I’m sure many of us hunters focus more on the whitetail deer and are most familiar with this species. But there are many more types of deer out there to scout and hunt, including the piebald deer! But wait! Before you begin hunting this species, let’s first tackle the question: “How rare are Piebald deer?” This will help you know if you should target and hunt this species.
So do read on as I show you the information you need to know about the Piebald deer and if you should be hunting them. But don’t forget about the right equipment, a scope for elk hunting can work for deer hunting as well. Check out how interesting and unique they are!
What Are Piebald Deer?
Let’s learn about the term Piebald. This comes from the word “pie”, from a magpie. When you but both together, it means to be “mixed” or “bald”.
Piebaldism is a coloring from genetic abnormalities, which results in a lack of pigmentation in patches around one’s body. This is a recessive trait. Some Piebald deer would have just a slight amount of white hair found as patches, or it can be all white!
Piebald deer are different from albino deer, with their major difference being their eyes. Albino deer would have pink eyes, nose, and hooves, while Piebald deer would have brown or black eyes, nose, and hooves.
Besides their different coat, a Piebald deer would have various issues, such as:
- Bowing nose
- Overbite
- Arching spine
- Short legs and lower mandible
- Deformities in the organs
Here is an excellent video showing what the Piebald deer looks like:
How Rare Are Piebald Deer?
Piebald deer are easy to distinguish from the typical deer, but are they rare to see?
The Piebald deer is extremely difficult to find in just about ANY field. Compared to the typical whitetail deer, they are rare but more common than an albino deer. Reports have claimed that there is only less than 1% of piebald deer in the entire deer population, and even less albino deer roaming around in the wild!
So when you do happen to see a Piebald or albino deer roaming around the fields, then be sure not to lose it and capture the moment! They are definitely something you don’t see everyday while on the hunting fields.
Read more: How to Find Deer In the Woods: The 5 Effective Steps to Follow
Should You Hunt Piebald Deer?
Now that you know the rarity of the Piebald deer, should you be hunting them?
For starters, let’s think about the Piebald deer and how they are a “defective” species because of their host of problems. While it may not seem obvious in some Piebald deer, they would usually suffer from scoliosis, arthritis, or other internal problems! This is why hunters find it useless to protect the rare Piebald deer, as it would result in the breeding and passing on the genetic defects to their offspring.
Based on research, hunting Piebald deer will not affect its population significantly. It doesn’t damage the deer’s population when comparing to hunting whitetail or normal deer.
BUT, with that being said, there are certain factors that should change your mind when hunting the Piebald deer.
There have been myths and legends about hunting the Piebald deer. If you do capture and kill one, then it’s known to bring you many bad hunts in the future. Or, it would guarantee your death in one year. Scary, isn’t it?
But if you aren’t superstitious, the next thing you have to work about would be the state’s rules and regulations. For example, Iowa has made it illegal to hunt deer which are at least half-white. Other states like Kentucky would allow it, though.
So before you go on planning to hunt a Piebald deer (if you even see one), then it’s best to look up at the rules and regulations of each state. And if you do believe in the stories, then maybe just take a photo of the Piebald deer than take it down.
Discover more: When Do Deer Move The Most? The Facts You Need To Learn Right Now!
In Conclusion
And there you have it! The Piebald deer is indeed a rare sight to see, and as it is a birth defect that affects the way a deer would move or live, then there’s no reason to protect it. That is unless you believe in the myth that doing so will bring you ill fate during future hunts. Just remember to check your state regulations and follow the rules to ensure that you are allowed to hunt Piebald deer and you’re good to go.
I hope that this article answers your question: “How rare are Piebald deer?” Now that you know about this type of deer, learn more about your targeted game like how deer sound so you have a better chance of getting a successful catch today.
If you have any questions or would like to share your tips and experiences on the Piebald deer, then comment down below. I would love to hear what you have to think.
Thank you Sir!! I had never heard of a piebald deer and it came up in a recent post in the All of us West Virginians Social Group on Facebook. I made the comment that someone’s mommy or daddy must have been an Albino. I received one (laughing till they were crying) emoji and down within the comments was a reference to Piebald and naturally I googled it, not wanting to remain ignorant of the subject. I came upon your site and read your article, which I found very informative. I then took the liberty, hoping you don’t mind to share the information with the other people on the site to allow them to know what the piebald was and was not. Thank you again for your informative article. Have a Great Day, Enjoy Life to the Fullest and Above All Be Kind to Those You Meet Along Life’s Path.
God Bless and Best Regards,
Wm. Gregory Barr
You’re welcome, William. Happy to help
We just came back from Orcas Island, Washington and saw a piebald deer in Moran State Park. Had never seen or even heard of one before but got some info from the Park Ranger. We’re not hunters so it would never cross my mind to shoot it but understand about the abnormalities being passed on. Anyway, was excited to see this rare animal in the wild.
I’m glad that this article is useful to you, Monica
I live in S. New Brunswick. I back on a river and in a 10 mile arc there are 8 piebald deer i see semi-frequently. Not all together. Couple day going around corner and right in front of us was one, at first thought it was a big goat, sort of furry. 2nd one followed, almost hit it but it dodged back in last fraction of second. Thankfully, most deer just plunge in front of you around here. Irving was spraying Crown lands to eradicate hardwoods, was wondering if this could be effect of that.
Checked my game cam yesterday and had numerous deer at my old deer attractant spot , two of the deer were piebald , no antlers, they both had dark faces from the eyes to the nose and dark legs from their hoofs to the first joint. Considering the pictures were black and white. Both deer were the same size , there was another deer with them but never got a good picture of it to be able to tell if it was a piebald to. I had no idea they were around may have been yearning so that may be why I haven’t seen them. Hoping to get more pics especially some in the daylight hours so the pictures will be in color.
I have a piebald that I shot yesterday in troy Montana I would like to sell it who can I contact about it.
I have two who visit my yard. Big doe and a youngster
I happened to see a deer that had been hit south of Akron,Ind that had a black head and neck and brown or tan body. Heard of black deer but not multi colored!
FYI,
Hunting or any lack thereof of Piebalds, a quantitatively-testable 1-2% of the deer populace, does and would have zero effect on any transmission of the defects mentioned as “attributed” to Piebalds. These are recessive genes which are carried by the deer population in general. Making an attempt to kill more Piebalds and / or justifying their deaths in the intent of reducing deer birth defects is not empirically supported by any modern genetic science. On the other hand (besides having four fingers and a thumb, ha!) … Killing less Piebalds will also not result in more birth defects occurring. The genetic basis of these recessive traits doesn’t care at all about the tiny subset of the overall deer world that seems to exhibit more of these recessive traits. Science! %-) Cheers.
My husband and I just saw a Piebald at the creek here in N.C. We stopped the car and watched it among its mates. Amazing
I have been hunting in South Carolina for 35 years and have been lucky enough to have seen 4 different Piebald deer. A friend shot a 10 pt. that all four legs were white. We had a large doe with spots on her hind quarters behind the house for 5 years, she had two brown fawns every year. I harvested a 6 pt. almost 15 years ago that was 75 % white with brown spots. I have it in a full mount on the wall. I saw a small fawn three years ago that had a white face and one ear but have not seen it since.
I saw my first fawn today. Beautiful Pie Bald. Gig Harbor, Wa.
Please email me and I will forward photo
[email protected]. Thank you so much
my daughter and her husband own 100 ac. in walker co texas. the tract is surrounded by the sam houston national forest, east of huntsville texas. last year i captured a piebald doe on a game camera. this year, on 18 nov. we got another picture of a black faced doe. i am 78 yrs old andhunted deer all my life and never seen either before, nor did i even know that they existed. this is amazing to me.