Check this buck out - Steens Cactus buck

BrianMaguire · 10-09-2008, 10:21 PM

I usually don't post my kills, I am not a good story teller is the main reason. This buck is however so different I thought it worthy too share. The buck is what they call a cactus buck, he lacked testicles. Hopefully he is tasty, a deer steer.
I got him on Monday in the Steens, I had seen him the year before with a buck that I was really after. I was really ill and probably should not have been hunting but I did anyway. He was actually the smaller of three bucks but was so interesting I took him instead.
He is a 6X5. On one side has a large fork, seperate spike and a massive base and on the other just a large spike with the really massive base. Still in velvet, probably always would have been. The bone seems thin underneath the velvet.

DRUNK COWBOY · 10-09-2008, 10:27 PM

Very cool Brian, I like the non typical animals as well. Great job!

DC

Joe · 10-09-2008, 10:48 PM

Well that is certainly a novelty! Pretty cool to be able to harvest such a rare animal. Congrats! Besides, it's not like he was gonna make any fawns. Cougar probably got 'em....

Are you gonna have him mounted?

BrianMaguire · 10-09-2008, 10:56 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Joe

Well that is certainly a novelty! Pretty cool to be able to harvest such a rare animal. Congrats! Besides, it's not like he was gonna make any fawns. Cougar probably got 'em....

Are you gonna have him mounted?

I caped him to be mounted but I am not sure yet. I am leaning to yes but its some bucks to do so and our house is not that big. I have a big Roosie mounted that has to sit on the floor right now. Then again I have no room left in the garage, its wall to wall horns with skulls in corners. One of these days I am going to have to stop keeping them.

No Fences · 10-09-2008, 11:09 PM

Cool animal. I'm sure SW would display it for you.

Nw dukn · 10-09-2008, 11:43 PM

Awesome looking rack..

Kalamity · 10-10-2008, 06:06 AM

"He was actually the smaller of three bucks but was so interesting I took him instead."

That's too cool! Way to go on your trophy.

Ryan Pultz · 10-10-2008, 06:20 AM

did it have both its Gonads? I have read about deer like that get hurt younger and it causes some problems with horn development (cactus buck) rp

Teton · 10-10-2008, 10:02 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianMaguire

. . .I got him on Monday in the Steens, I had seen him the year before with a buck that I was really after. I was really ill and probably should not have been hunting but I did anyway. He was actually the smaller of three bucks but was so interesting I took him instead.. . .

Great job Brian! That is one interesting set there, the horns that is.

By the way, you don't look sick in that picture. The deer does though.

007SPRIG · 10-10-2008, 10:05 AM

Very cool buck. You held my interest in reading your story. I like them short stories. I pass up those "Charles Dickens" story tellers. Hope you're feeling better today. Gonna mount the horns?

BlacktailBowhunter · 10-10-2008, 10:13 AM

Brian, congrats on a very unique deer. When I was younger, I always dream about a cactus buck. It seems a lot of them end up being a spike on one side. At least that is what I have observed over the years through various pictures and articles.

ommedia · 10-10-2008, 10:14 AM

Brian-

Yet another cactus buck taken in the Steens over the last few decades. It's "interesting" how many have come out of that area that I know of, let alone that I don't.

It was rumored a long time ago that ranchers were catching and casterating...lol I can't imagine why...maybe they eat too much hay/alfalfa...then the rumor was 4 strand bobed-wire vs. 3-strand....

Basically, there are a lot of theories. Biologically, I'd love to hear a biologist give us some insight as to why so many like this in that area.

Cactus bucks will carry their velvet all year long, and from what I understand, they don't ever shed their antlers.

Note to all, for what it's worth, these types of bucks can NOT be entered into B&C or P&Y.

Let us all know if you discover any other abnormalities during the processing of this animal...very curious.

BrianMaguire · 10-10-2008, 10:24 AM

Ommedia, the only other abnormality was that his teets were larger than normal. The testes were plain gone, no scar I could see on the sack. I would say he was born that way.

lastmeal79 · 10-10-2008, 10:31 AM

Cool looking buck...Congrats!

oregonmuley · 10-10-2008, 10:46 AM

Cool buck - I don't think I have ever seen one of those in Oregon. Seems you see them out of Utah more often - thanks for posting it will make a nice trophy!!

woodrow · 10-10-2008, 10:46 AM

In our camp a guy killed a buck with no balls!!!! Not a cactus however he was still in velvet. We were not in the Steens but close.

Hunt'nFish · 10-10-2008, 10:47 AM

Brian, That buck is just NASTY!!!! Way to go.
Hunt'nFish

Duckwheat · 10-10-2008, 11:25 AM

I am no deer testicle expert. Wow I wonder who is?

Humans sometimes, the testicles will not descend. Also if they are not making testosterone they tend to get pretty nondescript.

Might be the same with deer. Might not be any trauma at all.

Deer Urology 101

DW

Incredible_Bulk · 10-10-2008, 01:03 PM

I bet he had a lovely castrato voice...

OR_Bo_Huntr · 10-10-2008, 01:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodrow

In our camp a guy killed a buck with no balls!!!! Not a cactus however he was still in velvet. We were not in the Steens but close.

Believe that's called a stag buck

spottedhawk36 · 10-10-2008, 01:31 PM

Interesting buck, how can it not have testicles? i cant figure that one out.

sshaffer · 10-10-2008, 02:58 PM

Thats funny, been wondering for @35+years if them drunk cowpoke local rangeriders winter bulldogg'n games, if they ever let little ones like this to be harvested by anyone who would tell let alone post a picture. Must have lost it's halter?????

StickFish · 10-10-2008, 04:06 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by ommedia

Brian-

Yet another cactus buck taken in the Steens over the last few decades. It's "interesting" how many have come out of that area that I know of, let alone that I don't.

It was rumored a long time ago that ranchers were catching and casterating...lol I can't imagine why...maybe they eat too much hay/alfalfa...then the rumor was 4 strand bobed-wire vs. 3-strand....

Basically, there are a lot of theories. Biologically, I'd love to hear a biologist give us some insight as to why so many like this in that area.

Cactus bucks will carry their velvet all year long, and from what I understand, they don't ever shed their antlers.

Note to all, for what it's worth, these types of bucks can NOT be entered into B&C or P&Y.

Let us all know if you discover any other abnormalities during the processing of this animal...very curious.

I've heard the same story from some of the locals over there. The idea was to grow bigger horns since they never fall off.

Brian what were the teeth on your buck like was he really old?

BrianMaguire · 10-10-2008, 04:20 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by StickFish

I've heard the same story from some of the locals over there. The idea was to grow bigger horns since they never fall off.

Brian what were the teeth on your buck like was he really old?

I did not even check. I will stop by Wiebels on Monday to check them out. I will say he was big in body, so he is at least a 3 year old but I suspect he is older than that.

StickFish · 10-10-2008, 04:24 PM

I'll be he is older with the crown he's got. I've seen one other buck in velvet up there big narly three point. Problem is I don't think the horn growth thing panned out. You just can't make a steen buck out of a normal Mule Deer. The truely big deer over there are very different in body size to a normal mule deer.

STRUTTIN-1 · 10-10-2008, 05:34 PM

Cool lookin buck.

Shake N Bake Sportfishing · 10-11-2008, 10:15 AM

Brian,

Congrats on the weird one.

Sounds like I should be getting some jerky from you soon, as I doubt you will have room to store your deer, with all the tuna loins in your freezer.

Mike C

scubaseth · 10-11-2008, 11:26 AM

Cool looking horns! Thanks for sharing.

Scuba

Trick · 10-11-2008, 12:56 PM

Regardless of being a good story teller, a picture is worth a thousand words. That is a gnarly novelty to have on the wall. Thanks for sharing and can't wait to see the mount.

Tightlip · 10-11-2008, 02:41 PM

Its always good to see things that aren't normal that is cool thanks for sharing and congrats

fin seeker · 10-11-2008, 09:09 PM

In the early 90's I shot a buck like that with no testicles and no scar out by Paulina. He had two separate beams and a huge base on one side, big spike on a big base on the other and was in velvet just like your buck. Pretty cool to see another one.

baltz526 · 10-12-2008, 08:05 AM

here is an old picture of a customers dads deer 50,s colorado i think.

Newbs · 10-12-2008, 08:22 AM

I killed a cactus buck in the Beulla Unit in 1990. Best taisting venison I ever ate. The lady that I had mount him said he was three or four years old and she suspected that he was probably born without testicles.

Yours is a little more non typical than mine was...nice buck.

Jim

BrianMaguire · 11-19-2008, 09:49 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Newbs

I killed a cactus buck in the Beulla Unit in 1990. Best taisting venison I ever ate. The lady that I had mount him said he was three or four years old and she suspected that he was probably born without testicles.

Yours is a little more non typical than mine was...nice buck.
Jim

Just had a steak last night, wow that is great venison.

woodsy188 · 11-19-2008, 02:34 PM

Interesting deer.
I recently heard a story from a Corvallis area hardware store. Apparently they have a photo of a deer killed with female genitalia and antlers. Some research showed this is possible, but very rare.

Duckenfuss · 10-01-2009, 12:08 PM

I missed this post over the summer and stumbled across it. Thought I would share my brothers cactus buck that I posted a few years back.

Yes, this is the Steens. The other abnormalities were a large crook on his upper snout that seemed to be a hollow cavity. His body was much larger than average. No testes and he seemed really dumb. We almost stumbled over him in the sage and he still did not see/smell/hear us. It is hard to tell in the photo but his left antler has a 3rd point that appeared to be broken off and many knurled points took it's place.

Brute · 10-01-2009, 12:49 PM

I shot this buck in the Scappoose unit in 1994.

Huntnfish57 · 10-01-2009, 12:56 PM

Those really are some strange bucks over there. I'd really be interested to know what causes or happened to this string of deer.

southendguy · 10-01-2009, 01:27 PM

Here are a couple of our "Cactus Bucks" from the early 90s. Just south of the Steens.

BarroomHero · 10-01-2009, 01:40 PM

I dunno...but don't drink the water!

Nuf · 10-01-2009, 01:48 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by woodsy188

Interesting deer.
I recently heard a story from a Corvallis area hardware store. Apparently they have a photo of a deer killed with female genitalia and antlers. Some research showed this is possible, but very rare.

https://www.ifish.net/board/showthrea...te#post2272246

has my account in Weird Findings in the woods thread of my Lookout Mtn doe/buck.

fisher22 · 10-01-2009, 01:52 PM

Brute, that is one awesome blacktail!

duckboy · 10-01-2009, 05:46 PM

I have a theory about the cause of the strange antlers on those cactus bucks....

Ticks.

The east side is loaded with them in the spring when the antlers are budding and there is plenty of easy blood supply to get to on those velveted nubs...

I bet some of the ticks cause damage, get infected etc, and it messes up the growth of the antler..

Like if you damage the nail bed on your finger nail, it grows messed up nails from then on..

Oh, and the space ships around the steens mess up more than just deer heads.

ReadyPro1 · 10-01-2009, 06:16 PM

Here is a photo I took late last fall near the base of the loop rd at the Steens. He was one heck of an oddball it looked like a Kudu with the curled horn and it was a unicorn to boot.

Duckenfuss · 10-02-2009, 12:17 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by duckboy

I have a theory about the cause of the strange antlers on those cactus bucks....

Ticks.

The east side is loaded with them in the spring when the antlers are budding and there is plenty of easy blood supply to get to on those velveted nubs...

I bet some of the ticks cause damage, get infected etc, and it messes up the growth of the antler..

Like if you damage the nail bed on your finger nail, it grows messed up nails from then on..

Oh, and the space ships around the steens mess up more than just deer heads.

I like the theory, but do they eat the testes as well? I would think the lack of testosterone is what makes them not lose their velvet. What I have always understood is that the drop of the velvet is brought on by the increase in hormones as the rut nears. No testes, no hormones, no dropping of velvet.

As for the testes, I have personally seen the spaceships of the Steens-as for why they want to take thier testes, I dont know.

Dextreme · 10-02-2009, 12:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Duckenfuss

As for the testes, I have personally seen the spaceships of the Steens-as for why they want to take thier testes, I dont know.

Are we sure the spaceships don't say "ODFW" on 'em?

shedhorn · 10-02-2009, 01:31 PM

cactus blacktail I have not got to kill yet.

Scrillznac · 10-02-2009, 03:07 PM

Sweet! I've always wanted to shoot a cactus buck.

tjack1001 · 10-02-2009, 03:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BrianMaguire

Then again I have no room left in the garage, its wall to wall horns with skulls in corners. One of these days I am going to have to stop keeping them.

Nonsense. One of these days you will have to get a bigger garage...

Cool buck!

duckboy · 10-02-2009, 06:58 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by shedhorn

cactus blacktail I have not got to kill yet.

Those aren't antlers... That is Papilloma!

Brute · 12-18-2009, 09:32 PM

Saw this one over at the Malheur Refuge. This is the best shot I could get. He would not come out from behind the brush. There is suppose to be another one around there also, but we did not see him.

BrianMaguire · 12-19-2009, 02:21 AM

That is wierd, I wonder if its a genetic thing, the Malheur Refuge was not that far from wher I got my buck,

Big Billy · 12-19-2009, 09:44 AM

go to the boone&Crockett website click on trophy watch and scroll down there is a HUGE cactus buck in there in velvet maybe this what they were trying to grow in the steens.

sliverpicker · 12-19-2009, 10:27 AM

I got an email this week with 7 or 8 pics of this buck from southeast Oregon. Supposedly killed with a muzzleloader by a fella from Klamith Falls.

rabersin · 12-19-2009, 12:29 PM

Great Job it is always fun finding the unusual.

Killertraylor · 12-19-2009, 05:05 PM

We shot these 2 oddballs about 6 years ago in the Whitehorse unit. The cactus buck didn't have testes, but the mini moose antler who was hanging out with him did.