I just came upon this article from Texas State's Forensic Anthropology Center where they study the natural decay of human remains.

Apparently, they caught some whitetail deer on camera chewing on some of the bones out there.

I'd seen the video of the deer eating a bird, heard of squirrels eating baby birds, and things like that, but I've never heard of deer scavenging bones.

Was curious if some of you that have spent a lot of time watching deer had ever seen anything like this, I found it kind of interesting.

This link has the abstract for the paper and a poster with the photographic evidence. It's not super graphic, but they are human bones, so use your best judgment.

https://www.researchgate.net/public..._White-Tailed_Deer_Gnawing_on_Human_Bone

Never seen deer gnawing on bones.

i have seen a couple bucks gnawing on old shed antlers that were already bleached white. figured those wanted more calcium. Both times was during turkey season when the new antlers were just growing good.

Bingo.

Nature tells animals what to eat/crave.

I've had rancher friends have to remove bones from cattle because they were stuck in their mouth, and couldn't eat or drink in that situation. It goes bad really quick if you don't catch them, and remove the stuck bone.

Usually means a phosphorus deficiency.

Feeding mineral should stop that problem.... in deer, cattle or whatever.

A couple years ago I was headed down south of San Antonio and passed a group of cattle standing knee deep in an old burn pile. Looked like they were eating/licking the ashes. I assumed it was some mineral they were needing.

Yep, kmon is bingo

How did nature figure out that my wife's chocolate cake was a legit craving?

Once came upon a steenbuck eating the sand in a dry riverbed. Always figured that there was some mineral in the sand that the steenbuck needed or enjoyed. Porcupines in SA often carry bones to their dens and gnaw on them there.

we see wildlife and farm animals around old burn piles regularly.....Definitely something there they like....

I have seen cows chewing on bones and old antlers.

I have seen a few deer chew on old bones and even shed antlers before. Any animal that is lacking some mineral, trace mineral or vitamin in its diet will seek a plant or soil site or other source to replenish what they need. Deer antlers will have about 20%+ calcium, 10% phosphorus, and then some magnesium, sodium, sulfur, and a combination of iron, zinc, copper, aluminum, potassium, manganese and other elements. A lot of what is in an antler will depend on what is readily available in the native vegetation or soil where they live. Also, what is supplemented to them with mineral licks or protein pellets can effect how much mineral is in the antler. A hardened deer antler with have from 35%-45% protein in it also.

Thank y'all for the answers. It's all pretty fascinating stuff.