My second deadhead in a year

[AughtSixGuy]

Here's an interesting deadhead I found last week while scouting for Muleys in the Southern California mountains. It's about the size of my hand, and as beest as I can figure, it was a young buck that was killed after it had shedded its antlers, because the pedicles are somewhat rounded and porous, like the end of shed antlers. But they also look a little jagged, and could both be broken off. Either way this skull is very small and no antlers attached. Thoughts?

 

[fatrooster]

Maybe a buck fawn with nubbins? fatrooster.

 

[AughtSixGuy]

That's the best I can figure. The nubbins are porous which makes me think it had just shed prior to being killed/dying. I'll never know, but it sure looks cool!

 

[HayZeus]

Yup, he shed em and died.

 

[AughtSixGuy]

That's what I was figuring. Pretty rare find!

 

[lundellhunting7]

I find about 3 or 4 of those a year... they are a pretty cool find.. yet to find one with a head shed out and the sheds laying by it though

 

[AughtSixGuy]

Wow what a trip. I wish I could find that many deadheads, but I'm glad to find any at all. But then again I'm just getting into shed/deadhead hunting.