Would You (Should You) Shoot a White Deer?

Posted At : May 10, 2012 9:43 AM | Posted By : Mike Hanback
Related Categories: Big Deer Blog

My friend and American hero Zane, who you will see hunting on an episode of Big Deer with Mike Hanback this fall on the Sportsman Channel, sent this:

Mike: I'm up here at Ft. Dix, New Jersey doing some field training. A few of the men stated seeing an albino deer. I finally saw it, went on about a 300m low crawl, got within 40-50 yards and took this picture. Never saw one before, pretty cool.

My questions for you and the bloggers: Are there laws against shooting an albino (or piebald) during a legal hunting season? Is there an unwritten hunter ethic that implies that white deer are not to be shot? Another way of asking: Is it poor hunting etiquette to shoot an albino deer? Thanks, Zane

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I wouldn't (couldn't) shoot a white deer; I'd just be happy to see one.

# Posted By mike mccracken | 5/10/12 9:52 AM

I too appreciate the beautyand rarity of such a deer. There was a pie-bald doe running around our property one year that we never caught up with during the hunting season. She was mature (mature defined as at least a 2-1/2 yr old
in NJ). I would have definately shot her if the opportunity presented itself. Why wouldn't you? Whether its an albino/pie-bald buck or doe- as long as its mature enough I'm pulling the trigger or letting the arrow go. I see
this as no different than a double drop tine buck. Of course its rare and beautiful- but you would take it in a New York minute. I know there are going to be some definate opinions on this topic. As far as all the bolonga
on "Bad Luck" if you shoot an albino- I don't buy into that.

# Posted By Paul-NJ | 5/10/12 10:42 AM

apparently there is a good number of both piebald and albino deer roaming the Fort in NJ, pretty cool
as for whether or not I'd shoot one, it would have to be a good buck and I still wouldn't know until I saw it
and had to decide.
another thing, I don't think it's legal in some states, so all of us KNOW THE REGS

# Posted By hanback | 5/10/12 11:20 AM

Personally, I would not kill a white or piebald deer. I would just appreciate the beauty of them. For the same reason, I could never drop
the hammer on an axis deer.

To me, killing a white deer would be like killing a unicorn. It would be crazy cool to see one of those in
the woods!

# Posted By V. in N.C. | 5/10/12 11:21 AM

I know there are certain states that legally protect White Deer (Wisconsin). However, In NJ they are not (and like Paul) I would pass up a buck to shoot it. We (my friends and me) have shot 3 pie balds over the years. No TRUE albinos. One is full mounted and the others are tanned. I do believe that WHITE deer have inferior genes, so it would only make sense to shot them if you were truly trying to MANAGE the HEALTH of your herd. Actually I'm not sure if any deer are safe around me and my buddies ( they are delicious)

# Posted By Silverback | 5/10/12 11:22 AM

It's illegal in TN to shoot an albino deer.

# Posted By Nolan | 5/10/12 11:55 AM

The White Deer are protected in some states because they are rare. I wonder if the Melanistc Deer (ALL BLACK) which are even more of a rarity, are given the same protection ? From my initial research they are not. Is it true that you can not shoot the WHITE deer but you can shoot the BLACK deer in those states ?

# Posted By fred | 5/10/12 11:57 AM

I wouldn't shoot an albino, as it's illegal where I hunt. To shoot a piebald deer it would have to be a very nice buck and give a 99% sure kill opportunity. I would pay good money to photograph either an albino or melanistic deer, however.

# Posted By Matt | 5/10/12 1:23 PM

Matt, what do you mean by good money??? Haha, I can make it happen... Just name the price and we'll go from there...Me personally, I would shoot an albino, and I'd get a full mount done. I know it's taboo to some, and posibly considered bad luck, but that's something a lot of people never even get to see, let alone harvest. II've thought about it a lot, and don't know if I could pass, unless of course, it was a young buck. Which happened to me last year in Maryland. Eastern shore, opening day of firearm.. had a piebald and a pure albino within 100 yards. The landowner requested we pass on those 2 specifically because one was a button buck and the other was a small Y. Still a great experience to see1, let alone 1 of each together

# Posted By Hoytboy | 5/10/12 3:01 PM

I don't think I'd shoot it. I would want to try to keep him around the area I hunt in and hopefully see him many more times to come.

# Posted By thepeavine | 5/10/12 4:08 PM

In a heartbeat! They're genetic defects, anyway. Everyone is always preaching QDM. What's the difference? I would love to have one full-mounted. Wonder if Mike has any in the freezer he forgot about?

# Posted By Curt | 5/10/12 4:58 PM

If Mike had a Super Hero name it would be, Deep Freeze. In fact it would also double as a great call sign for his buddies to use.

# Posted By Silverback | 5/10/12 5:51 PM

First, piebalds are truly genetically inferior. On many you can see that they have stumpy bowed legs and often have a sagging back as well as other defects. Obviously some express those traits more than others. Albino's are not genetically inferior, to my knowledge in the sense that they do not carry other defective traits.

Would I shoot one? Yeah, if I wanted to. I still wouldn't shoot a small buck, I'd wait for him to get to maturity and then shoot him. There is nothing wrong with shooting them, but it is a personal decision. I completely understand not wanting to. What I don't agree with is states that outlaw shooting white deer. There is no biological reason for it, and there is nothing other than their color that make them more susceptible to being killed by hunters. Therefore, they don't need any special protection. State agencies should be in the business of science, not folklore. Let the hunter's make that choice.

# Posted By David in NC | 5/10/12 11:19 PM

Wouldnt even think twice about it...dead deer walking! We cant shoot Albino's here but we can shoot piebald's. I know a couple
guys that have. I've never seen one but would love to get one in range of my bow or .270 :) It wouldnt have to be a buck
either...nice doe would be just as cool.

# Posted By Scott from MI | 5/11/12 12:29 AM

YES, YES AND YES!!

# Posted By Parrish | 5/11/12 12:27 PM

click, click....BOOM..... no discrimination here........ can't shoot albino's or all white deer in IL. but if it's got a brown patch anywhere on it......it will be in the freezer and on the wall

I like Silverback's statement, cute little booners with their pretty antlers............BOOM......TWANG... whatever, that's why we hunt

# Posted By flatlander | 5/11/12 12:49 PM

I think I'd have to shoot it, I mean, who would believe me if I didn't?!

# Posted By Fin and Fur Auctions | 5/14/12 1:56 AM

To me an Albino is almost as cool as shooting a Booner! Most guys may never see a Booner or an Albino. Piebalds from what I'm told are more rare than an Albino. Maybe your location might play a role in whether or not you would kill one if there is no one else on the property and you might get to see him live a few years. If there are alot of hunters on your property, that wont be the case. There is a trophy piebald on the lease properties where i hunt and he has gotten a lot bigger than the nice 8pt that he was when i saw him 2 years ago. If he shows up in my crosshairs again he wont get any bigger!

# Posted By Vinnie in Florida | 5/14/12 5:31 PM

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