STX...any ideas?

Found this buck yesterday morning dead about twenty yards from water. His stool was bloody and very loose when he evacuated his bowels. Back bone and hips were very pronounced. Hair looked healthy, just skinny for the year we've had. No bites, wounds or bullet holes. Buzzards got his right eye and bung hole before we got to him but that was it. Found a larva on his tongue, I've seen them before but don't know what they are called. We had a two inch rain two weeks ago, so I was thinking he may have got into some plant that got him. Teeth show him to be a four year old. Have a call into the biologist, but have not heard from him. Thought you, or someone on here would have some ideas.

What part of Terrell county was he in? Was a pretty nice buck.

Those are nasal bots... I think

I would say the larva is normal. Seen those a few times when skinning heads for euros.

I believe you're right.

Center of the county off 2400

Did you look real carefully for a .17 or .22 bullet hole? If aft of the diaphragm it is very tough to discern. I had a similar situation a years ago and would have swore the deer had not been shot. I went ahead and skinned the deer because I was curious why a health deer would die. As soon as the skin started back I found the hole. Gut shot by what would say was a 22 rimfire.

Yes it looks like a nasal bot to me also. It could one of a many different things. He was at water due to a fever I would think. My first guess would be he got a puncture wound low in the stomach area or intestinal area and got an infection. The ones I have seen that had a puncture through the skin in the lower flank area but did not puncture any vital organ, lost a lot of weight slowly. They lasted as long as 30 days and lost weight over that time period till they died or where killed by another buck. One of the Vets on here will know way more than I will about what this could be also.

Thanks, used to see some really nice bucks along that road when we went to Sanderson. I was just asking because I was curious what part started to be mule deer only.

The state will be collecting samples for deer to test for CWD this year. They will be testing approx 8000 deer state wide this year I believe. If you have the head and neck area, this may be a good example for them to examine. Call the local game warden. Surprised you area biologist has not called you back.

Probably because there is a limited death time frame for collection. I think it's 13-18hrs

Looks like a nasal bot. Everything I've read about them says they're not harmful.

Peritonitis (massive infection as STX described) could be a cause. Opening the abdomen would tell for sure.

I forgot to mention this earlier, but now that you mention the abdomen. He did have a small hole in the lower flank area with some of the intestine sticking out. I just figured it was done by the buzzards, but now that makes sense. Thanks.

Doc, I've heard the same about nasal bots as well.

The mulie only is down below Sanderson.