Spey,

As with some other sesonal breeders, testosterone levels play a huge part in the whether or not the animal is capable of breeding. And age has a lot to do with when testosterone levels rise. Younger animals generally have lower testosterone levels than older animals, and their levels don't peak until later in the breeding season. In deer, testosterone levels also determine when the velvet begins to dry.

Testes size and apperaance is also related to age, and testosterone levels. In many animals the testes are not dropped down (or visible) until the appropriate testosterone levels have been reached.

In other words, velvet bucks may not exhibit noticeable testes, especially young bucks.

How old are the deer you are taking, and what state are you in?

There are bucks that may not exhibit testes at all. But, it is rare, and it generally wouldn't occur in a small area (as in a county) in the numbers you have stated.

T.R.