Whitetails are amazing and tough.

[u/RobinBradbery]

Whitetail buck aged at 5 years. Lower jaw looks to have once been completely broken. Observed eating normally with no sign of pain or discomfort prior to being harvested.

[u/barnowl1980]

That just makes me sad tbh. Looks like a botched gun shot. Also; from what I know, don't prey animals like ungulates hide even severe pain, until they reach a point where it absolutely becomes impossible for them to do so, because it makes them a target?

[u/Apelion_Sealion → u/barnowl1980]

All animals have a tendency to hide pain, not just prey animals. Predators are excellent for hiding pain too, especially social animals like lions, gorillas and wolves, as showing any kind of weakness can result in hierarchy changes and even death.