Skull identification

[BT_NVhunter]

Can you guys help me identify a skull. Found at a high alpine lake in the Ruby mts, I believe it’s a mountain goat there are a lot of them on this side of lamoille canyon we were on. The teeth look very similar to the pics I found online of domestic goats. Just want confirmation.

 

[BAKPAKR]

I don’t see any sign of horns so I would think it is not a mountain goat.

 

[BT_NVhunter]

Ok so both sexes always have horns with goats. Cuz I just wasn’t sure if it was 100% that both sexes have horns.

 

[BAKPAKR]

Any chance of domestic sheep grazing in the area?

 

[BT_NVhunter]

I don’t believe so at least in this area just because it’s the touristy portion and I’ve never seen stock or sheep there. The only way I see it being domestic is one that got away and came over the top but that’s a huge stretch. There are a lot of bighorns and they are always in the canyon with their young.

 

[Hunting Wife]

Why do we not think it’s just a deer skull?

 

[BT_NVhunter]

Mainly the teeth the molars do not look the same as deer I could be wrong but look different.

 

[winmag]

Look like deer molars to me. I’m going with doe deer.

 

[DFS]

Mule deer doe.

 

[BT_NVhunter]

Excellent thanks guys

 

[HUNT TALK MAN]

MONKEY!!!!

 

[DFS]

Don’t be a stranger hunt talk man you are spot on.

 

[Hunting Wife]

Mainly the teeth the molars do not look the same as deer I could be wrong but look different.

Gotcha. FWIW, clues for me based on your photos would be:
Definite herbivore teeth, not inconsistent with deer IMO. Not a horned critter (mountain goat, bighorn sheep, etc) because you would have bony cores for either sex and should see some sort of indication of that even on a very young individual. I’m not familiar with your area, but best guess is that would leave some sort of domestic or a doe/fawn deer as most likely options. I am leaning towards doe deer as well.

 

[Caseknife]

Yep, muley doe.

 

[Fatrack]

deer