Does Texas have a $1,000,000 Buck?
10-23-2007, 07:25 PM
#1
Nontypical Buck
Thread Starter
Join Date: Mar 2004
Location:
Posts: 1,837
Does Texas have a $1,000,000 Buck?
Does the Nooner ranch in Texas have a deer worth $1Million?
With a 46-point rack and a Boone and Crockett score of 334, its hard
to argue that a whitetail named Stickers isnt the biggest buck to
ever consume protein in Texas. Sammy Nooner of Hondo brought
Stickers home in February. Since then, fellow deer breeders have
been speculating on the price tag. Some estimates involve seven
figures for the 6-year-old monarch buck, whose semen fetches $4,000
to $5,000 per straw. Nooner, however, said the price is going to
stay between him and the seller Tommy Dugger, one of the states top
deer breeders. Its probably as high as anybodys ever paid, he said,
but were not letting it out; Tommy and I have a gentlemans agreement.
Damon Thorpe, director of operations for the Texas Deer Association,
said there are probably only two deer in the United States bigger
than Stickers. I think you can say with confidence hes the most
expensive deer ever in Texas, Thorpe said. Its not inconceivable at
all to think a deer like that is worth $1 million. Dugger told the
Lone Star Outdoor News it would not be accurate to say the deer sold
for one million dollars. Wildlife consultant Chase Clark, who works with
both Nooner and
Dugger, said the biggest buck title was previously held by Jake the
Dream Buck, which was owned by Dugger. Jake died of a respiratory
illness in the winter of 2005, Clark said. In the meantime, Dugger
acquired the up-and-comer Stickers, who was born in 2001 on the Glen
Morgan ranch.
But Stickers had something else going for him, Clark said. This deer
is the offspring of a doe impregnated by artificial insemination
with semen from an Ohio legend named Redoy Ben. The elder whitetail,
who was only about 2 years old at the time, showed a lot of
potential, Clark said. Redoy Ben died that same year, also to a
respiratory illness. Nevertheless, Clark said the big deers
potential was realized through his son, Stickers. It wasnt until
October of 2006 that a tape was put on those antlers, Clark said of
Stickers headgear. Now Stickers represents the ultimate in the Texas
deer breeding industry.
Nooner, a South Texas gasoline distributor, is also known for the
quality dove hunts he offers from his base in Medina County. We just
wanted to help the genetics, he said. It was fun just trying to see
how big a deer could grow. But Nooner may be on the verge of seeing
his profits grow as well. Lets assume he did pay $1 million for the
deer, Thorpe said. All he has to do is sell 200 straws to get his
money out of him. You can easily get that in a year, and do it
safely. But despite his pedigree, Nooner and Clark agree theres
nothing uppity about Stickers. Some deer are more nervous than
others, Clark said. They dont do well in breeding operations. But
Stickers is pretty laid back. Hes great at posing for the camera.
With a 46-point rack and a Boone and Crockett score of 334, its hard
to argue that a whitetail named Stickers isnt the biggest buck to
ever consume protein in Texas. Sammy Nooner of Hondo brought
Stickers home in February. Since then, fellow deer breeders have
been speculating on the price tag. Some estimates involve seven
figures for the 6-year-old monarch buck, whose semen fetches $4,000
to $5,000 per straw. Nooner, however, said the price is going to
stay between him and the seller Tommy Dugger, one of the states top
deer breeders. Its probably as high as anybodys ever paid, he said,
but were not letting it out; Tommy and I have a gentlemans agreement.
Damon Thorpe, director of operations for the Texas Deer Association,
said there are probably only two deer in the United States bigger
than Stickers. I think you can say with confidence hes the most
expensive deer ever in Texas, Thorpe said. Its not inconceivable at
all to think a deer like that is worth $1 million. Dugger told the
Lone Star Outdoor News it would not be accurate to say the deer sold
for one million dollars. Wildlife consultant Chase Clark, who works with
both Nooner and
Dugger, said the biggest buck title was previously held by Jake the
Dream Buck, which was owned by Dugger. Jake died of a respiratory
illness in the winter of 2005, Clark said. In the meantime, Dugger
acquired the up-and-comer Stickers, who was born in 2001 on the Glen
Morgan ranch.
But Stickers had something else going for him, Clark said. This deer
is the offspring of a doe impregnated by artificial insemination
with semen from an Ohio legend named Redoy Ben. The elder whitetail,
who was only about 2 years old at the time, showed a lot of
potential, Clark said. Redoy Ben died that same year, also to a
respiratory illness. Nevertheless, Clark said the big deers
potential was realized through his son, Stickers. It wasnt until
October of 2006 that a tape was put on those antlers, Clark said of
Stickers headgear. Now Stickers represents the ultimate in the Texas
deer breeding industry.
Nooner, a South Texas gasoline distributor, is also known for the
quality dove hunts he offers from his base in Medina County. We just
wanted to help the genetics, he said. It was fun just trying to see
how big a deer could grow. But Nooner may be on the verge of seeing
his profits grow as well. Lets assume he did pay $1 million for the
deer, Thorpe said. All he has to do is sell 200 straws to get his
money out of him. You can easily get that in a year, and do it
safely. But despite his pedigree, Nooner and Clark agree theres
nothing uppity about Stickers. Some deer are more nervous than
others, Clark said. They dont do well in breeding operations. But
Stickers is pretty laid back. Hes great at posing for the camera.
10-23-2007, 09:11 PM
#2
Typical Buck
Join Date: Aug 2006
Location: Lehigh County, PA
Posts: 516
RE: Does Texas have a $1,000,000 Buck?
10-23-2007, 10:23 PM
#6
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Dec 2005
Location: The Republic of Texas
Posts: 12,040
RE: Does Texas have a $1,000,000 Buck?
Disgustingly ugly rack. I'd rather get a shot at a 150" Typical 8 point than that thing. I hope they keep it on their farm and don't let any of those genes outside their fence.
10-24-2007, 07:17 AM
#10
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Ponce de Leon Florida USA
Posts: 10,079
RE: Does Texas have a $1,000,000 Buck?
At $5,000 a straw the buck is worth easily $1,000,000 and there are a LOT of deer breeders that will pay that for a chance to grow a giant buck. On the cover of the 2007 Vol 5 QDMA magazine there is a picture of a buck named Elvis that is located on the Quest Haven Lodge Farm in Pennsylvania that is another giant. At 3 years old he scores 310 and has a 41" spread on him.
I know of a hunting club that has a breeder pen with a real nice buck in it and a bunch of does that are genetically better than the local herd. Every year they release the yearlings into the wild herd and they adapt very quickly. The hunting club land is not high fenced, but they have improved the size of their bucks.
I know of a hunting club that has a breeder pen with a real nice buck in it and a bunch of does that are genetically better than the local herd. Every year they release the yearlings into the wild herd and they adapt very quickly. The hunting club land is not high fenced, but they have improved the size of their bucks.