Snagged a whopper boar coon today. Pretty nice hide for this time of year but just a 1” stub of a tail. How common is this and any guesses on cause? Always curious about these sort of things, what things animals encounter and experience. Narrow escape from a predator? Fighting? Froze off?
Thanks

Fighting or frost bite best bets. Somewhat common on old males.

I have always heard that breeding season fighting was a main cause. I really don't know but it is fairly common on older males.

Same here, you see it a lot in big old boars. It's my understanding it's rival males trying to pull him off the females.

Thanks Guys.
Makes sense.
Over the years I’ve seen a few deer with stubby tails. Heard one time it was due to fawns that lost their ma - when the fawn tried to nurse from other does, the doe would reach back and pull them off by grabbing their tail with her teeth, and the fawns tail would eventually by damaged. Not sure if that’s true but seems plausible.

Fighting, breeding season or the coon rut can be rough as males travel to find females. Also most times when I skin a large older male even if the tail is still intact I find the place where there is a lot of scar tissue and pulling the tail is tough and one needs to take care not to pull the ends off.

Bryce

Bryce some of them just ain't worth the effort. I've intentionally torn off more than a few over the years. I wouldn't cut all the tails off my coons but a missing tail on one out of 25+ doesn't hurt anything and it sure saves on my shoulders and time.

yep. no need to worry about ripping the tail off unless you're getting it tanned for a wall hanger, craft, mounted. Tails get thrown away or sold to tourist traps for pennies; Maybe if every boy in China wants a Davy Crocket hat some day...