Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Elk Hunting What causes Goofy Horns?

Killed this bull on Monday. Has a crazy 2 point on his left side. The horn actually comes out forward instead of up. Looks like the pedicle was injured - but makes me wonder how? Injured when young, stepped on? Hit a tree in velvet? It's not all that uncommon as this is the second bull that I have taken with a goofy set of horns. What do you think?

Can be genetics or an injury.

I have seen them like that all over the state..I believe injury more than genetics,but don't know for sure.

Here is one I took in Unit 201 in NW Colorado.

His right side comes out where it should but is deformed. His left side comes out forward and is more normal.

Broken pedicle at some point more than likely. As DLS said could be genetics but looks like yours has some damage there.

Used to hunt near Gunnison. There's a uranium mine down there where there are some giant mule deer bucks with weird horns. I passed on that area.

Shot this one near Hamilton, CO in 2017. Named him Ol’ Elkbow. Really like how unique he is.

I shot a bull one year with a crown like a stag on one side. His opposite side front hoof was 4x the size of the other three. We named him old Clubfoot and I wish I knew where the picture of me with that hoof was, it was literally bigger than a pie tin. I don’t know if that had anything to do with his antler but it’s the only time we’ve seen a giant hoof or a crown on a bull.