If Muntjac are supposed to go for the most juicy and tender shoots...then why would they try an entrance block? Why would they be interested in bees/brood? This was a focused attempt to get in.
Likewise foxes which tend to look for weakspots and cause generally not a lot of damage to structures. Can't see the footprint, other than human. Would help - and easily dispel deer.
Badgers do splinter wood in a focussed attempt to get into poultry and bees, although I only have direct experience of the former. Scary thing a hungry badger. Rats don't gnaw big splinters and mink squeeze through gaps.
Any badgers in the area? A young one might have had a go....an older one would have carried on ripping. Look for triangular hairs trapped in the timber or nearby hole in a fence probably with visible run - you can feel the shape by rolling between the fingers.
Just guessing of course...
