What are these black spots on antlers?

[GeoSwan]

It was not the taxidermist. The deer had them prior to field dressing.

[MADMAX]

Kill him near a burn ?

[redi]

I’d say ribs from charcoal in a burn

[GeoSwan]

Kill him near a burn ?

I shot him 15 miles away from the 2024 Cougar Creek wildfire in the SE corner of the state. That could be the answer, except I cant rub them off. It's like they're baked into the bone.

[MADMAX]

I use minwax on mine
Should cover

[huntnnw]

I use minwax on mine
Should cover

why would you cover up what was natural on the antlers?

[Cylvertip]

Rubbing on fencing maybe?

[Boss .300 winmag]

Rubbing on fencing maybe?

Kinda what I was thinking as well.

[MADMAX]

I use minwax on mine
Should cover

why would you cover up what was natural on the antlers?

Because that's my choice and I like a little dark on horns

[Buckhunter24]

Burn seems like they likely cause 

[kodiak06]

I use minwax on mine
Should cover

why would you cover up what was natural on the antlers?

I though the same thing...

[Barehunter]

maybe he rubbed on phone or power pole

[CarbonHunter]

Is it on both sides?  And is there any indentation?

Curious if he was lifting his head up into fence wire as he was still a little soft. Going under fences instead of over or something similar. 

[fishngamereaper]

Looks like he was rubbing on a post that had wire on it...
Those linear lines look like heavier blood pooling from the wire cutting deeper...dried darker.
I've seen allot of antlers that get damaged during velvet shedding that look black from excess blood..

[GeoSwan]

Is it on both sides?  And is there any indentation?

Curious if he was lifting his head up into fence wire as he was still a little soft. Going under fences instead of over or something similar. 

It is on both sides, there is no indentation.