Comments

You must log in or register to comment.

stuuked OP t1_jd32562 wrote

For those that don't know what a piebald is, they are white tail deer with a genetic mutation. Some info:

Many Piebalds usually display one, a combination of; or even all of the following conditions:

bowing of the nose (often called Roman nose)

short legs

arching spine (scoliosis)

short lower mandible

internal organ deformities

50

ho_merjpimpson t1_jd3emyg wrote

A a hunter myself, that is a really cool sight. So... "rare" is relative, but these are not biologically rare. 2 in 100. 2% seems small but there are a ton of deer out there. However what makes the sightings rare is that not many survive, even to hunting season. They are easy to spot by predators, their mutations often don't let them survive past the fawn stage, or even much past birth. Their first winter is a much, much bigger enemy than the hunting season. So really, what is rare about them, is ones that survive.

Lots of hunters will debate on whether or not to shoot an albino deer, etc due to wanting to continue the rarity in the gene pool. That debate isn't really applicable to piebalds because the possibility of the gene mutation exists in all deer. Shooting them doesn't decrease the chance of the gene, be it to decrease the suffering and improve the health of the species, or otherwise... but many hunters will let them walk just for wanting the rare sight continue to be seen by others.

I fall in the latter category. I would not shoot one unless it looked to be suffering/starving, because I'm fortunate enough to be picky when hunting. I'm mostly out there for the experience and the meat, and as long as I'm on track to have my freezer full that year, there is no reason for me to shoot one... And admittedly there is a disadvantage in that I'd want to get the hide tanned, and I have other things I want to spend money on, namely expanding my arsenal of meat processing equipment.

28

Hughgurgle t1_jd3g83y wrote

So I have a fan theory about piebald deer

  • fun fact pie bald is a term that comes from magpies and the way that they are white and black, and in the UK it's reserved for white and black markings, and the brown and black is referred to as skewbald (That also might just be a horse person thing not a UK thing idk)*

So one thing that was learned during the Russian Fox domestication experiments is that selecting for non-aggressive traits (specifically low fear of humans) will coincide with other genetic markers like coat patterning (and with the foxes also floppy ears and barking like behavior) anyway my theory based on the pie bald deer in my neighborhood and the fact that all the old ladies down the street feed the deer by hand (and have for 30-50 years) is that they are basically domesticating the wild deer out there and giving the ones who are brave enough to walk up to a human who has food, a chance to spread their genetic code.

8

ho_merjpimpson t1_jd3k1w6 wrote

i cant comment on that, but I do know that there are a million more reasons to not feed the wild deer than genetics.

In many areas its illegal. Particularly with CWD popping up.

Whats ironic is these old ladies probably vilify hunters. Meanwhile, in their ignorance, they are doing more damage to wildlife than a hunter ever could.

8

Hughgurgle t1_jd4dt16 wrote

I mean I get it, I used to care more-- but CWD is a prion disease, and while feeding any wild animal and getting them to congregate in large groups will spread disease, there's always going to ve people who do it. It's really not at all different from hunters who use feed lots whether they grow the food or are over in New Jersey putting out piles of corn.

Also, it's a strawman argument, assuming they would vilify hunters is wrong, they grew up around hunters and wish the deer luck and reprieve during hunting season-- we live right off the Appalachian trail. They just like feeling like Disney Princesses (just like hunters like feeling like Davey Crockett)

Sometimes you have to let other people live their lives and feed a deer (not that I advocate for it, but I do advocate for a certain level of minding my own damn business)

2

ho_merjpimpson t1_jd4lzv5 wrote

>it's a strawman argument

In order for it to be a strawman argument, one would have to view the discussion as an argument. I was having a discussion. And that statement related to the discussion. If you want to make it an argument, then so be it. Because a whole lot of what you are saying is wrong.

>assuming they would vilify hunters is wrong, they grew up around hunters and wish the deer luck and reprieve during hunting season-- we live right off the Appalachian trail. They just like feeling like Disney Princesses (just like hunters like feeling like Davey Crockett)

Most people that feed deer and treat them like pets are ignorant enough to think that they are doing them good. If these ladies are feeding deer as a favor to the deer, they are ignorant on some level, because it isn't good for the deer. Not shockingly if they are ignorant about that, they will be generally ignorant about other things that have to do with deer. Like hunting.

>there's always going to ve people who do it.

Other people doing it is not a reason to justify doing it. I see people litter all the time and not only do I not do it, I tell others not to do it, and I look down on those who do it knowing its bad.

>It's really not at all different from hunters who use feed lots

in the case of spreading disease, no... It isn't at all. But again, one doesn't excuse the other. I look down at hunters that use feed to attract deer as well and I'm not quiet about that either.

>whether they grow the food or are over in New Jersey putting out piles of corn.

Wrong. Growing food plots to attract deer is not the same as putting out feed. Food plots attract deer but keep them spread out. Piles of feed(which is not called feed plots btw), is bad for the spread of disease.

>Sometimes you have to let other people live their lives and feed a deer

I'm not telling anyone what they can or can't do. Ill leave the lawmakers(who in most cases listen to the experts) for that. But likewise, kindly get bent if you are trying to tell me to keep my mouth shut about having a discussion(or argument, as you seem to want) about how bad it is for the deer.

1

know_it_is t1_jd5yl25 wrote

Or, the grannies are fattening the deer up for the hunt. 😏

2

constantnoodling t1_jd3ewn4 wrote

Very interesting! Thanks for sharing this info. I think I saw a piebald in one of the cornfields by my house but it was far enough way I thought it was a small cow.

3

hsavvy t1_jd3gaao wrote

I saw one on the turnpike once, it was awesome!!!

2

Do_it_with_care t1_jd42qk3 wrote

My parents have a caning near Rome, Bradford county, 8 miles south of NY state an my Dad said they are there. He’s 89 though an I don’t remember seeing those.

2

brashendeavors t1_jd31xaa wrote

They probably thought it was some farmer's cow.

14

ho_merjpimpson t1_jd3fafb wrote

🙄 I know its fun to shit on hunters, but no hunter is going to think that is a cow. Like yeah. There are a lot of dumb people out there, and some of them are hunters and there have been dumb things that have happened. But don't pretend that hunters, people that spend more time around wildlife than a 100 non hunters combined, are going to mistake a piebald for a cow.

5

Own-Mathematician336 t1_jd4ep19 wrote

I wanna know how they mistake a elk for a deer? Lol that always just baffles me the size is way off but you get people that shoot them and claim it’s a accident and That’s just the people that report it.

3

windowlatch t1_jd58naw wrote

I think they were making a joke

2

ho_merjpimpson t1_jd59jqw wrote

Yes, I get that it could have been strictly a joke about how it simply looks like a cow... But it definitely wouldn't surprise me if it was meant as a slight towards hunters.

1

Minimum_Type3585 t1_jd4935l wrote

I would hope hunters recognize the rarity and leave it alone

6

BenderIsGreat64 t1_jd4bn15 wrote

Not only do hunters seek out pie-bald deer, it's encouraged, supposedly for the health of the herd.

2

SomeBuckeye22 t1_jd43xz9 wrote

My wife and I were just commenting on the deer around our place, glad they made it through hunting season

3

lager81 t1_jd4n9ej wrote

Yeah I mean even hunters are happy when deer make it through hunting season. But the real problem can be a harsh winter which we obviously didn't have. I remember some really tough winters and it's honestly amazing they can survive through it and find enough food when there's 2 feet of snow and -30 temps. The corn feeders are basically only used when it gets that bad from my experience. But lots of other cool info here:

Winter Feeding of Deer and Turkeys - PA Game Commission https://www.pgc.pa.gov/Wildlife/WildlifeSpecies/White-tailedDeer/Documents/winter_feeding.pdf

1

Own-Mathematician336 t1_jd4ev8j wrote

Cool sightings I’ve been blessed to see several of these in the wild I’ve never seen one small unhealthy one.

3

Pa17325 t1_jd4uoed wrote

It's bad luck to shoot them," they "say

2

susinpgh t1_jd3gapa wrote

OP, this is a geographically specific subreddit. In order to establish provenance, please supply a general location (such a county).

1

BenderIsGreat64 t1_jd4byip wrote

Theres a piebald around my work in Bucks, nobody hunts on the properties she hangs out at. Supposedly they're bad for the herd, and hunters are encouraged to go for them.

1

NotAJawn t1_jd4ew8o wrote

There is a piebald dear that is sometimes in my neighborhood in Delco. It’s so cool!

1

windowlatch t1_jd58xyj wrote

There used to be one in Ridley Creek State Park several years ago. Not sure if it’s still around

2

Cats-Cats-Cats t1_jd4lwmn wrote

There is a piebald deer that hangs around Lafayette College campus in Easton, PA. Spotted it a few times this winter! (pun intended, haha)

1

callalind t1_jd51cgr wrote

We had one in out neighborhood in SE PA once, we called it the "cow deer" until we knew the proper name!

1

oneraindog t1_jd56mdu wrote

We saw one twice in the fall roaming the hills behind Hershey Medical Center near Bullfrog Valley Road and Roush Road. Haven’t seen him yet this spring.

1

ouroboro76 t1_jd5vm85 wrote

I wouldn't shoot it. That's bad luck.

1

[deleted] t1_jd362bc wrote

Now that’s a deer you pay to get mounted!

−9