Coat color?

GMMAT · 11-26-2007, 04:18 AM

I noticed in Duke's thread he mentioned how "grey" the old doe's coat was that he took over the weekend. I saw an old doe last year that had a really "ashen" colored grey coat. I know the 4.5 yr old buck I took earlier this month had a noticeably more grey coat than his younger counterparts.

I also came into the forum and told about a really grey looking deer that appeared to me to be older.......but didn't have a big rack (at all). At that time....most here told me that different color phases in deer meant nothing....and that he probably wasn't an older deer.

Which is it?

StrutNtom · 11-26-2007, 05:42 AM

This is one of my bucks. Notice that he isn't that brown at all. He is almost totally grey.

flstnhd · 11-26-2007, 05:53 AM

I have at least two dark grey ones running around here that were born this year.

GMMAT · 11-26-2007, 05:57 AM

I'm more talking about a lighter/ashen type grey color.

My dog is getting a lot of grey hair as she ages. My head's almost entirely grey

. Wouldn't it make sense that deer age this way, too?

I have no idea of what I'm talking about.....just asking.

Jimimac · 11-26-2007, 05:59 AM

I really like the slate gray look that I sometimes see on a winter coated deer.

mobow · 11-26-2007, 06:03 AM

I dunno Jeff.....The buck I shot this year was very grey, but I honestly don't think he was more than 4 1/2....Actually, I believe he was 3 1/2....Won't know for sure until my taxi ages him.

It would seem logical that deer would grey as they turn older though. But I know that's never talked about as a way of aging deer.

GMMAT · 11-26-2007, 06:04 AM

I do too, Jimmi....and I realize from all my gamecam photos the transformation that takes place in coat.

(here's a good example of one in mid-change)

But I've seen two deer that were REALLY a light grey color and looked "old". People told me last year it was just a color phase thing. When I saw Duke's comment....I thought I'd ask, again.

Lubricious · 11-26-2007, 06:11 AM

I think their age shows more in the face in regards to color. The rest of the coat color is dependent on the season. An old deer wont always have a big rack either, they can loose the ability to grow what they previously had...degenerative if you will.

Jimimac · 11-26-2007, 06:12 AM

Ya know Jeff, I don't know either, but I always felt it was just a variation from deer to deer.

Austin/WI · 11-26-2007, 06:15 AM

I always thought the color changes were due to seasons. The tans and browns for the earlier season while things are still growing and then turn gray towards the end of fall when thngs start dying and the weather gets gray and gloomy. The age thing does make sense as well though...This is too much thinking for 7:15am