Albino Mule Deer

[ksbryan0]

After hearing several reports about an albino Mule Deer fawn nearby, I headed out this afternoon to see if I could locate him. Fortunately he, his twin sibling and mom were all grazing some alfalfa regrowth within camera shot of the highway. I couldn't get very close to him, so these are cropped more than I like, but will have to do until I have a better opportunity.

[CaraRose]

Looks like a true albino, too. Even his eyes seem to be lacking pigment.

[Grandpaw]

Very unique find. I noticed that you captured little crop circles in each shot that are in the grass area also. LOL Jeff

[hakurtz]

amazing!! good job!! i have never seen an albino deer before!

[ksbryan0]

Thanks for taking the time to look and comment. I've been in Mule Deer country all my life and this is the first albino I've seen. Hopefully the hunters leave it alone this fall, but I'm afraid that's just wishful thinking. I have to imagine that someone will take it during an antlerless hunt just for the hide.

And Jeff, it is amazing that those crop circles only show up during PP...never saw them through the viewfinder!!!

[DHMN69]

It's not even old enough to shoot.. hunter would be nuts to shoot it that young regardless of the benefits to themselves

[WesternGuy]

It's not even old enough to shoot.. hunter would be nuts to shoot it that young regardless of the benefits to themselves

Being the cynic that I am at times, you have to think there is always one that may try - let's hope he misses.

WesternGuy

[paulnj]

Doubtful it will make it to be honest. Awesome find and documentation !!

[pauladyba]

I am thrilled to report that I, too, saw the albino deer and brethren yesterday while out mountain biking. Took a bad cell phone photo.

[Frog]

I'd guess it is the same deer...can't be many albino muleys around.
I'd guess it has special significance to native americans...we know albino bison do.

I also hope it can stay out of range of hunters. As a former hunter, I'd be tempted as it would make a prize trophy, but then its special and I hope it lives to a ripe old age with a giant rack.

[paulnj]

agreed and albinism is usually a genetic recessive gene, so hopefully alot of heterozygous animals are out there too.

[ksbryan0]

Hey pauladyba, welcome to PR! What part of the country did you see this guy at? Don't be too specific, as we don't want the location to become obvious. Just wondering if it is the one seen closer to Billings (Ghost mule deer: Albino fawn photographed by Billings jogger : The Billings Gazette - Montana & Wyoming News) last September. The one I spotted in Summer 2010, and posted above, disappeared within a couple weeks of getting the photo; he was near Delphia, MT. Those two sighting were definitely two different deer.

[Payson]

That's insane!