Deer Vet
> Castration
Castration Q&A |
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| 1 |
I am writing to you with a probably all to familiar question, but then I here I go. My parents have been given an |
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orphaned roe deer buck he was about 8 weeks old when they received him. It was recommended not to castrate him at that time because of the complication of perruque formation later on.
I am however concerned regarding the very real long-term danger due to the animal. He's now 4 month old.
My question is basically would you still recommend to castrate him now and if he develops perruque antler formation how would you treat that or is there a way how to remove the antlers long-term, ie surgically?
Thank you for your help with this matter
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To go straight to your last question, surgical polling has been used mainly in fallow deer here, and a few in chital deer, The main problem is that if any pedicle tissue is left behind it can still grow an antler – sometimes a couple of years later, and it is always abnormal in shape. It never really became populat here with failure rates of up to 25 percent. We did the surgery when you could just palpate the pedicle. In fallow this was about 7 months of age, which is also the stage for castration with no perruque development - that it is done prepuberally is the key. Your buck may still be OK to do but not for much longer.. and make sure that he has tetanus shots. If you do decide to poll him I can describe the technique, but I think castration would be better, if done right now
(11 December 2011)
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| 2 |
I live in southeastern United States, and have a rescued whitetail buck fawn. He is about 4 months old. He has |
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bumps under the skin on his head, but the skin still moves over them. If I band him now, will it prevent antler growth, or will he still grow velvet antlers? I have waited to band him because his scrotum is very small, and I am afraid the bands won’t be tight enough.
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Now is a good time to castrate him – he will not grow antlers if he is done now. It is essential that he be protected against tetanus, with the best approach being to vaccinate him with a 2 cc dose of tetanus toxoid now, with a follow up dose on the day that he is castrated (no sooner thaer than 2 weeks ater the first shot).
(12 December 2010)
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3a |
This deer wandered up on the farm last bow hunting season and I took it
in to protect it. I tried to find the owner |
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because it was hand raised, with no success. It had one 7" long
spike and the other was broken off about an inch long. I cut of the
other to match. . . This is a very rare deer and I know the danger.
I am a holy man and I think this deer was a gift. So I am not in fear
and am able to defend myself with hand to hand combat in any case.
Thank you for being here for us and am looking forward to your reply. |
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He certainly is an interesting animal . . . I am far more concerned about
your own safety, in being with this tame fallow buck. I can only state
that tame male deer eventually become DANGEROUS to anyone who approaches
them, and I am afraid that your own situation is no different. No
matter what personal faith you may have, nor how well versed you are in
martial arts, if this buck does attack you or anyone else there is the
certainty of serious injury or even death. You can have no idea just
how strong and quick an aggressive buck can be, if he decides to attack
someone. Can you afford to have that on your conscience? If you
think I am over the top with these statements please believe me - it is just
not worth the risk of someone being seriously injured by this animal. |
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3b |
Let me tell you the known history and some speculation of this Dama Dama.
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I was an avid hunter and had waited until the blush of the Bow season had
passed. It wasn't cold enough for me yet. I needed to be able to hang the
deer up in the barn to age the meat.
Finally the perfect conditions presented. My first shot was a clean miss
over the shoulder at 40 feet. I am a pretty good bowman and was bothered by
the miss. That same afternoon I missed one under at 20 feet and again over
at 30 feet. I am not new at this. At 53 buck fever was not a problem.
Something was not right and I needed to think on this a few days. That was
it for me! Three perfect shots and three perfect misses.
The night of the third day was different. My dog Kody was yapping all night.
And in the morning she started again. I asked her what she was barking at,
and in the field 100 feet away was this buck just standing there. It wasn't
even looking in my direction so I raised my hand and said "Hello Bucky"!
The deer turned and casually walked over to me. It stopped and put its head
down about two feet away and paused. Now mind you, it was the middle of the
rutt: I grabbed a fist full of antler and we danced around for about 15 or
20 seconds. He wasn't aggressive but didn't like me hanging onto the spike.
And I wasn't fond of it pointing in my direction, so I backed away and he
followed me around the barn several times. When I stopped he stopped. I
walked over and patted him on the shoulder and said come on.
We casually walked down to the neighbor about 700 yards, where I asked for
help to put up a fence. They took pictures and we all visited for a while.
And on the way back I was talking with the neighbor and had taken my eye off
the deer, who promptly butted me in the butt. Just laying the spike aside my
left hip joint. So I learned my lesson early on, and after enclosing him the
spike came off.
There was some question here about his handling and treatment with special
permits being required for keeping deer in Michigan. The Department of
Natural Resource's wanted to kill Bucky. But they only have jurisdiction
over WT's. So he is classified as a pet like a goat. Even when I confronted
them with the facts they wanted to put him down. I think that DNR must stand
for " Do Not Resuscitate".
He has been a wonderful learning experience and I think the Father wants me
to stop killing and try taking care of one for a while. We have had some
pushing contests and I have observed that he needs to set up first to push
straight on at you. If I deflect his head to the side it breaks his
concentration and he will have to set again. If I don't present a line up
stance with him he loses interest. But I am sure that during the rutt things
will be different, when he is mature.
There are some close neighbors 7or 8 miles away who I have talked with. They
have Huge WT's that they keep inside enclosures all year round. She can go
inside with the bucks, always on her guard and never during rutt. Craig
Adams here, the owner of this farm, raised sheep for 40 years and is
delighted at Bucky's arrival. He took care of his own vet needs and has much
insight on preventative maintenance. I have been able to trim Bucky's front
hooves with an offset tin-snip cutter. He has interesting trust issues which
I can relate to. It only took about 4 days to achieve access for 10 seconds
work.
In my discoveries it seems that he was possibly shipped here to Michigan for
the purpose of some animal sacrifice for the Persian population about 10
miles south and had escaped. This deer is endangered and is even more rare
being white. It has all pink skin, seems to be in perfect health and has
interesting eyes that seem to reflect his mood. Sitting in the paddock with
him I can observe his eye against the sky with his head lifted up; they are
reddish brown. But I have seen them green and even red when he is angry with
me.
During the past winter I fed him corn and butternut squash. He always has
access to alfalfa hay and clean water. He is a little chubby but not over
weight. He has a mineral block that needs to be replaced and has a pretty
good life so far.
This year will be interesting as he will have access to a larger enclosure.
Your advise has not fallen on deaf ears. I know that you know what you are
talking about and will heed your advise.
I am very pleased to have found your website. Thank you so much for being
there for us.
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You tell a great story, and I have no doubt that you have established a
special relationship with this creature. His behaviour has all the
hallmarks of a buck that has no fear of you, and I can only repeat my
concern. Please be very careful with him, and don't be lulled into a false
sense of security in the belief that you can fend him off if he really does
decide to attack you. You will not be able to do so. Your duty of care to
other people is also an issue. But I am starting to repeat myself, so I will
say no more.
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