Big Deer Blog

From North American Whitetail: Look at this crazy buck (2017 season) taken by John Linens in Ringgold VA, using a Tenpoint crossbow with Rage broadheads. So what’s up with John’s buck? Scientists explain that a buck like this, which is extremely rare, has “cryptoridism.” This condition can result from a birth defect or disease that causes a buck’s testicles (one or both) not to drop normally. Or, at some point in his life a buck may injure his privates, say jumping a wire fence (ouch). A cryptorid buck doesn’t engage in the seasonal rituals of a normal whitetail buck; he lacks the chemical stimulation to rub, scrape or express dominance or individualism. His neck doesn’t swell and he doesn’t breed. [...]

Last year I blogged, Still hunting strong at 103 years young, Mr. Clyde Roberts shot his biggest buck ever during our state’s 2016 muzzleloader season. Mr. Roberts continues to hunt and amaze. From the Roanoke (VA) Times: Clyde Roberts already had killed two does in Bedford County during the 2017 deer season, now he was perched 20-feet high in a tree stand looking for a bear. Bear were forgotten when a couple does walked into the field that Roberts watched. He has killed 10 deer since he turned 100, all but four taken with a .50-caliber muzzleloader. (But) on this hunt he cradled a .270. An 8-pointer crossed the field and began chasing the does. Mr. Clyde squeezed the trigger, [...]

This picture was first posted on Texas Bone Hunters Facebook and has been circulating all over social ever since. I picked it up and it has become the most popular post on BIG DEER Instagram with this popular comment: How would you score that thing? The bases are fused together into one huge mass, with splits and stickers for yet more character. A cool deer and a true freak! Answer to the question: Official scorers say the odd wild, unusual rack is not scorable, and might be one. But what a splendid mount it will be on the lucky hunter's wall.