Antlered Does (in progress)

Other than caribou and reindeer, in most species of deer only males have antlers. However anomalous antlered does have been reported in blacktail, elk (Buss & Solf, 1959), mule deer (Buechner, 1957;Diem, 1958; Dixon, 1917 Wislocki, 1956), red deer, roe deer, and whitetail (Buechner, 1957; Wislocki, 1954; 1956).

Doe antlers sometimes appear equivalent to those in the male and sometimes small, deformed, or in velvet after the velvet should have been shed. This condition is variously attributed to hermaphroditism or reduced ovaries function from disease or old age. Some does in antler are fertile (Diem, 1958) and others are not.

It has been observed that mature and fertile does have antlers that remain in velvet unless damaged.  Thos with polished antlers are more likely to be hermaphrodites (Diem, 1958).

• Buechner, H. K. (1957). Three Additional Records of Antlered Deer. Journal of Mammalogy, 38(2), 277-278.
• Buss, I. O., & Solf, J. D. (1959). Record of an Antlered Female Elk. Journal of Mammalogy, 40(2), 252-252.
• Diem, K. L. (1958). Fertile antlered mule deer doe. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 22(4), 449-449.
• Dixon, J. (1927). Horned does. Journal of Mammalogy, 8(4), 289-291.
• Wislocki, G. B. (1954). Antlers in female deer, with a report of three cases in Odocoileus. Journal of Mammalogy, 35(4), 486-495.
• Wislocki, G. B. (1956). Further notes on antlers in female deer of the genus Odocoileus. Journal of Mammalogy, 37(2), 231-235.