Cactus buck

DidIDraw · Oct 31, 2021

I'd never seen a cactus buck in person before this year. Found this buck along with 3 other bucks on my last morning hunting during Utah general season.

When I found the bucks I started by stalk. At about half way to my intended spot I heard a vehicle approaching from the other way. My son let me know that the bucks were moving. They made it to a juniper covered hill side before I could get set up. I could catch glimpses of them as they moved across the hill. I had hoped to take one of the two larger bucks that were in the group but this was the first buck to provide and open, standing, broadside shot.

Super cool buck. His teeth are quite worn down, maybe 3-4mm from the gum line so I believe he was an older buck. The local taxidermist said in the 25 years he's been there, he has not seen or heard of a cactus buck coming from that area.

Bigwiffy · Oct 31, 2021

Best steak you will ever eat! Congrats!

yoteduster · Oct 31, 2021

That's a cool buck....congrats

HikeHunt61 · Oct 31, 2021

I had never heard of a cactus buck- very cool indeed...

twdjr · Oct 31, 2021

Congrats!

4Weight · Oct 31, 2021

Awesome nice job

deerlevi · Oct 31, 2021

DidIDraw said:
I'd never seen a cactus buck in person before this year. Found this buck along with 3 other bucks on my last morning hunting during Utah general season.

When I found the bucks I started by stalk. At about half way to my intended spot I heard a vehicle approaching from the other way. My son let me know that the bucks were moving. They made it to a juniper covered hill side before I could get set up. I could catch glimpses of them as they moved across the hill. I had hoped to take one of the two larger bucks that were in the group but this was the first buck to provide and open, standing, broadside shot.

Super cool buck. His teeth are quite worn down, maybe 3-4mm from the gum line so I believe he was an older buck. The local taxidermist said in the 25 years he's been there, he has not seen or heard of a cactus buck coming from that area.

View attachment 57035

Dang the body on that guy looks huge!

Warbo · Nov 1, 2021

Cool buck!!

Snoopdogg · Nov 1, 2021

Definitely looks like a tank.

Founder · Nov 1, 2021

Cool trophy. I think I’ve seen a couple cactus bucks in my time, but never taken one. Congrats

Muleman1 · Nov 1, 2021

Cool buck !

Ranger1 · Nov 1, 2021

Wow, cool buck!

Foreman4x4 · Nov 1, 2021

Did he have his nuts? That's one cause of cactus horns.

DidIDraw · Nov 1, 2021

Foreman4x4 said:
Did he have his nuts? That's one cause of cactus horns.

His male parts were very, very small. Maybe the size of a single peanut and they were up right next to his penis (which was also very, very small). Didn't look like an injury, just grew that way.

DidIDraw · Nov 1, 2021

I cut up and bottled some of the meat yesterday, tried some of it this morning and it is really good. Almost no smell.

hawkbill · Nov 1, 2021

Very cool, he looks big bodied. Congrats

Homer · Nov 1, 2021

Bigwiffy said:
Best steak you will ever eat! Congrats!

lol...it's still deer

Homer · Nov 1, 2021

DidIDraw said:
His male parts were very, very small. Maybe the size of a single peanut and they were up right next to his penis (which was also very, very small). Didn't look like an injury, just grew that way.

sounds like an SS buck.....

publichunter1 · Nov 2, 2021

Cool buck. Congrats!

Easy_green · Nov 2, 2021

I saw a really unique cactus buck on the book cliffs unit last season. Cool Buck!

JakeH · Nov 2, 2021

I've seen dozens of these bucks over the years, killed one in Colorado back in '17. He was normal framed 3x4 full velvet 27" wide and giant body.

Didn't realize he was still in velvet till after I shot him, from 350 yards he looked like a giant, 30" wide with a ton of mass and dwarfed the does and fawns around him. But the velvet made him look bigger then he really was. Oh well that's hunting, still one of the biggest bodied deer I have killed.

His nuts were similar to yours, really small peanut sized.

Here is a picture of him.

CEG · Nov 7, 2021

that’s what my deer was this year

BrowningRage · Nov 7, 2021

JakeH said:
I've seen dozens of these bucks over the years, killed one in Colorado back in '17. He was normal framed 3x4 full velvet 27" wide and giant body.

Didn't realize he was still in velvet till after I shot him, from 350 yards he looked like a giant, 30" wide with a ton of mass and dwarfed the does and fawns around him. But the velvet made him look bigger then he really was. Oh well that's hunting, still one of the biggest bodied deer I have killed.

His nuts were similar to yours, really small peanut sized.

Here is a picture of him.View attachment 57299 View attachment 57298

"HIS NUTS WERE SIMILAR TO YOURS, REALLY SMALL PEANUT SIZED."... gave me a chuckle Jake.

Bk38 · Nov 9, 2021

DidIDraw said:
I cut up and bottled some of the meat yesterday, tried some of it this morning and it is really good. Almost no smell.

I have never heard of a cactus buck tasting different. Is this really true?

DidIDraw · Nov 10, 2021

Bk38 said:
I have never heard of a cactus buck tasting different. Is this really true?

It tastes a bit stronger than the buck in got in Sept this year but it isn't bad at all (I bottled some of the meat and that seems to have removed much of the gamey smell/taste). It maybe isn't quite as musky tasting as a late Oct buck usually is. I got a buck in the same area last year on Nov 6 and it was horrible tasting- very gamey. I suppose that the different hormones could change the taste of the meat a bit. Probably a bunch of other factors as well.

Bk38 · Nov 10, 2021

Eig

DidIDraw said:
It tastes a bit stronger than the buck in got in Sept this year but it isn't bad at all (I bottled some of the meat and that seems to have removed much of the gamey smell/taste). It maybe isn't quite as musky tasting as a late Oct buck usually is. I got a buck in the same area last year on Nov 6 and it was horrible tasting- very gamey. I suppose that the different hormones could change the taste of the meat a bit. Probably a bunch of other factors as well.

Right on. That's interesting as I have e never heard that. Thanks for the reply and congrats on a unique buck