White Deer

[pureinsanity]

I have a family cabin on Mille lacs and often take a trip to Father Hennepin State park to check out the white deer there. Pretty neat and brings a big boost of profit to the local economy. However, this weekend I saw tons of fliers about these white deer and how the DNR is having a youth hunt.

It made me think about the bear that was shot wearing the collar. So far the dnr is suggesting the hunters not shoot them. What are all your thoughts???

The flyer lead me to the deers facebook page. Which again made me think about the bears facebook page...

Minnesota White Deer

Any thoughts? I went into the office to talk to the park ranger but he was busy talking to another employee about how much their paychecks are.... I didnt even get a hello. I spent about 5 mins in the office waiting for someone to come say hi so I could ask some questions and got nothing. Talk about bad business there. Most people are friendly in state parks. Guess I picked the wrong day to try and talk to them..

[hookset]

Part of me thinks itwould be a great trophy to have, and part thinks it would be selfish to shot one. I am not sure what I would do.

I know if it was a nice buck I would loose any battle and harvest it.

I read the face book page and am amazed by some of the illogical reasons for protecting them. Are they geneticaly inferior? I belive so, or all deer would be white.

If it where on my land, I would let the kids shoot them if they wanted. But would pass myself(nice buck exclusion applys).

[pureinsanity]

My only issue is I think they are pretty neat and I enjoy viewing them when I can... I have yet to see the buck and that is my main goal. They are extremely use to people so this could pose a big problem during the hunt. I would probably not shoot one for myself. But like you said it would make a neat trophy and a great story behind it. I guess its up to the kids! I know there are a lot of deer there. But I usually only see the white ones. 2 in particular.

From what ive seen there is 2 white does who each have 2 fawns.

1 doe has 1 white one and one normal colored and the other doe has 2 normal colored fawns.

They white deer do have an impact on the economy. whether it be a print, photo, or post card someone buys from a local shop, or the multiple people that buy a park pass just to be able to drive in and view them.

I use to ride my bike back in there all the time just to veiw the deer. I fanally bought a permit so I can go in with my car! I am getting older, der I mean lazier

[Cheetah]

Tough decision on if they allow them to be shot or not. Once you make one exception, the anti-hunter crowd will expect more and more.

A good alternative might be for the people running the hunt to give each kid a disposable camera to take some photos of the albinos rather than shooting them. That way it won't seem like such a bad deal for the kids. Seems to me that is what is important, showing the kids a good time while hunting, not too worried about what some folks on Facebook think who don't know anything about deer anyway.

[pureinsanity]

I was told they were encouraging the kids NOT to shoot them. Just like the bear hunter was encouraged not to shoot a bear that was wearing a collar.

I could see the kids wanting to shoot a white deer. Heck back in the day I would want to. it'd be a cool picture and a cool story! However, I do enjoy seeing these deer everytime I am up at the cabin. So, I couldn't do it. I hope the mentors that are taking these kids out hunting will suggest they pass it up!

I hope none of them turn red or die of lead poison

[Bear55]

Isn't it racist to shoot regular brown deer and not shoot the white ones? Wow it seems like facebook is a collection of idiots "You are heartless if you feel the need to kill one of the members of this RARE Minnesota species!!" are you kidding me, yes these are genetically inferior deer, not their own species.

Honestly I wouldn't shoot them because they are tame but I have no issues if a youth hunter wants to fire away.

This whole facebook pages for animals, especially wild animals is kind of scary. Oh we can't shoot these bears in this area, oh we can't shoot those deer over here, oh no you can't shoot the ducks or geese that have a facebook page in this area. Where does it end.

[pureinsanity]

I thought it was funny that there is a facebook page. I personally would just like at least 1 white one left there for viewing pleasure.

Maybe Osama Bin Laden has a facebook page. Thats why we cant find him

[CANOPY SAM]

I don't think the term "genetically inferior" is correct. They are most likely albino deer. Lacking the "normal" skin pigmentation found in most deer. A recessive gene passing from generation to generation, yes. Inferior, no.

We have albino humans too. I think they might greatly resent being referred to as inferior because of their skin color, or lack thereof.

Sadly, I think these animals make an unusually obvious target for predation. It's surprising if one can survive to maturity.

Can you imagine a pack of wolves hunting thru a heavy forest and they come upon a deer that looks like this? May as well put a flashing neon sign on it's back and tie it to a tree! Venison Cafe....

Somehow this looks like a Far Side cartoon to me...

[Bear55]

Canopy you nailed it, the main reason they are referred to as genetically inferior is they lack the natural camo to hide from predators.

My memory also wants to say they are more susceptible to disease but that might not be correct.

[pureinsanity]

Well in winter they should have the best camo. and actually believe it or not sometimes its harder than heck to spot them....

I believe i read something about them not being true albino's? They seem to have excellent eye sight and also I believe the albino bucks do not have any color in their antlers as well? This guy does. But cant always believe what you hear or read....

[matchset]

Canopy you nailed it, the main reason they are referred to as genetically inferior is they lack the natural camo to hide from predators.

My memory also wants to say they are more susceptible to disease but that might not be correct.

also, they suffer from early onset blindness.

a collared bear, and a naturally born albino deer is not a fair comparison.

its perfectly legal to harvest Blacks bears that aren't black...ie (cinnamon, blonde, and chocolate)

thus, it should remain legal to harvest piebald and albino deer.

[pureinsanity]

True. But its not every day that you see one. So In my opinion unless the deer was a huge trophy id probably pass it up just because. but thats me.

[MN Shutterbug]

[matchset]

flash from the past shutterbug

[monstermoose78]

If I came across a mature albino buck I sure as heck would pull the trigger. I have seen the albino's around mille lacs lake and if someone wants to shoot them its their choice.

[Gordie]

A guy in our hunting party shot a albino doe 4 or 5 years ago west of the Mille Lacs casino on state land. It had soft hair like a lab and the hoofs were pink. the guy shot it said he spotted it on a ridge about 200 yards away and shot at it 12 times while chaseing it along the ridge for about a 1/2 mile then on the 13th shot he knocked it down when he went to retrive it a buck jumped in between him and the dead deer at about 50 yrds from the deer and wasnt going to move so the guy took aim at the buck pulled the trigger and click was all he heard... he was out of ammo shot all of it at the albino. The buck finally took off and he retrived the doe. He said it took so many shots cause he was shaking so bad that he couldnt get a good aim. ablino fever

He had a full body mount done but I think he ran into some trouble with money so he never picked it up from the taxidermist and I think it was sold to the highest bidder.

[jkcmj]

We had a piebald that was spotted several times near my dad's farm. I was hoping for a chance at it, but it seems to have disappeared in recent years there have been no sightings. Bummer. I think I would enjoy taking a white deer, but in all honesty they are so unusual I would rather see them in a fenced park where I wouldn't be compelled to take a shot at them