Very Unique Buck (Part 2) GROUND CHECK!

Guys & Gals,

I've been after this deer for a few weeks. I posted a couple weeks ago that he was coming to one of our new feeding stations.
This past Saturday in the evening hunt, he showed up with literally ONE MINUTE of legal shooting light left.

I had my 8 year old son in the blind with me, and I experienced the worst bout of buck fever I've ever had. I've killed many great bucks, including a 150" 12 pointer, but I've never been more excited about a deer.

Truly didn't think he would show himself, and feel truly blessed to have been able to harvest such a unique animal.

So who wants to take a stab at scoring this one?

Awesome deer.

WOW!! That is a CRAZY rack.
Congrats

That is one awesome freaky buck! I would rather harvest one like that than a B/C buck.

Outstanding, great job!!!

He's gonna make a fantastic mount.

That's Awesome.

Congrats!!!

Congrats on a once in a lifetime buck! He definitely would have had me worked up too.

Congrats! That's a very unique deer...I like it!

Great deer!

Did he drop both of his nuts?

At some point he could have been a main frame 8, I think. Got any pics of the back of his rack. Have y'all seen him in years past? No matter, that's a once in a lifetime trophy! Congrats.

Heckuva buck!

Very cool buck. Congrats.

Wow, what a sweet looking animal. Going to take some time with a tape measure and an experienced scorer to figure out that one! Glad all I have to do is say CONGRATS!

Wow!!

H1 = 14"

Congratulations on an awesome buck

Don't think he will be able to scored by the C&B system with that one beam/base.

Score won't matter on that buck anyway. I would like to see a pic of the skull after he is caped out to see what happened or if you can tell what happened to him to cause that growth. Very unique trophy. Congrats!

I'm sure he'll probably shoulder mount it, but I think a euro would do him justice, would really show off the base.

I agree and would have the euro on a elevated pedestal type base. He will still make a great looking shoulder mount that I would also put on a swivel type pedestal base so you can turn the mount from time to time. The one I saw in the early 90's was very similar to this one. I remember the shed(s) that they had from the year before but do not remember the mount of the buck at all.

I've gone back and forth on what to do. I've caped him out and waiting to get him to the Taxi.

ALL my other mounts are Euros, but I thought a shoulder (sneak pose) would show it off.

Think the shoulder is overkill?

That is why they need an alternative to B&C like measuring the cubic inches of mass using a water displacement system and then add tine length.

stxranchman, where would I look on the skull to identify an issue?

You should do whatever you want. It is certainly not overkill. I just think a euro would show off his base(s). Congrats again.

That is awesome! What county?

Awesome buck!

If you have other euros just compare the bases and skull cap on them to see if there is any differences.

He will make a great shoulder mount. Definitely a conversation starter how ever he is mounted. Just look at several forms to see if there is anything you like before you have the antlers cut off the skull.

Outstanding buck!!! Going to make one hell of a mount

Congrats on taking him. Thats one of the strangest I have ever seen.

what a buck congrats

Never have seen one like that, glad you got him. Bet you still shake a little when you pick up that rack.

I'd full body mount that sucker. Awesome deer.

Awesome trophy! Very neat that your son was there with you and he got to see his daddy get the fever! He will never forget that!

Great Buck. One of a kind.

That's Awesome! Heck of a trophy there! Would love to see a picture of the back. I would def shoulder mount that one for sure!

I like that......neat!

I would have had to change my underwear and jeans after that one.

That is a very cool deer bro! Congrats

Wow Congrats

That's awesome, congrats

Congrats!!!

Mount him. No other way to do justice to the kind of deer that is. You won't shoot another in your lifetime regardless of score like him.

I agree. He is a worthy candidate.

definitely not overkill... I would talk to a good taxi and see if a replica is a possibility... could euro the original and replica for shoulder mount...

Congrats, incredible buck.

Looks like he may have had a skull fracture but strange he would be so healthy

I like this idea but either way he will make an awesome mount or euro whatever you decide. Again that is a buck of a lifetime

Thank guys. He was taken in Runnels County NW of Ballinger, TX.

I am dropping him off at the taxi today, and will take a pic of the back of the antlers, and post it.

Seen quite a few with cracks or fractures in the skull when they were caped out. Seen a buck that had pulled a whole velvet antler with part of the skull out when he got hung in a fence. He ran around with one antler that year. He lived and grew a funky rack on that side the next year then more normal looking the next. I am always amazed at what a buck can do after damage to the skull or antlers. Like to see pics of this skull also just to see what it looks like. I have an euro of a buck that had an extra small 1" point in between the his two antler bases. You can see where the antler on that side cracked and then healed at an angle. That side of his antler grew differently also. It stayed that way till he was killed. I actually saw this buck and videoed him the year he broke that side in the skull. You could see that antler laying at an angle and it would move around when he ran. I did not realize it was the same buck till he was killed a couple of years later and saw the damage to the skull on the euro mount.

Awesome buck congrats!!!

Split unicorn multi point FREAK!! What a unique trophy. Congrats.

Took pics of the back before leaving him with my taxidermist. He said due to the oddities are the base of the "antler", it might be near impossible to to a decent looking shoulder, and might HAVE to be a euro mount.
He's going to proceed as if a shoulder is going to work, and change course if need be.


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I'd name him King cause he sure has a crown. Great buck!

Outrageous buck....I'd love to hear what he scored.

That's crazy to think about how serious of an injury that is and they just keep on ticking

Who's your taxi? I'd get a few opinions.


Congrats though, that's awesome deer

I hunt just west of Talpa. Do you use a taxi in that area????

Wow! Now that is a once in a lifetime there.

definitely get another opinion..

What a unique buck!

I did get two other opinions. I've been really fortunate to have made contact with Ray Sasser (Dallas Morning News Outdoors Columnist), whom me and my Father in Law have read for years. After he emailed Dr. Deer (James Kroll, google him), he forwarded me his response, see here:

"I knew what the photo would be before I opened it. I have written about and done pieces on TV about such bucks. What happened was the buck damaged the area between the two antlers (probably by rubbing) and literally scalped himself in that part of the head. As scar tissue develops, the cells around the pedicels are like stem cells, containing all the genetic material to grow an antler, expanded as part of the scar tissue. The next year, the buck began antler growth, but this time the cells fused and produced antlers with fused bases. We have done this experimentally, don’t ask why or how, and it is indeed the answer."

My taxi and I also consulted with Macy Ledbetter (google him too), and his response was alkmost identical to Dr. Deer's.

The truth according to both of them, is that this was the perfect time to harvest this deer, because the antler growth would have protuded into his skull (which it has not been confirmed, and he had a pretty signicant brain infection, I now have graphic photos). Soon this deer would've become delirious, and in signifcant pain, and eventually died. They both also guessed that he was already in pain as it was. Macy theorized that he may live another season, but doubtful.

This whole thing has been an education, to say the least. It's good to know precisely what happened to him, and again..... I feel so thankful to be the one that was able to harvest him.

very cool looking deer

Very unique and most certainly one of a kind. Job well done!

Troy

Ray Sassers article on your deer is in today's Dallas Morning News sport section

Very cool deer.

Graphic pics?

Looks like a kings crown

Guys, sorry for the final shameless BUMP, but Ray Sasser ran my deer's story in Sunday's Dallas Morning News.

http://www.dallasnews.com/sports/more-sp...ing-display.ece