Where can I ID a skull?

[MadCheshire13]

We found this skull up on Mingus Mountain and are trying to identify it.

[CannondaleKid]

Some kind of antelope?

Maybe try here: Animal Skull Identification Resources

[rcorfman]

Those look like antlers, not horns, so some kind of deer. I can't tell the size of the skull (measuring tape would have been nice). My guess is an elk but maybe a mule deer.

[chumley]

When looking at other skulls of "horned" animals that live in the area, it appears to be most like photos of white tail deer skulls.

[Sredfield]

Arizona Jackalope I 'spect.

[LindaAnn]

Whatever it is, it looks cool; and I'm happy to see I'm not the only one who takes pictures of bones/dead things!

[rcorfman]

When looking at other skulls of "horned" animals that live in the area, it appears to be most like photos of white tail deer skulls.

From AZ G&F, there's no white tail deer hunting in the area so this isn't likely. Also, the beams don't appear correct for a white tail.

[mazatzal]

Part of chumley's Viking collection ;)

[MadCheshire13]

@rcorfman
Sorry! It's about 8-9" long and about 6" wide. With the antlers it stands about 8". Hope that helps a little! My friend has it so I can't measure it directly.

[ljcygnet]

Looks like a small spike elk to me. I would think that any deer with antlers that long and heavy would have some points, but I see a lot of yearling elk running around with horns just like that.

Don't bet on there not being "X" species of animal in an area just because G&F doesn't do hunts in that area, though, particularly if you're talking young males.

[chumley]

@rcorfman They do exist there. From the AZGFD description for the mule deer hunt for Mingus/19A:

The Coues whitetail deer population in Unit 19A seems more stable, although there have always been relatively few whitetail in the unit.

(Which in no way suggests that I can identify the skull! The proportion, shape and lines just look most similar to other photos of whitetails I looked at versus mule deer, elk, or pronghorn)

[MadCheshire13]

@lindaagm
Definitely not alone, we saw some poor bird had gotten it and instead of being like "poor thing" we were more "ooh feathers!"

[rcorfman]

Sorry! It's about 8-9" long and about 6" wide. With the antlers it stands about 8". Hope that helps a little! My friend has it so I can't measure it directly.

With that size, I think my first guess of elk is correct. The beam looks like a spike elk's, as ljcygnet pointed out.

[rcorfman]

@rcorfman They do exist there. From the AZGFD description for the mule deer hunt for Mingus/19A:

I wasn't denying that white tail may exist there. It's just that the odds are the skull is from a species whose population does support hunting.

[Nighthiker]

No obvious dental work, I'm out.

[Alston_Neal]

we saw some poor bird had gotten it and instead of being like "poor thing" we were more "ooh feathers!"

Just make sure they are not birds of prey feathers.

"Eagles, ospreys, hawks, falcons, kites, owls, vultures and all other native North American birds of prey are strictly protected, to include a prohibition against the taking or possession of their parts such as feathers or talons. The only exceptions generally allowed for individuals to these prohibitions require permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Educational and scientific institutions are exempted from most permit requirements."

[MadCheshire13]

It's from a woodpecker...

[PaleoRob]

Based on the size, the flattening of the antlers when viewed from the side, and the open sutures in the skull I'd suspect it is A) young and B) an elk. Possibly a yearling? I'm no mammologist though.

[SuperstitionGuy]

It's from a woodpecker...

Obviously a freak of nature. A double beaked woodpecker of course.

[flagscott]

Just make sure they are not birds of prey feathers.

"Eagles, ospreys, hawks, falcons, kites, owls, vultures and all other native North American birds of prey are strictly protected, to include a prohibition against the taking or possession of their parts such as feathers or talons. The only exceptions generally allowed for individuals to these prohibitions require permits from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. Educational and scientific institutions are exempted from most permit requirements."

That's true but a little bit mislleading. Technically, possession of feathers or other remains from almost all types of birds except game species is illegal under the Migratory Bird Treaty Act.

The Migratory Bird Treaty Act makes it illegal for anyone to take, possess, import, export, transport, sell, purchase, barter, or offer for sale, purchase, or barter, any migratory bird, or the parts, nests, or eggs of such a bird except under the terms of a valid permit issued pursuant to Federal regulations.

(And they don't actually have to migrate--birds like chickadees and woodpeckers that stay in one place year-round count). That said, I doubt anyone will care if you pick up random feathers. If I find a colorful feather when I'm out hiking, it's probably getting tucked behind my ear.

But not if it's from a bald or golden eagle. Even possessing an eagle feather can get you in big trouble (there is a seperate Bald & Golden Eagle Protection Act that covers those guys). Believe it or not, there's a federal eagle repository where FWS collects feathers and other eagle remains, and Native Americans can apply to get feathers, etc. for ceremonial usage. Occasionally FWS gives permits for tribes to kill eagles, but not often--there just aren't enough eagles left for people to be killing them for any reason.