Every year a lucky few deer hunters are fortunate enough to encounter rare deer that defy the usual patterns of antler growth and reproductive biology. These include cryptorchid bucks, does with antlers, and other unusual intermediates between true males and females. Though it’s not always easy to identify them, let’s look at some of the conditions we know about.
What is a Cryptorchid Buck?
Cryptorchid bucks are one of the rare anomalies that often cause confusion and fascination in the whitetail woods due to their unique appearance and reproductive biology. Cryptorchidism occurs when a buck’s testicles remain in the abdominal cavity rather than descending into the scrotum. In some cases, a buck’s testicles may eventually drop but are often small and malformed. In other more extreme cases, both testicles remain in the abdominal cavity and never descend into the scrotum.
When a cryptorchid buck’s testicles fail to descend, they remain inside of the abdominal cavity where the internal body temperature prevents normal sperm production. As a result, these bucks are stuck in neutral and incapable of reproducing. Unusually low testosterone levels lead to a lack of desire to participate in the rut like normal bucks.
What Causes the Cryptorchid Condition?
Cryptorchidism results from a birth defect, though bucks that are born normal can acquire the same effects if they suffer a testicular injury, such as from a fight or sparring match with a foe, or not jumping high enough to completely clear a fence (ouch!).
Cryptorchidism diminishes testosterone levels and can have a significant impact on the physical development of a buck, perhaps the most distinctive feature of which is their unusual antlers.
An Altered Antler Cycle
The antlers of normal, healthy bucks grow throughout the spring and summer months before a rise in testosterone levels occurs in late summer with decreasing day length and causes antlers to mineralize and shed their velvet. These hardened antlers are then used to fight other bucks during the rut before increasing daylight and decreasing testosterone levels cause them to cast (drop) in the winter months.
Cryptorchid bucks are different. Because testosterone levels remain low in these bucks, the normal seasonal cycle of antler growth, casting, and regrowth is disrupted. This results in antlers that remain soft and velvet-covered, instead of mineralizing and shedding after the breeding season. Antlers are not shed and continue to grow as the animal matures, leading very old cryptorchid bucks to have enlarged antler bases and numerous abnormal points, often giving them a “cactus” appearance.
Physical and Behavior Differences
Due to the lack of normal testosterone levels, cryptorchid bucks may never develop the muscular necks and robust body sizes that are commonly seen in other mature, rutting bucks. Instead, they often appear like a doe with antlers (more on this later), with a sleek, slender body, and very minimal tarsal-gland staining because they rarely if ever rub-urinate like other bucks.
Because their testosterone levels remain low, cryptorchid bucks don’t participate in the seasonal rituals of normal bucks. They don’t participate in signpost behavior like making scrapes and rubs, lack the chemical stimulation to express their dominance and individualism, and do not engage in the intense competition for mates that is typical of bucks during the rut. The lack of testosterone leads even the most mature bucks to behave more like their female counterparts.
Cryptorchid Buck, Hermaphrodite, or Antlered Doe?
Often, lucky hunters that harvest an antlered deer that lacks the normal male sex organs are almost automatically under the assumption that the animal is a doe. However, this is seldom the case.
Hermaphroditism is another genetic defect that is a bit more complicated. Hermaphrodites have both male and female sex organs, including testes and ovaries. Externally, they may have male or female reproductive organs, or both, regardless of whether they have antlers. Like cryptorchid bucks, they can display unusual patterns of antler growth, behavior and reproductive biology.
True antlered does – neither hermaphrodites nor cryptorchids – are an even more rare phenomenon than cryptorchid bucks, with only a select few expressing the trait due to a hormonal imbalance. When this does occur, abnormally high levels of testosterone allow these does to produce antlers, but the antlers are usually small, thin and resemble those often found on a yearling buck. In does that have antlers, they almost always stay in velvet or only partially harden, because of the large hormonal imbalance it takes to grow them in the first place. They almost never have enough testosterone for the antlers to harden.
True antlered does with elevated testosterone levels can also successfully reproduce, so it is not unheard of to see an antlered deer nursing a fawn. Aside from the set of antlers found on their head, they typically retain the body size and shape of a normal doe and carry out the same life cycle.
It can be difficult to differentiate cryptorchid bucks, hermaphrodites and true antlered does in the field. In some cases, an accurate diagnosis requires internal examination by a biologist.
Should You Shoot?
These rare deer are one of the reasons why states often choose to label their deer tags as “antlered” and “antlerless” instead of “buck” or “doe.”
You can have bucks that don’t have antlers that are long enough to be classified as antlered deer. In these instances, you may be required to use an antlerless tag. On the other hand, you may harvest a doe that has antlers large enough to classify the as an antlered deer, which you may then be required to put your antlered tag on.
Before you decide to pull the trigger or release an arrow, make sure you are familiar with your state regulations and have the appropriate tag in your pocket. Regardless, if you encounter one of these unique and rare deer where you hunt, consider yourself lucky and go buy a lottery ticket!
