The links below go to pics of the second deer I shot this year...270yds with the Striker 7-08. I noticed a lump on its back when inspecting the deer after the shot...I've seen lumps like that when deer are spine hit and the bullet does not exit...but I was positive of my shot and if anything, it should have been an inch low...not 6" high. After I skinned the deer...the lump was not caused by a bullet but looked like a birth defect or it was hit by a car when young and healed with a funny kink in the spine. There was not foreign matter in the lump...only bone and lion. I linked to a pic of a good spine then the curvy spine. The deer is hanging w/ its rear legs up and neck down. You'll also notice in the first pic (w/ the hide on) that is has extra white patches on its side and the large lump just behind its shoudler. The ribs on one side are actually longer than the other side also.

Anyhoo...take a look at the pics and see what you think happened. I did not want to post the pics as they are a little gory for anyone not used to looking at skinned game or kids/wife in the room that don't like that kind of stuff.

Pic of deer w/ lump on Back LINK

Curvey Spine Side View LINK

Curvey Spine Interior Chest View LINK

Curvey Spine Rear View LINK

Normal Ribs LINK

I would guess it would have been caused by an injury of some kind, either like you said from a vehicle accident or some other type of injury.

Larry

i second what larry said.

Dan,

I work in the medical field delivering anesthesia in the OR (hence the name GASCHECK). After examining your interior chest photos I would agree that trauma was at play here. Although blood in the photo did block some anotomic landmarks I do believe that I see evidence of fractured ribs seperated from the vertebral bodies and them being healed to the next rib base above. There also appears to be scar tissue to the muscles between the ribs. I know you shot this one from a distance. But did it appear to be running normally? It is amazing that this deer survived what ever scrambled its chest before you really scrambled it.

GC...It was walking/running with seven other deer and seemed fine...but it never did lift its head. I figured it was looking really hard for something to eat!!

I wouldn't be surprized if it wasn't able to fully lift it's head. It's interesting what we find when we take the time to look

Where in NWPA are you located?? I'll be in the Warren area on Monday.

Dan,
excellent pix!!!

I know somw think they are gory....and they are right, but it is the best way for us to learn what a projectile does to a critter, also, you get to see some amazing survival instincts like in your deer.
Incredible on the will to live in nature.

Thanks

It could have happened while it was a fetus or from a genetic mutation that happens occasionally among humans. I have seen two walleyes with comperable curvatures of the spine, they certainly did'nt get hit by a car.

I live in Mercer about 3 miles off the Mercer exit of I79.
I work in Titusville, PA. Unfortunately I'm trapped in the Operating room next week. Surprisingly the week of Christmas is always a very busy time in an OR. A lot of kids with tonsils get done then so they have the break to recover. I'm kind of the pediatric specialist in our department so I'm committed. Would like to meet sometime though. Are you planning on going to Monroeville gun show this spring?

Heck...I'm up and down I79 several times per month...and usually through Mercer at least a dozen times per year. Rupe/PA is near Townville...we shoot together at least three or four times per summer.

Let me know what show you'll be at and I'll go.

Hey guys...I spoke with a client that has a "deer farm" regarding the curvey spine deer. She breeds and feeds deer for resale and game ranches. Ruth showed me a pie-blad buck on her property that has a birth defect...it's front legs were shorter than the back legs. She said at birth until about 2yrs old it walked almost like a rabbit...at about 2yr it started to level out and look close to normal. At four yrs he looks ok and sports a sweet 24" wide 6x5 rack!

Ruth said that the deformity I described to her sounded like a trait of pie-bald deer...a birth defect and a "Roman" nose (at least I think that is how it's spelled). From the factial pics I have of the deer it sounds exactly like that she was telling me about some pie-bald deer traits. She also said that I did well by taking it from the heard.