard could have done it.
 
double browtine said:
I heard from a old cattle farmer that buzzard will eat the eyeballs first. He has had several newborn calves lose an eyeball due to buzzards. He has even gotten a depredation permit to shoot buzzards. So with all the nutrients in velvet that is fresh, I wonder if a buzzard could have done it.
Click to expand...
I guess anything is possible.
Pretty wild for sure.
What confuses me is the eyeballs were still there and no other signs of anything eating on it anywhere else.
 

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