Tag: albino buck

Albino Buck Harvested by Minnesota Hunter

Photo of albino buck harvested in Minnesota

Everyone likes to hear about albino deer — and I think everyone would even love the opportunity to harvest an albino buck simply as a novely. But guess what? On this season deer hunting opener in Minnesota, a female hunter managed to harvest one of the rarest colored white-tailed deer around — an albino buck! Yep, hunter Mary Rakotz of Avon got the 6-point buck on Saturday in Mille Lacs County, Minnesota.

The hunter said it was thrilling to see the abnormally-colored animal, but it was 100 times more exciting to be able to actually take the white-colored buck home. Here is what Ms. Rakotz had to say:

“I had heard that it might be in the area, so I thought that here was my chance of a lifetime. So I had to creep a little bit, probably about 40 yards, to get a good place where I could steady myself a little bit. But then I did that and shot and the buck went right down.”

And as rare of a harvest as it is, the hunter says she’s not sure if she has room to mount the buck, but her family and friends are pretty excited for her, and maybe even a little jealous.

The albino buck was only a 6-point deer and I doubt it’s very old (and sorry about the photo, it was the best available). However, in most cases ablino deer just do not get to live very long, because oddly colored deer don’t last long in the woods for obvious reasons. Not many hunters are going to pass on a shot at a once in a lifetime opportunity.

Photos of a Mature Albino Buck

Here are some photos of an albino white-tailed deer that I came across recently. The really odd thing is not only is being an albino mammal rare, but the fact that this is actually a mature buck is a miracle! Natural predators and hunters alike will hone in on oddly colored deer, even in areas where deer management and controlled harvests take place.

This whitetail buck can be identified as an albino deer — and not a piebald deer — by examining both his eyes and nose. Take a good look and you can see exactly what I am talking about.

Albino white-tailed buck deer

The pink eye and the pink nose are textbook signs that this deer is an albino. At first glance, I noticed the brown on his head and near the base of the antlers and thought that maybe this buck was not an albino, but then I realized that the brown color comes from the buck rubbing his antlers on trees as a result of a rising testerone level, which triggers increased aggression as the breeding season begins .

Bucks will commonly rub their antlers once annual antler growth stops to rid themselves of decaying velvet. In addition, this activity helps strengthen their neck and shoulders prior to the breeding season.

Albino Buck Pics

Albino white-tailed buck deer

Albino white-tailed buck deer

Mature Albino Buck

Often times, I will see or be sent photos that feature albino deer, but it is a rare occasion to actually see a mature albino animal, especially a buck! The main reason albinos rarely get old (in the wild) is because a white coloration is not always favorable to animals living in North America, as very few places have snow on the ground throughout the year.

White colored deer really stick out during the spring and summer, although they blend in much better during the winter in the snow-covered areas of the country. However, much of the whitetail’s range is devoid of snow, even during the fall and winter.