Perruque
- Thread starter JH83
- Start date
0These peruque heads also come about by a buck catching his wedding tackle on barbed wire fences and such like. It the testes on a buck are damaged in anyway it will normally produce a peruque head. It can also occur with internal malformation of the sexual organs as well.
Believe it or not it was fairly common place in Victorian times and for a short while after for keepers to shoot buck with a shotgun up the back to try and produce heads such as these. We have a book in the museum that tells of this taking place on ahighland estate, to satisfy wealthy continental stalkers of the time.
The antlers of mature male deer antlers grow in the absence of testosterone. It is the appearance of testosterone in the blood makes the deer become territorial, aggressive and the antlers to harden. If a male deer is born without testicles or castrated before antler growth starts there is no pedicle development and the heads remain antlerless like a female. Damage or loss of both testicles is required or else rutting antler development is normal. I would put the majority of perruques down to testicular damage due to fighting during the rut. I would say they occur regularly in roe compared to other species due to the fact that the smaller antlers of the aggressive buck can get into the groin of the affected animal easier than with other species. I have darted seen fallow perruque. Not great photo as I don't have the originals handy. No testicles just scar tissue where they should have been.
As Malc has said it was common to castrate bucks and stags in older times in parks, particularly where carted deer were hunted as there was less likelyhood of hounds being injured. The fact that the velvet antlers of many perruque roe get so large and eventually cover the eyes is that it is often the result of two or three years continual growth without obviously any casting. This is the best roe perruque I have come across.
Ursula-May
Member
Don't know on that score
I thought it was a brilliant example of a Perruque.
I thought it was a brilliant example of a Perruque.
I shot this early stage perruque at the end of March 2011, the testicles were shriveled up to the size of peas. The antlers were hard underneath but just starting to bubble in places. If you see one, shoot it, its the only humane thing to do.ys
chris
you ought to post an introduction first
Ursula-May
Member
Here is my introduction!
My name is Ursula-May (you will have gathered that from my user name). I am female. I am 24 (NB: because I am 24 this does not mean I am 'stupid'). I studdied Horticulture and latin at a university in the midlands then going on to study Arriculture at Harper Adams University. I paly the piano, because I like it. I run a very small consultancy business. I shoot both SG and rifle. I enjoy my rifle and spend a lot of my time out with it. I am going on an expedition to the Arctic for the countryside alliance foundation charity in March. I have 3 dogs and two ferrets along with a good sense of humour. I like food (like most people). I hope this introduction is 'OK'. I'd be very interested to know your views on women that shoot, keep ferrets, like guns... 'Trouble'
My name is Ursula-May (you will have gathered that from my user name). I am female. I am 24 (NB: because I am 24 this does not mean I am 'stupid'). I studdied Horticulture and latin at a university in the midlands then going on to study Arriculture at Harper Adams University. I paly the piano, because I like it. I run a very small consultancy business. I shoot both SG and rifle. I enjoy my rifle and spend a lot of my time out with it. I am going on an expedition to the Arctic for the countryside alliance foundation charity in March. I have 3 dogs and two ferrets along with a good sense of humour. I like food (like most people). I hope this introduction is 'OK'. I'd be very interested to know your views on women that shoot, keep ferrets, like guns... 'Trouble'
Ursula-May
Member
Excuse the spelling. quick typing on the computer. sorry 
You didn't say if you are right or left handed?
Yes
Chris
Yes
Chris
nothing wrong with women taking part in fieldsports at all , im all for it . Trouble , well that was working terrier bitch i once bred , game as they come but lost at work to a fox , just in case anyone wondered
Ursula-May
Member
Ursula-May
Welcome to the site.
When it comes to that particular question I'm not sure I've got any specific views as such, other than that women form a small, but growing and active, part of the shooting community, which is to be warmly welcomed. I've stalked with, and guided, a number of female stalkers and they have all been good company and competent shots.
Some years ago I was out game shooting as part of a team of guns that included one particular lady who was far more than competent. I don't know if she still goes game shooting but I've seen her name in respect of Safari Club International, so maybe she's moved on to bigger and better things. If so, good luck to her, as she was a fine shot.
I was fortunate in that I originally got into fieldsports through following a pack of beagles run by a lady who was, at the time and may still be, the longest-ever serving master of hounds. She encouraged anyone with an interest in fieldsports, regardless of background, and I still owe her a great debt in that respect.
Good luck with your trip to the Arctic, and keep us updated on progress.
willie_gunn
Ursula-May
Member
'Trouble'. Sad to hear the dog died. Yes I do still visit the area of Ditchley. It is a very lovely part of the Country.
I thoroughly enjoy the sport and it would be nice to see more women taking up such sports. Sometimes I do go clay pigeon shooting and there have been occasions why I see that not many ladies wish to be there which I find a little sad. Personally I'm a very outgoing individual (I like to think) and not too much phases me a great deal but there have been times where I have felt a little intimidated and as though I shouldn't be there, especially when I first started shooting. Rifles however are more of a solitary sporting nature (management process) and I think this is why I feel more comfortable. I have always worked in a male dominated environment, I enjoy the friendly banter and the friendships that evolve with the sport so all is good I suppose.
Yes I am very much looking forward to the arctic expedition. I feel it is of grave importance that we do our bit to educate people about the countryside, wildlife management and the shooting sport especially children. If anyone would care to make a donation you can go onto just giving, type in Ursula-May... I think. Sponsorship is going well and I hope I can reach he 5K target.
Thanks for the chat (Tea time) I've been fencing all day. x
I thoroughly enjoy the sport and it would be nice to see more women taking up such sports. Sometimes I do go clay pigeon shooting and there have been occasions why I see that not many ladies wish to be there which I find a little sad. Personally I'm a very outgoing individual (I like to think) and not too much phases me a great deal but there have been times where I have felt a little intimidated and as though I shouldn't be there, especially when I first started shooting. Rifles however are more of a solitary sporting nature (management process) and I think this is why I feel more comfortable. I have always worked in a male dominated environment, I enjoy the friendly banter and the friendships that evolve with the sport so all is good I suppose.
Yes I am very much looking forward to the arctic expedition. I feel it is of grave importance that we do our bit to educate people about the countryside, wildlife management and the shooting sport especially children. If anyone would care to make a donation you can go onto just giving, type in Ursula-May... I think. Sponsorship is going well and I hope I can reach he 5K target.
Thanks for the chat (Tea time) I've been fencing all day. x
Anyone know how perruques are charged for by professional guides? Personally I think they're hideous, albeit interesting, so I wouldn't want to mount one and as such wouldn't be interested in paying anything more than the standard cull buck fee for shooting one. But Sikamalc mentioned in an earlier post that they used to shoot bucks up th'ass with shotguns to produce perruques for wealthy punters (or something along those lines!)? I never thought there would be a trophy fee for one!
sikamalc
Administrator
That was in Edwardian days, unusual heads were much sought after, especially by continental overseas clients. Not legal today thank god, but a perruque head comes about due to Bucks damaging their testicles. Barded wire fences could cause a problem when they jump them I would guess? Personally I have never seen a perruque in the wild, but I find it facinating.
Dama
You must have breathed a sigh of relief to cull that one. Poor animal, the last few months of his life must have been awful.
What was his condition otherwise?
willie_gunn
I would have if I had culled it! I came across it in a pathology lab in Sweden in the mid 1980's. As regards the rest of its body condition I have no idea as only the head was submitted........
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