Scoring Central American White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus Virginianus Nelsoni) Antlers, in Motozintla, Chiapas, México

Abstract

On July 6th, 2020, a white-tailed deer in Chiapas was captured and rescued by residents from Canoas neighborhood in Motozintla de Mendoza. Chiapas, Mexico. According to local rumors, the specimen was chased by illegal hunters and feral dogs. A few hours after its capture, the white-tailed deer perished due to beats in its hind legs and from a myocardial stroke, caused by stress (capture myopathy). Later, the animal's body was used to measure the antlers set, the Method 17-T Entry Form for white-tailed deer with typical antlers from the Safari Club International (SCI) was used with a measuring tape in inches. The following measurements were taken to the antler set: a) Length of main beam, b) Length of typical tines, c) Circumference of main beam and d) Inside span of main beams. These measures gave a total score of 394/8 SCI points. This score is low, considering that the reported individual was a juvenile male with an age of approximately 2.5 years old, presenting a single point in the antler set. Finally, one of the important events found is that the white-tailed deer showed the detachment of the velvet that covers the antlers, even traces were found that the antlers were recently carved since they presented pieces of leaves adhered to the main branch of the left antler. The event occurred in July (rainy season), and may be due to the genetic characteristics of their parents, the type and quality of the habitat, the quality of forage and the variations of rain and droughts (seasonal), as well as the daylight hours.