Have you ever seen a buck in velvet well past September, maybe into November or December, or even with velvet antlers still intact in spring or summer? Commonly called a “stag,” the oddball buck exhibits unusual antler growth and retains velvet on the antlers due to low testosterone levels. Scientists refer to this condition as cryptoridism, and it’s rare. It can result from a birth defect or disease that causes a buck’s testicles (one or both) not to drop normally. Or, a buck may injure his privates, say on a wire fence (ouch). Cryptorchidism can occur in whitetails, blacktails (picture above) or mule deer (below). A stag buck is different, and he doesn’t engage in the seasonal rituals of normal [...]