On a lighter note - check this buck out . . .

[VFX_man]

Was down in Vegas last weekend and unbeknownst to me, The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation (RMEF) Hunter & Outdoor Christmas Expo was in town -- along with a ton of Cowgirls and boys for the National Finals Rodeo.

This guy was on display - what a unique looking critter. Forgot to see if they counted every "point" - crazy!

https://i.imgur.com/ydvy43r.jpg

[REMINGTON JIM]

Pretty ODD Ball Deer ! I wonder what was in his Farm Food ? RJ

[303savage]

I think it was call "the cactus buck, seen a pic of it in outdoor life or on of these sporting magazines.

[VFX_man]

Pretty ODD Ball Deer ! I wonder what was in his Farm Food ? RJ

Often wonder about that, I usually drop 1 or 2 of these out in the Spring: Primos Red Spot Premium Mineral Site Igniter, Deer Lick Block.

Noticed that a few of the WT bucks have some non-typical antler configurations.

The bucks and Does really seem to like them. The tail camera shows that they drool a lot too while visiting them too.

[Bugle M In]

Definitely have to put him in the category of "unique"....thanks, never seen that photo/buck.

[two-feet]

Looks nasty to me, not a picture of normal growth

[Ryo]

I'd be willing to bet that deer was suffering from Perruque head and was either shot, or died from pressure on the brain, while still in velvet and then had the antlers stripped after the fact and painted up pretty. I could be wrong though.

I've seen a blacktail with a perruque head once before... it looked like a velvet lumpy space helmet

[StuBrown]

Does growth like this not normally mean the animal was naturally castrated? It no longer drops its antlers and they grow all screwed up like this?

[DeepJeep]

thats very unnatural to me.

[monasheemountainman]

Fuuuugly deer

[Whonnock Boy]

I would wager that was a doe.

[Brew]

Cool buck. I beleive I read that cactus bucks like this one are due to the deer casterating itself. Usually by sagging his junk on a fence. When this happens their antlers are always in a state of growing and always have velvet.

[Brew]

http://www.wideopenspaces.com/7-photos-infamous-cactus-buck-syndrome/

[MB_Boy]

Does growth like this not normally mean the animal was naturally castrated?

I would guess you're right. My Dad has a set of moose antlers that bear similar traits from a castrated bull; looks like coral formations growing from its head.

[J-F]

I also thought of a castrated deer. The wildlife park near Kamloops had a deer with antlers looking like that for some time, and he had been castrated.