I have recently been informed that I think I know everything. Oh yeah, thats what he says. Because of who I am, its my way or no way. Of course, this person claiming this has his own little issues, but I thought Id clear the air. He made his claim on another post, but I wanted to say this here because I had additional info supporting an opinion I had on this subject. Plus I wanna piss the other guy off, hahaha.
This subject on the rub spots on deer chests was submitted a couple weeks ago. We all seemed to have a fun exchange on how or why it happens. Its tough, because every theory to its cause seems to not be consistent. I sat ticks, yet others have pointed out its not always. They claim its from breeding, yet I pointed out that other breeding bucks dont show it, nor do the does backs show it. On and on we went, and Im not sure we didnt have a bit of fun along the way.
Well, as much as one disgruntled forum participant would like you to believe I dream up my answers and think I rule, I fingered my trusty Merks Veterinary Manual, and low and behold, I have some text that at least supports my theory, at least as I stated it. This doesnt prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that its only this theory, but at least it will show Im not full of baloney! Read on...
On the subject of tick infestation..."Each species of tick has one or more favored feeding sites on the host, although in dense infestations, other areas of the host may be used. Some feed chiefly on the head, neck, shoulders and escutcheon, others in ears, others around the anus and under the tail. Immatures and adults often have different preferred feeding sites." ...ok, heres the good part..."Attachment of amblyomma spp is regulated by a male-produced aggregation-attachment pheromone which ensures that the ticks attach at sites least vulnerable to grooming."
OK, there you have it. Theres a basis, draw your own conclusions, and as always, have fun! For what its worth, I was just asked my opinion about how to handle the problem of an elk farm that was shooting off big animals and all of them had severe tick damage/rubs on their necks, almost ruining the capes for mounts.
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Ok, if this was ticks. Would it not be happening with other animals too?
I dont think its breeding/
I think that it happens when the deer is getting up or moving to lay down.
Comparing horses, the same breed of ticks seem to be attracted to horses in different places.
Big paint seldom gets any ticks.
Roam horse, brisket, inside rear legs and scrotum.
Paint mare, Front leg pits. occasionaly the inner thighs.
colt, no pattern.
Pony front chest and brisket.
What I am finding it it seems to be more related to the hair patterns, length of hair and courseness of hair.
Isn't this the greatest? We can discuss and argue this all we want yet the only ones that know the answers for sure are the critters that have it happening to them. Tic's makes sense but why do I see it only on each side of the brisket, not on the flanks or shoulders but only within a couple of inches of the brisket. I have caped out deer this year that have obvious spots from tic bites (little red spots on the inside of the skin) on their flanks that they could easily reach with their mouths and yet the obvious point is on each side of the brisket. I think the deer are the only ones who know for sure what the heck is going on with their bodies. Until they can tell us I guess we are left making assumptions and guessing. John
For I have witnessed it with my eyes. I have watched on more than one occasion deer crawling on there fours pushing on their chest. I couldn't figure out any other reason but they have one heck of an itch.
Bill I didn't read the other post you're talking about but, I just assumed the broken hair on the brisket came from where the deer lived most of the time. If he goes thru heavy briars and brush all the time his chest would be the first to get it from the thickest, toughest height of the briar bush. The brisket hair is the coarsest and most brittle most prone to break. Not that I think the tick theory is wrong, I just never give gave ticks a thought as a reason.
to the other subject, .I thought I read just about all of them on the brisket shaving, but I guess I missed it.Tommy
As I stated before, here in the South ticks are bad. Deer have ticks all over their body. But, by far, the thickest infestation will be on the be in the brisket area, and the hair will be missing. I saw the same thing in South Africa on Kudu,Gemsbok,Zebra,where there would be a few ticks in the scrotom area,but the most would be in the brisket area.
It the loss of hair came from moving through briars,weeds, etc, there would be no hair anywhere on the lower part of their body,especially the knees on the front legs.
I have seen on deer and pronghorns, areas of cut hair or missing all together in the brisket area. In my part of the country, nearly all farms are bordered with barbed wire, some of the fences up to 5 feet high. I see lots of scars and missing hair that I feel can be traced to deer jumping these fences. Of course, we have a ton of ticks also. A lawn leaf bag and outdoor fogger bug spray is now the first step of my deer caping process!
I agreed with Bill initially and still do. Deer seldom "run through brush" and any of you who hunt know that. They have trails that are always worn clean and seldom venture far off them unless pushed. A feeding deer, regardless of sex would casually walk through brush much like you and I and would hardly damage their life protecting hair. Livestock won't play too well to this as they're seldom subjected to the constant of living wild as deer do, and they certainly don't allow much human pampering, even some of the penned guys.
or a localized itching. My thought is that if you notice when you groom the briskit area there is a lot of flaky skin that combs out. perhaps it's just itchy dandruff?
This past weekend was opening of rifle season here in arkansas. We got quite a few "hill" deer in that are still infested with ticks. One spot they really like is the backside of the ear butts. They really get thick here and alot of the deer were nearly bald in these spots. Was it from trying to rub the ticks loose? I figure that is alot of the reason.
I thought that the original question concerned the rubbed or broken hair spots that are found on either side of the brisket, ABOVE the hair line that runs from the brisket to the fromt of the legs. I would think that if this were due to ticks in the brisket that the brisket would be rubbed, not these spots. The spots seem to be too high to account for that kind of behavior on the part of the deer.
This year I have seen an abnormally high number of ticks in the brisket and arm pit area, but I have not encountered any rub spots. Lastly, when I have had these rub spots they usually, but not always, have been accompanied by some yellowing of the skin and connective tissue under the skin. This indicated brusing. I always figured that this might be fighing related, but I have no evidence to support it.
with Bill on this one. I read that original post and the answers that were posted too. I went home and while working in my shop, I noticed that the deer I was working on had the shaved look on the brisket at the collick. I started fishing around and pulled 6 ticks from the one spot. I couldn't find any other ticks in the mount except from that one spot. I thing you are right on for your theory Bill.
many more ticks on deer that have run across crop circles from the southeast to the northwest - it has something to do with the propulsion magnetic interrelational relays that drive alien spaceships - sorry for such a technical answer
deer have a large amount of ticks. it is not out of the ordinairy to have a 100 or so ticks around the brisket area, with major hair damage. i agree with bill on this one.
Pruritis is the inflamed skin as a result of feeding ticks. Dont forget, the ticks HIDE in the moist warm spots like briskets and armpits, and TRAVEL to those pheromone marked spots to FEED. Where they feed is where the inflamation is, and where the deer rubs, but not always where the resting tick is found.
I had a buck come in tonight from Missouri. The hunter told me that he saw many bucks with patches missing on the shoulders like the withers on a horse. He flet it was fighting. I thought fence. Again, not trying to be pushy, just my thoughts. God I hate having to post disclaimers when I comment! Either way, enjoy this exchange, I sure have!
By the way, Terry, are those crop patterns for real? Hahaha!
Just like men, as we get old our hair doesn't fall out it just takes a different route and grows out our nose and our ears!