AbstractA right anterior cannon bone (os metacarpale 3 + 4) of a red deer that was found in the reticulum of a 7‐year‐old red deer stag is described. The bone, which had accidentally been swallowed by the stag, showed clear signs of bone chewing (osteophagia), the most prominent being the formation of a fork at its distal end. Knowledge of the possible bone changes brought about by ruminant osteophagia may prevent the erroneous interpretation of skeletal remains as being worked by homin