A HISTOLOGICAL STUDY OF THE PRIMARY GONADAL TISSUE OF AN ANTLERLESS BUCK MULE DEER (ODOCOILEUS HEMIONUS)

An antlerless mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) was collected on 2 December 1992 from,in established Oak Creek mule, deer herd 2 miles north of Oak City, Utah (Utah Wildlife Receipt #027604). Upon examination, the animal had prominent male genitalia with hair rubbed off from the pedicle part of the skull. Tissue examination revealed active spermatogenesis and viable sperm in the lumen of the epididymis and testis. Antlerless male deer have been reported previously in this area, but this is the first histological study of the abnormal deer. Lack of antlers would be advantageous for male deer during the hunting season because most western states limit deer harvest to antlered bucks.