http://www.dnr.state.md.us/wildlife/ddpbald.asp

A genetic variation (defect) produces the piebald condition in white-tailed deer, not parasites or diseases. Piebald deer are colored white and brown similar to a pinto pony. Sometimes they appear almost entirely white. In addition to this coloration, many have some of the following observable conditions: bowing of the nose (Roman nose); short legs; arching spine (scoliosis); short lower jaws. This genetic condition is rare with typically less than one percent of white-tailed deer being affected. Limited research indicates that two piebald white-tailed deer cannot produce offspring; however, a piebald white-tailed deer and a normal white-tailed deer can reproduce. Therefore if piebald deer are protected from harvest, the incidence of piebald births will increase within a local population. In Maryland!

http://www.buckmasters.com/buckmaste...1221Ghost.html
The Elusive White Ghost
By Rick Rentz

The 12-point buck was not only a very unusual color, but he was like a ghost during deer season. When the season was in, you never saw the white deer, but in 2004, he was spotted by a bowhunter on Thursday, Nov. 11, the day before gun season opened. However, the hunter decided he was too far away for a shot so, he passed, and the buck was allowed to live another day.

When shotgun season arrived in Delaware, we just figured it would be another year where the buck simply disappeared into the deep woods … always present but ever elusive. But, to our surprise, a local hunter on the neighboring farm spotted the great white deer. He took a shot, hitting the deer high in the back of the neck, but the deer ran off.

The hunter waited a couple of hours before tracking him, and, after finding the first drop of blood, the man was pretty confident he would find the downed buck. After tracking for a while, he and his buddies jumped the buck, shooting him with a load of buckshot in the left front shoulder. Like the ghost we described him to be, the buck wouldn't yield to death.

The white buck took off again, and they continued to follow the blood trail until it ran out. By this time, there were about 10 people looking for the deer. He meant so much to everyone. For 5 1/2 years, we had watched the buck grow from a yearling to a mature buck.

By the end of the day, the deer was not found and we were all sick to our stomachs thinking he would die without being found. The next morning couldn't come fast enough. We went back out and tried to pick up the trail, but with no luck. So we just walked away with our heads to the ground feeling like we just lost one of our own. It was now the end of the second day of shotgun season without finding the deer. We decided he wouldn't be found, so we were all back to our regular hunting schedule. But the white buck was still on all our minds.

At the end of the next morning's hunt, I decided to ride to the farm where we last saw the deer, just for peace of mind. A couple of buddies and I drove down the farm lane about 100 yards. When I looked to the right, I saw something white standing in the edge of the woods. It was the buck. He was standing with his head to the ground.

Knowing the buck was shot twice, I knew he had to be hurt. Quietly, I got out of the truck, sneaking along the edge of the woods until I had a clean shot. Hitting the deer with a double-lung shot, the buck took off like he had never been hit. Crashing through the thick briars to the bottom of the ravine, he stumbled yet was still on his feet. I wasn't going to let him get away again. I put a finishing shot behind the shoulder, and the case was closed on the great white ghost.

The elusive ghost turned out to be a non-typical 12-pointer. This was a nice deer and great rack for a piebald. The hunt turned out to be a closure to a tough life for the buck. He would have never made it through the winter in the condition he was in. When he was skinned out, we found there was no fat at all on him, his spine was snaked, and he had bad feet. I am having him mounted into a wonderful full body mount … can't wait to share those pictures!

Rick Rentz
Delaware


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