Sometimes it's just a matter of luck. My sharp-eyed spouse noticed this nice "shed" in the pasture as we were checking cattle. I changed the direction of the Ranger and picked it up as we crossed the ground. I'm used to seeing occasional bits of tree limbs, or other things caught in the grass after a rain washes across the meadow, but rarely see much of interest in the occasional debris.
It's a little late in the year to be seeing such, but it was likely either washed out of the woods or, dragged out by some animal that sought the calcium deposited in the antler. There were no obvious signs of teeth-marks, but the ends of three of the tines were missing. They could have been damaged while still part of the headgear of the original owner, or after being knocked off prior to re-growth of a new set.
The antler contained five good points and based on the angle, etc. it was likely from a nice 10-point buck. We frequently see deer, but those of that caliber tend to be people-shy and don't make their presence obvious. Finding this is a great indicator that the hunting season this fall will be a good one.
I probably beat some things to death, but I am intrigued by how even the antlers shed by deer are recycled by other animals. Sometimes cows will chew on bones they find lying about if they are in need of calcium. Animals seem to know how to balance their diet in a way that obtains the minerals necessary for proper functioning of their bodies if given the opportunity. I've seen cattle lick soil or, rock that is rich in certain minerals. They seem to know what they need and find ways to replenish.
Any time I run across bones, or other odd things when I am out in "nature", I first try to identify what it is from and then I look for evidence of what might have caused it to be there. Sometimes there is clear evidence such as a severed and gnawed leg, or nearby scat containing remains, but frequently it is just an unsolved mystery. My imagination does the work of filling in where there is no clear story in the find.
In the case of the antler, my mind conjures the image of a couple of young coyotes tussling with it as they play-fight in the meadow. Their mother looks on quietly from a short distance away, licking a paw in contentment at the domestic scene of her progeny learning skills through their play that will be invaluable as they take their place in the pack. It is a scene that many who are only poorly acquainted with wild animals tend to anthropomorphize. There is danger in taking such an attitude. Wild animals are just that -- wild. They carry disease, they can be a physical danger and their place is in the wild -- not in a children's book of talking skunks and rabbits. We need to teach the truth of the natural world, not a fantasy version based on misconceptions. Life is amazing and wonderful and to be cherished in its role whether it be a deer, a skunk, a coyote or, a human. It also can be dangerous.
Don't misunderstand me. I don't believe as some do that we should let the world go back to its natural state, but I do believe we need to do a better job of teaching what the natural world is like and how things function properly within a diverse ecosystem. Humans and agriculture are part of the natural world. Yes, we alter our environment, but so do the animals that dig dens, kill trees by girdling them with their teeth, or by building dams, or whatever else in their pursuit of a favorable circumstance for their own sustenance. As an intelligent life form, however, we have the ability to observe the consequences of our actions and alter our course where necessary to preserve and conserve for the future.
Sigh. How did I go from a lucky find to that?
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