Holy Buck! See a $5Mil Whitetail
We all know that, as much fun as outdoor television can be, many of the exciting scenes that we’re watching are really only exciting because of the editing. That doesn’t make them any less fun to watch, but it does mean that we have to suspend a little disbelief … unless, of course, you’re a fan of “Keith Warren’s Deer and Wildlife Stories.” There’s a new episode out that puts its money where its mouth is, and by “money” we mean five million dollars for a single whitetail buck.
How does an ostensibly wild animal wind up with a seven-figure price tag? Well, Warren’s visit to Blackjack Whitetails outside San Antonio helps tell the story. The hottest buck in the deer industry has a name–Blackjack. “We doubt there has ever been a buck on the planet that has what this buck has,” says the description, and they don’t appear to be exaggerating. “Spread, tine length, mass, frame and pedigree are all over the top and his look is incredible.”
In this episode, which you can watch for free here, Warren talks to farm owner Robert Myers about what he’s learned about the deer industry from having a buck this famous. Viewers will learn why there is something known as a deer industry, and how a buck can be worth this much money.
The long and short of it is breeding big bucks is very big business indeed. “Jackpot” the deer represents a genetic jackpot, and his value is determined in much the same way as a thoroughbred stud is–by how many similarly amazing whitetails he can father. But even as we’re amazed at a whitetail with a rack so big you could fit a bathtub in it, we should wonder if this is what we as sportsmen really want. Could an animal like Jackpot survive in the wilderness conditions for which whitetails evolved?
What do you think? Sound off in the comments!
Guys,
there is a MARKET in this country for a lot of things. A father wants to bring his son out on his first hunt and guarantee a buck…after the kid has got a taste he can get a lesson later that not all hunts are successful. We’re not hunting for survival anymore… at least not most. I wanted a red stag… I could not afford to go down under to get one… but I thought awfully hard about going to a farm. The bucks harvested on these farms should be considered like man made diamonds… nice, but not worth as much.
10/4
Why do we breed freaks that never would exist in the wild? Once again gratification for the wealthy and spoiled class lazy hunter. They are not wild deer but caged circus freaks that I pity. Animal cruelty plain and simple.
Nothing but a sick freak show.
THE WORDS “HUNTING & HUNTERS” SHOULD NOT EVEN BE USED IN THIS ARTICLE ! ITS NOT HUNTING AND DARN SURE NOT HUNTERS THAT WOULD SUPPORT THIS ! THEY SHOULD BE ASHAMED MESSING WITH NATURE AND WHAT WAS ONCE WILD ANIMALS. IF THESE ENGINEERED BLOOD LINES WERE TO ENTER THE GENERAL WILD DEER HERD POPULATIONS IT WOULD BE ALL BAD ! THESE TYPES OF ANIMALS CANNOT SURVIVE IN THE WILD.
Ranches like the one in this video has devastated white tail hunting for the blue collar people. The high fence ranches have driven up the price of hunting and taken away the fair chase excitement of what deer hunting is meant to be. We are trying to promote hunting for the kids and young adults and battle the anti gun/hunting machine. Most families today can’t afford a $5000 and up lease to enjoy our given right to hunt. These ranches are no better than the pimps of the inter-cities of America. They are only interested in making huge money on these freak deer that are not in any way natural. I live in Southwest Texas and it is big business here. These ranches have ruined hunting for most Texans. The hunting shows would do most viewers a favor to stop catering to this style of killing. Yes, killing. When you trap a tame animal in a cage and set a price on it’s head before the person ever shows up, that killing. No where near anything close to sportsmanship or hunting.
This is “hunting” at it’s absolute worst. In fact, This is as much hunting as going out for a steak dinner. The result is guaranteed,. Any of what hunting is has been totally removed from whatever you want to call this. To call it hunting is an insult to real sportsman everywhere.
I saw the show that featured the ranch breeding this deer and his offspring. As long as folks with more money than most of us will pay half the price of an African hunt to kill a Whitetail from a comfy heated commercial stand overlooking a feed lot, then such deer will be bred for so-called “hunters”. This is the same phenomenon as fools paying outrageous prices to watch overpaid egotistical jerks play with balls.
Exactly!! Totally Agree!
Chickensh*t “hunters” want to kill this beautiful animal. Go face it the woods with a knife and see how tough you are! Cowardly so called “hunters” are the worst of humankind!
AJ, “Hunters” won’t do this. Hunters will go into the wild and then look for the older animals that have little quality life left. In this way, they help the herd by cutting down on how many are foraging the area, thus making a better food supply for all of the rest.
This is another example of man pretending to make nature better, when the actual truth is it all boils down to money. LEAVE NATURE ALONE , and stick to traditional hunting.
I have Hunted Deer for over 45 years and have watched many programs on Deer Breeding and enhancements.
I STRONGLY Disagree what has been done over the years and in my eyes these Deer are about as impressive to me a a WILD BUTTON BUCK. They are not as GOD made them to be and as far as i am concerned if it is not a Wild Deer of True Nature it is FAKE & WRONG. And messing with Genetics is Wrong.
Steve
Totally agree
i totally agree!
No this deer and most selected breedings of Whitetail or other wild animals cannot,
Breeding freaks for dollars , enhancement by steroids and various additives, to a fantastic athletic animal of the wild verges on animal abuse..
around here he wouldn’t have lived long enough in the wild to grow a rack that big.