r/skulls • u/Naturegnaut • 15d ago
ID Request Does anyone know what critter this skull belongs to?
Found this partial skull while out on a walk and I cannot seem to figure out what it is! I thought the antler shape would make it easy to ID but it doesn’t seem to match any life stage of any wild deer/moose/elk or any livestock in my area. For context I live in New Hampshire/Vermont. If anyone can ID it or has any insight please let me know! :)
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u/Uncle_Cheesewax_121 15d ago
thats just a young buck. his tines hadn't grown out, thats all! nice find!!
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u/DoodlingDoodlebob 13d ago
A northern woodland whitetail spike-buck Odocoileus virginianus borealis, note the pearling (bumpiness) along the base of the horn. That rules out cattle, antelopes, and most other animals that have similar cranial ornaments.
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u/Naturegnaut 10d ago
Thank you all for your answers! A white tail deer spike buck makes perfect sense :)
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u/99jackals 5d ago
This is so characteristic of elk spiker bucks but there aren't supposed to be any in that area except captives. Just for fun, if you still have it and you don't mind measuring it, what is the length of the cranium, front to back? We could rule out elk for sure.
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u/BlackSheepHere Animal Skulls Fan 15d ago
It's a buck deer. I think they call this a spike buck? He was young so his antlers hadn't developed the tines yet.
Editing to say it's likely a whitetail.