Spoke with the hunter in person, in front of his buck at the Expo. With us was a very reputable S. Utah taxidermist (not sure if he wants named, so I'll hold out). Remember, cactus bucks are most common in the SW and this taxi has been around a bunch of them. This is what he said:
The No cactus buck argument:
-the full testicals as witnessed by several hunters at the kill site
-the coloring of the buck's forehead doesn't look like a the cactus bucks he's seen
-based on testimony from the taxidermist that finished the cape, the "leather" of the skin was of normal thickness, and didn't indicate a cactus buck. In the experience of the 2nd taxidermist, he said that indicates it's not a cactus buck
-antler weight. The taxidermist who handled the antlers commented to the hunter the antlers felt "normal heavy". Cactus bucks have lighter weight antlers. Second taxidermist agreeed.
For Cactus buck argument:
-anything is possible