A buck with non-typical antlers is a rare spectacle in the world of wildlife. The term “non-typical” is used in wildlife management and record-keeping to classify a buck whose antlers deviate significantly from the species’ expected symmetrical pattern. Understanding a non-typical rack requires recognizing this deviation, which is based on a specific set of characteristics and a unique scoring methodology. This classification allows for the standardized comparison of these unique racks in official record books.
Defining Non-Typical Antler Characteristics
A non-typical antler is defined by significant irregularities and a lack of symmetry compared to the ideal, mirrored antler form. These racks are characterized by “abnormal points,” which are tines that do not originate from the main beam in the expected upward pattern. They also lack a corresponding, mirrored point on the opposite antler. A classic example of an abnormal point is a drop tine, which grows downward from the main beam rather than upward.
Other common irregularities include sticker points, which are small tines protruding from the main beam or another point in an unusual direction. Any point not arising from the top outside edge of the main beam or not paired with a similar point on the other side is considered abnormal for scoring purposes. The standard “typical” rack is highly symmetrical, with points closely matched in length and position on both sides.
The Unique Scoring Process for Non-Typical Racks
The official measurement of non-typical antlers uses a process fundamentally different from that of a typical rack. The system begins by measuring the “typical frame,” which includes the length of the main beams, the length of all normal, upward-growing points, and four circumference measurements taken between the normal points on each side. The inside spread of the rack is also included in this initial calculation, which results in the gross score.
For the typical frame portion, differences in length between matched points on the left and right sides are recorded as deductions to determine the net typical score. This is where the scoring system shifts for non-typical classification. Instead of deducting the length of all abnormal points from the final tally, the total length of all qualifying abnormal points is added to the net typical score.
This addition of the abnormal point length is the defining feature of the non-typical scoring category, rewarding the total amount of antler grown, regardless of symmetry. To qualify as a point, a projection must generally be at least one inch long and its length must exceed the width of the base. The final non-typical score is the sum of the net typical frame score and the total inches of abnormal growth.
Biological Factors Behind Abnormal Antler Growth
The development of a non-typical rack is influenced by a combination of biological and environmental factors, often leading to unpredictable growth patterns. One of the most common causes is physical injury to the pedicle, which is the bony base on the skull from which the antler grows. Damage to this area can permanently disrupt the cellular structure responsible for organized growth, often resulting in a non-typical antler year after year.
Injury to the antler while it is in the soft, velvet stage can also cause immediate, though often temporary, non-typical growth for that season. Furthermore, trauma to other parts of the buck’s body, such as a crippling injury to a leg, can sometimes cause a deformity in the antler on the opposite side of the body, a phenomenon known as contralateral asymmetry. This is thought to be related to altered nerve stimulation or blood flow.
Genetic predisposition is another cause, where certain bucks inherit traits that result in non-symmetrical growth patterns. Hormonal imbalances, particularly insufficient testosterone levels, can also lead to irregularities, sometimes preventing the antlers from hardening and shedding the velvet. Nutritional deficiencies and the general aging process also contribute to the occurrence of these unique antler formations.