Jun 13, 2024 · Cactus bucks are rare and unusual-looking. Here are the most common reasons that whitetail and mule deer grow cactus antlers.

May 19, 2015 · Hunters who have never seen a so-called "cactus buck" may be utterly bewildered the first time they spot one of these strange deer. These bucks show no interest in mating, sometimes have the...

Cactus bucks are male deer with antlers with abnormal growth patterns that retain the velvet due to alterations in testosterone level usually as a result of testicular trauma, undescended testicles or from the effects of disease affecting the blood supply to the testicles.

Dec 18, 2018 · Deer like this are a rare sight, but have been spotted almost everywhere in the United States, and in almost every species of deer. These cactus bucks, as they’re called stand out because of their bizarre, deformed antlers covered in irregular growths.

Mar 5, 2024 · Cactus bucks, also known as cryptorchid bucks, are male deer that have abnormal antler growth and/or retain their velvet covering long after the normal shedding period. This condition is often the result of hormonal imbalances or injuries during antler growth.

Dec 9, 2022 · But what, exactly, is a cactus buck, and how is it that these deer grow such weird masses of lumps and bumps instead of normal antlers? Well, the most common explanation is that the buck has sustained some damage to his testicles, thereby causing a drop in testosterone, the hormone that normally helps a buck grow velvet-covered antlers and then ...

Feb 24, 2012 · It is unusual, but not uncommon in the whitetail world. In short, this is what is known as a “cactus buck.” This condition dates back many decades in whitetails. In fact, one of the first person to document these weird antlers was D …

Nov 16, 2017 · Basically, a cactus buck is a deer with antlers still in velvet with several points. Some of the points grow in irregular parts of the antlers resembling a cactus. Members of the deer...

According to the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife, cactus bucks are male deer with antlers with abnormal growth patterns that retain the velvet due to alterations in testosterone level usually as a result of testicular trauma, undescended testicles or from the effects of disease affecting the blood supply to the testicles.

Nov 11, 2020 · The term “cactus buck” refers to the cactus-like appearance of a buck’s antlers that remain in velvet from year to year, while adding new growth. Bucks that remain in velvet during the hunting season share a common underlying condition—low testosterone levels.