Seen this guy before but got finally got a couple decent pics of him.

My question, is this just a 1x occurrence (some type of trauma during the beginning of growing antlers) and next will grow out more normal next year? I’m not sure this is the case, see 2nd pic.

If not, is he legal in an AR county? I have reached out to my GW but have not heard back.

Thats gotta be 13 inches,

IMO he broke the pedicle base. If the bone fused there, his right side is always going to grow out at a funky angle of some sort. He certainly meets the 13" requirement!

An injury to an opposite side leg can cause that.

Shoot him. He is way over 13 inches. It doesn't say it has to be horizontally measured. That diagonal will give him at least 2 extra inches.

I'm not good at aging deer but I believe he's a younger deer. Probably give him a pass (mainly because I'm busy with other projects to hunt him) and see what he looks like next year if he's still around. He would make a great euro conversation piece.

He looks like a pup to me. No way I'd shoot him just because he's technically legal.

Finally, an AR question that isn’t clearly and already answered in the book!

I’m with Mr. Heath. Put a tape to that, and you’re good.

I shot a deer many years ago that others had named "Dorky Deer." He had broke the pedicle on one side and it fused back to his skull, sticking out sideways. But nothing like the goofy one above.
What was strange is that antler grew good, just kind of misshaped. The good side antler never lost velvet and looked inferior.
It was a cool looking Euro until it fell off the wall and broke into a million pieces.

Had a similar two year old a few years ago. It either fixed itself or he didn’t show back up on camera the next year

Don’t think I could put up with that

Definite trauma imo. Sometimes they grow back normal but doubt in his case. Agree with QSYB reason.

It won't hurt to not shoot him and see what happens next year. Its not a cull situation as its not in his genes IMHO.