ProRodeo Sports News - June 15, 2018

Dominating bull Deerango retires at age 9 BY MATT NABER R etiring while at the top is how Flying U Rodeo’s Deerango is going out. The “unrideable” 9-year-old bull has toppled the best in the PRCA, and now he’s heading to greener pastures for breeding after the Reno (Nev.) Rodeo’s Xtreme Bulls event, June 14.

right there, and he’s so strong and athletic and kicks over his head and has a big leap, it makes it hard for the guys to ride him.” NATURE VS. NURTURE The only time Deerango was successfully ridden was when he was 3 years old and his PRCA run hadn’t really started. “It takes them a year or so to get it together and some get it from the get-go,” Rosser said. “He went to those two rodeos. By August … it was game on after just two rodeos.” Bull rider Shane Proctor, the 2011 world champion, tangoed with Deerango twice. The bull won both times. “He’s just electric in the chute and he really bucks,” Proctor said. “He’s just an athletic animal and gets it from his dad. He’s tricky in the chute and kicks really hard. If you’re looking for a challenge, then you want him by your name.” Deerango gets it from family. “His dad was the same way,” Rosser said. “Animals are like people, some are right on it every time and some take a while to figure it out, and then they get smart and know what the job is.” Now that he’s mastered his first job and is ready to retire, Deerango’s already started his new job as a breeding bull. “She spoils him,” Amaral said. “He’s built like a flankman now, he’s fat and lazy. She (Rosser) feeds him nothing but the best and takes great care of her bulls. She keeps some at her house and they get A-plus care.” “I admit I baby him,” Rosser said, adding that Deerango was getting acupuncture. “I care about my animals and want them to be great. That’s what we are striving for in raising bulls and bucking horses.” After concluding his career at Reno, Deerango is fresh. “A lot of spectators don’t know the bulls do more damage to themselves fighting than they do bucking,” Rosser said. “So, we have to watch that, it’s a constant battle trying to keep everyone fit because there’s a lot of testosterone in the pasture. That’s the toughest thing, keeping them going and watching your pens to see who gets along and who doesn’t.” Deerango already has a legacy in the works with two bulls on the ground. His 2-year-old calf is showing potential to be a bucker. “He’s earned his retirement,” Proctor said. “I’m a big fan of the bucking bulls and when they put in that work to be great athletes they earn their retirement.” “Those good ones don’t come every day,” Amaral said. “I’ll darn sure miss him.”

“I wanted to retire him now while he’s got nothing to prove,” said Cindy Rosser, who handles the livestock breeding for Flying U Rodeo and is a PRCA secretary. “And I want to keep him sound for breeding. Hopefully he will breed for four or five years.” Deerango spurs from Reindeer Dippin, the 2004 Top Bull of the National Finals Rodeo, and Domino Durango as his dam. His half-brother is Bushwacker, so bucking, spinning and success are in his blood. “The bucking bull industry is like the horse race programs, they are bred to buck,” said Tony Amaral, a flankman with Flying U Rodeo who’s worked with Deerango since the start. Deerango started bucking in 2012 at 3 years old. That year two bull riders had qualified rides on him. Since, Deerango has a 100 percent buck-off percentage. “Bull riders will tell you they hate him,” Rosser said. “That’s the rodeo business and I’m used to it and I’ve seen it all. Some will say he’s this or that, but he takes care of himself and he’s very smart. If they pull a lot of rope, he will stand there.” Four-time reigning world champion bull rider Sage Kimzey agreed about Deerango’s intelligence. “He bucked hard and was one of the smarter bulls, and he was definitely tough to get by,” Kimzey said. Nobody has gotten past Deerango in six years. “When guys turn him out, I say, ‘Gosh, doesn’t someone want to be 90 on him? Don’t you want to conquer Mount Everest?’” Rosser laughed. “He doesn’t hurt you, he just bucks. Some bull riders like that and want to get on the rank ones.” DEERANGO’STRAVELS Deerango has bucked at many of the regular season’s biggest rodeos, such as California Rodeo Salinas, the Red Bluff (Calif.) Round-Up, Reno (Nev.) Rodeo and the Rancho Mission Viejo Rodeo in San Juan Capistrano, Calif. “He’s been in the short rounds everywhere since he was 4 years old and tested against the best,” Rosser said. There’s one place Deerango hasn’t bucked – and not from lack of talent – the Wrangler National Finals Rodeo. “He never went to the NFR, they wouldn’t take him, and I quit

nominating him,” Rosser said. “I haven’t hauled his legs off, I tried to take care of him because my goal is to breed him and make more.” PRCA Stock Statistics lists Deerango as having 30 PRCA outs. Rosser estimates that is much fewer than his total outs – but the score remains the same. “He just flat bucks,” Amaral said. “Some bull riders have told me he’s the strongest bull they’ve ever been on. For his size, he’s very athletic.” Deerango tips the scale at about 1,600 pounds and has been marked with 45s and 46s, Rosser said. “He’s been marked 46s and he’s rank,” Amaral said. “He turns to the

ProRodeo Sports News 6/15/2018

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