split ears

graybeard · Feb 21, 2004

Brian and I were having a discussion on how mule deer get split ears. My opinion is that they (bucks) get them from fighting, mostly. You guy's that have spent lots of hours watching them will have your own opinions, so, what are they??? Steve

Founder · Feb 21, 2004

After one of our typical debates, Graybeard and I still feel differently on this one. Of course we usually do! You see, I'm usually right, but he just won't admit it. LOL Just kidding Steve!!

Ok, so he called me today and we began this discussion. He stated to me his theory, which is posted above. However, I have a different theory.
I believe that "deer" get split ears because of the very low blood flow in the thin cartilage near the outside edges of the ears. In addition, during the summer months when their hair is thinnest, many deer will wear much of the hair off the ends of their ears feeding in thick brush. Thus, compounding the problem, because the hair no longer protects the ears from the heat of the sun and the brush.

Splits in ears happen not only to bucks, but also to does, so the theory of it occurring as a result of a fight, doesn't fly in my opinion.
And, because ears move so freely, I think it would be very difficult for the antler tine of another deer to poke through a deer ear. And, the splits are usually only an inch or so long. If these injuries were occurring as a result of fights, we should see a greater number of 4-5 inch splits and more eyes poked out.

Bottom line, I say low blood flow in the thin cartilage.

What do you all think?

If you don't agree with me, you're banned!! LOL Just kidding!

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com

D13er · Feb 21, 2004

I've often wondered the same thing. I believe it is caused by many different things but mostly just "living" outside and "rough" your entire life. Anybody that has spent anytime in the wilderness has been scratched up from tree limbs, cactus, sharp rocks, etc. Just imagine spending your entire life outdoors. Imagine being startled and sprinting through the brush. Most of us don't panic and run through obstacles while in the woods but we still manage to get some nasty scratches and cuts. I would suspect that the low blood flow and dryness of the ears would cause a bad thorn scratch to heal the edges and split. Add in coyote's hanging from the ears, barbed wire, bucks fighting, blaf, blah, blah.........

JB

TheKnack · Feb 21, 2004

D13er- Probably would have to agree with you that it is a combination of different things that could cause this.
Best,
Jerry

AZbowhntr · Feb 21, 2004

I would also have to agree. I think the weather would be rough on their ears. But the javelina that I shot this year had a hole in its ear that you could put a dime through. Looked about the perfect size of a tusk. Don't know for sure though.

kingfish · Feb 22, 2004

Well I think it's all this ear piercing that these darn deer do now days....They put these dangly earrings on to attract bucks and they get them caught on branches and bushes...The males lose more earrings during the rut. Are most of the splits on there "right" or "left" ear???.

Skunkterd · Feb 22, 2004

This is an easy one, going trough crappy built or old fences

Remember you can $hit the tourist but there is no shitting skunk $hit

BUCKSPY · Feb 22, 2004

Atleast nobody said "From coyotes tugging on their ears trying to pull them down"

Ever had a bug crawl in your ear? How about a tick? Atleast you've got a fingertip to pick at it. It would be kind of hard to try and get it out with a hind hoof. Especially with the little bastard buzzing and trying to dig in. I could see a buck kicking at his ear with some frantic effort if the bug was getting after it.

I've seen bucks whacking at their antlers at shedding time with their hind feet. Could happen with the ear getting pinned between the antler and the hoof.

Ears are used for thermoregulation in the summer and are used to dissipate heat from a deer's body and is probably why the hair is so thin that time of year. Additionally, deer hold their ears back when feeding on brush and probably don't wear the hair down off the tips. Bucks with missing ear tips might have sustained some sort of vascular compromise and lost ear tips to frostbite. Many deer live their whole lives with intact ears in some cold-as-hell-places, so frost-bite would not seem to be that much of a problem without an injury or even genetic problem that would leave them predisposed to freezing appendages.

Fighting could lead to a tear but with the ear back and it being flexible, the ear would likely push away from an antler tine.

Bottom line. I don't know jack sheet about it and most likely we are all just taking a stab at the unknown. Also, its Sunday morning and I'm at work and bored.

BCBOY · Feb 22, 2004

I had a cat once that kept on $hitting in the house so we banished him to outside. One winter he got frostbite on his ears and they got all tattered.
I've had jillpokes put holes in me while working in the thick stuff, I can see how it would happen easily to a deer.

stalker · Feb 22, 2004

Nobody mentioned cat claw?
Actually I would be more inclined to believe fighting and possibly cold weather. Not so much as frostbite but just that it would be easier to damage the ear when it was cold.
Just another "stab" as mentioned before.
As a novice taxidermist I can say I do not care for torn ears.
Stalker

Blueoak · Feb 22, 2004

Its not cold here in Blacktail country and I find splits. Could be rubbing velvet and getting the ear between the horn and tree. Or maybe horn to horn in the rut. You can't poke a hole, but maybe smash them. Always wondered about it too.

freedivr2 · Feb 22, 2004

LAST EDITED ON Feb-22-04 AT 07:04PM (MST)[p]Great response, Kingfish, LMAO!

Just a guess here, too, but with a critter that uses his head for about everything, and those big ears are stickin off the top like antenna up there, and real thin, so their getting tattered or split (from all the brush busting and browsin in brush and trees) would seem inevitable to me...Probably even more so with bucks when you throw in the sparring and fighting that goes on from Sept thru Nov......

halfslam · Feb 22, 2004

I have been a full time taxidermist for almost 17years and thought the same thing.but i have witnessed a doe mule deer give birth to a new born fown from 30 yards away and to my saprise the fown was born with a split ear.but that does not mean they dont get them from fighting or fences or predeters.i have skined maney antlered game with old and new scares in their ears.but some split ears have showm no signs of scaring or fighting.hope this helps with your answere.

RACKMASTER · Feb 22, 2004

I have seen both Buck and Doe with "Ripped" ears,both Mule deer,and Blacktail! Never a yearlin! And I too wondered why,how!
Now I believe its all of the above! fences,dogs,cats,rubbing til hard horned,rut,predaters,think brush,and insects.
Thanks for the post! What else to think about til the tags start rolling in?
Good Luck fella! Jack!!

losthuntr · Feb 26, 2004

I've seen all kinds of deer of every age with split ears no ears, and half ears. I think in the are where I am from the winter months are hard on the ears, in deer elk antelope and moose. Their bodies divert bloodflow from their extremities including their ears to conserve body heat then the ears split or freeze over for a number of different reasons

fisrtcoueswas80inches · Feb 26, 2004

the deer that i shot this year was about a 2- 2.5 year old coues. i know i shot a baby but he was only my econd deer. newayz, he had a split ear and so did the dear that i shot last year and he was abour 3-4 years old. i have heard that it is from them gettin cold and splitting. my first deer had a whole at the begniing of the split just the exact size of my 30-06 bullet possibility??? i have often wondered this and gettin cold makes sense to me sense there is alread low blood flow to the cartlidge as it is
casey

RLH · Feb 27, 2004

in the places i hunt it's because i chase em down and ear mark em for later reference.

HullinPhx · Feb 27, 2004

I have to agree with Founder here.. I also have seen fawns with split ears.. I think it could be Hereditary. I have seen fawns sitting right next to thier moms and the does have split ears as well.