Piebald Deer
A piebald is an animal, usually a mammal such as a white-tailed deer or horse, that has a spotting pattern of large white and black patches. In fact, piebald deer are deer that look a lot like an American Paint Horse. The color of a piebald’s skin underneath its coat may vary between black under the black patches of hair and pink under the white patches.
The coloring is generally asymmetrical, resulting in piebald deer with abnormally wild brown and white coloration. In addition, many piebald-colored animals exhibit coloration of the irises of the eye that match the surrounding skin. This condition also occurs in white-tailed piebald deer and makes for a very unusual animal.
Piebald whitetail are often striking animals because of their unique beauty. Observers are often shocked to see such a remarkably colored deer. Let’s face it, most whitetail are very similar to one another when it comes to hair coat coloration. Not piebald deer; they are all different!
Genetics on Display
A genetic variation (defect) produces the piebald condition in white-tailed deer, not parasites or diseases. Piebald deer are colored white and brown similar to a pinto pony. Sometimes they appear almost entirely white. Regardless of the pattern, piebald animals always cool to see.
In addition to this coloration, many piebald deer have some of the following observable conditions: bowing of the nose (Roman nose), short legs, arching spine (scoliosis), and short lower jaws. This genetic piebald condition is rare. Typically, less than one percent of white-tailed deer are affected.
Read article: Residents Fawning Over Rare Deer
Video: A Herd of Piebald Deer
More Piebald Photos
Viewing Piebald Deer
In closing, piebald deer are oddly colored and beautiful deer. They are different looking, but they are still white-tailed deer. Piebald are generally not protected any differently than other deer. All states have deer hunting regulations that protect deer for most of the year, but piebald can be hunted and harvested during open hunting seasons like “regular” deer.
Piebald deer behave much like other whitetail. Stay calm and quite when viewing piebald, as deer do not like loud noise or sudden movement. In addition, make sure to abide by all laws when trying to get that “once in a lifetime” piebald deer photo. Do not trespass on private property!
If you have seen a piebald recently, please comment to let us know if you observed any of the following, and where:
- Shorter than normal legs
- Bowed (Roman) nose
- Sort lower jaws
- Arching spine
- Colored irises of the eyes
Most of the information about piebald deer state that this is a genetic defect and the animals are inferior. In this article they also say that often the color pattern is associated with several other physical abnormalities. It is more interesting that every picture (this page included) shows piebald deer with no physical problems. Both piebald and white are often dominant traits. While this was a gene mutation at some point, it being a dominant trait does not indicate inbreeding.
I have been hunting whitetail deer for eighteen seasons now and never have seen a piebald until this evening.
It was beautiful to watch and I only wish I had a camera with me.
I took my first piebald deer on November 1, 2008 at 5:00 pm. It will be one of my trophy bucks. A beautiful deer.
This was a rainy wet afternoon and I finally out-smarted a piebald doe I that have been watching for over 2 years. I got her. She is beautiful. I took her to my taxidermist this evening. Can’t wait to get her full body mount back!
I was hunting on opening day and saw a piebald deer and took it. When I brought it to get it recorded the guy told me I had a rare deer. It was not until later that I found out how rare it was. The deer is not all white, but the legs are solid white and it looks beautiful. I can’t wait for the mount.
My husband and I saw a Piebald deer tonight in Florida. It was the most beautiful 8 point buck I have ever seen. There didn’t seem to be any defects and we were able to get very close to it. Beautiful! Only wish I had my camera with me.
I saw and killed my first piebald deer on opening day of (WV) buck-only season, Monday, November 24, 2008. I had to take a second-look at the spike that was coming through the mountain laurel! Truly special, even if I never see another.
My husband saw a deer tonight that we came to find out was a piebald deer. We never knew they exsisted. Where did you see the 8 pt in FL? He saw it tonight in Hillsborough County. He was just sure that no one would believe him until I pulled it up. So rare!
I travel interstate 58 in VA almost every weekend. This weekend was memorable because I saw my first piebald deer just outside Suffolk, Virginia. It was a beautiful doe and I couldn’t believe my eyes. I just wished I had my camera as well.
I saw my first piebald deer November 28, 2008. I was hunting in Noxubee Wildlife Refuge. I thought it was a goat at first, but once I looked through the scope I could tell it was a deer. The deer is an 8 point and will make a beautiful full body mount. I never thought I would see one, especially in Mississippi.
My daughter and I were hunting (buck) this evening just before sunset and saw a piebald doe enter the field we were watching. My daughter saw it first and thought it was a cow calf. It was truly a beautiful deer and we really enjoyed watching her.
I found a piebald deer and its mother in my front yard on December 3, 2008. It is the first one I have ever seen and the first one I know about in the region of Washington state, where I live. I have about 10 pictures of it and the mother. Some of the pics are a little blurred, as I could not stop shaking at the site of this beautiful piebald deer!
As my dad and I were starting to drag out my 10 point that I shot on the first day of buck season in Pennsylvania a few days ago, we saw a white spot across the river bank which we thought was a dog. A few minutes later a piebald doe and four other deer crossed the creek and were on a beach about 40 yards below us. I didn’t think much could upstage my buck, but this surely did. As with others, I wish I would have had a camera. It was all white with a basketball sized brown spot on its left side.
I saw my first piebald dear yesterday – in back yard in south central PA. What a beauty! I hope she and the herd of 10 she was with come back soon.
I have taken 2 pictures of a piebald doe over the past 3 weeks near Williamsburg, VA. This doe does appear to have a genetic defect in that her front legs are several inches shorter then her hind legs.
I live in Loveland, Ohio and I had a piebald deer in my back yard two days ago. It was absolutely beautiful. I called my wife and told her that she would never guess what we had in or back yard. When I told her she said that I should get the camera and take some pictures. I took 9 pictures of the animal before she walked off. That was the first one I have ever seen.
I live in Monroe, North Carolina. While out on a walk, I spotted a herd of eight deer. One was a young deer, maybe 1 year old. It was almost all white or albino. The neck, chest, all four legs, and most of the sides were white. There were some grey on the top of its head and ears and down a strip of his back. I had never seen a deer marked like this before.
I live in Short Hills, NJ. I observed a piebald deer on the Canoebrook Golf Course late this afternoon. It took a moment to realize that what I was looking at in the patchy snow was actually a deer. I was able to retrieve my camera from the house and sneak back outside without garnering too much attention. The photos I were able to take are not the best quality, but give me, a non-hunter, bragging rights in a family of avid hunters.
I believe the deer I observed was a piebald doe. She appeared to have all the abnormal characteristics that can accompany piebald, “bowing of the nose (Roman nose), short legs, arching spine (scoliosis), and short lower jaws.” Additionally, she has an abnormally long and thick winter coat in comparison to the “normal” deer in her small herd. To give you a mental picture, she looks like a cross between a llama and a white-tail deer. Hopefully, she will visit again soon.
This is the first time I have heard a name for these deer. I killed a piebald buck in West Virginia while home on leave from my assignment is Iceland back in 1991. I had no idea they were rare. I have some pictures and the memories of the hunt. I do remember thinking that this buck, which had one of the better racks in our hunting camp, had kind of short legs. He was a neat whitetail deer and the hunt will always be a great story.
My wife saw a piebald in our back yard and got a couple pictures of it. It has a humped back, presumably due to scoliosis. The description above of a cross between a llama and deer is accurate for our piebald. Sounds like a true rarity. Glad we got a couple pictures.
I went turkey hunting with my uncle yesterday morning. I killed my first turkey and when I went home I saw two piebald deer within a mile of each other. They’re all over here in Pendleton County, West Virginia.
I have always called the piebald deer I saw my half albino. It’s been coming out for three years in my front field and tonight was the first time I’ve seen it this year. The whole back end is white and looks like a cow in the pics that I have. I have another whitetail deer that is not as white, but it has just started coming out this year. Must be a descendent of the first one!
I saw my first, second, and third piebald deer last night. A buck , a doe, and last year’s fawn. All of the deer looked perfectly healthy. The fawn is almost all white. Beautiful animals!
This explains the beautiful, but weird deer we keep seeing around our house. At first we thought it was a goat, but it is definitely a piebald deer and apparently lives in harmony with the others. We have seen it walking with normally colored deer and none of them seemed to think anything was strange about it. We live in northwest Florida.
Hi Leigh, Where do you live? We have been missing “Patches” since November 2008. We’d love to know if you found her. Here is a photo of the piebald deer.
Thanks, Shaun
Earl from Loveland…I would love to see the photos of the piebald in Loveland. Last year in Loveland I shot an 11 point piebald and he is huge. I would just like to know if it was the same deer you took pictures of! Thank you!
In November 1988, I killed 4 year old piebald with a 20 inch wide 8 point rack – the most beautiful deer I’ve ever seen. I shot the buck on the Yadkin River in Davie County, North Carolina. Not many piebalds make it pass 6 months old. I got a full body mount of the buck and have enjoyed looking at him everyday since. I seen a piebald doe several years later, but didn’t shoot her. My buck’s front legs were a little short, but everything else looked fine.
Five years ago I was invited to a deer lease in Santa Elena, just north of La Gloria, Texas. I saw my first
piebald doe there. It was so beautiful, I just let go.
I got my first piebald deer yesterday in Brown County, Indiana. It was two years old and quite a sight to see. No abnormal characterisitcs that can been seen other than the color. There has been quite a lot of talk about the deer since not many have ever seen or have been taken in this part of Indiana. David Hayes
On October 10, 2009 about 6;20 p.m. in Greenville, North Carolina: My family and I were riding along Evans Street and we saw something we had never seen in our lives. My husband said It wasn’t real, It was a decoy that wildlife officials sometimes put out to slow drivers down. My daughter and I continued to watch while my husband turned around. There stood the most beautiful deer ever. The buck had big white spots on his tobacco brown body. He looked as he had been rolling in paint. We could not believe our eyes. Great piebald buck!
I am hunting a farm now for the second season. My brother saw a piebald doe last year, took a shot at it, and missed it. There are 20 members of our club and over 85 deer killed on the property each year. Opening night of muzzleloader season this year, I turned down an eight point buck while waiting for a monster to come out. Much to my surprise, a 5 point piebald buck appeared and I made a good shot on him. He is about 85% white, beautiful, and I am getting a full body mount on this unique buck.
I would like to know if piebald deer are considered a risk in terms of susceptablity to disease and the spreading of disease that is considered dangerous to humans or other animals?
I had a close encounter with a piebald tonight. He was a perfect framed 6 point large body deer. I would say 50% white. I was bow hunting he came up on my right within 10 yards of me. I couldn’t get a shot but if I never see a deer the rest of this year my season is still complete. THAT TOPS ALL OF MY EXPERIENCES SO FAR!
There is a piebald deer roaming Sterling, New Jersey. It had a partner, which I don’t see anymore. The piebald is beautiful, but is much a loner.
I shot a piebald deer during deer hunting last year. The deer had a big long white streak on its neck, but the fawn with it was normal deer colored. The doe was about 3 or 4 years old.
White coloration is not a dominant trait in any species of animal. Typically dark coloration is much more dominant. Just look at people. Blue eyed-blond haired people are much more rare than brown eyed-brown haired people. The same with animals. White or light coloration is a recessive gene… ask any wildlife biologist.
I recently took the buck of my life, not because of a huge rack but because of his remarkable markings. He was a 4 year old 8 point with about 120 inches of very symmetrical headgear, but he has white striping on his legs, body and face that is stunning. He was killed on family land outside of Natchezm Mississipim and to my knowledge he had never been seen by anyone before. Even though I don’t know where I can put him, I think I’m going to do a full body mount on him because he is so striking.
We just saw a piebald deer (probably a large fawn) in Ellicott City, Maryland, just outside of Patapsco State Park. It was quite a strange sight!
Actually, in the picture of the black spotted doe by herself, her front legs are shorter than they should be. Deer normally have a flat topline and hers slopes towards her shoulders.
Also, the buck has a pink nose, and a slightly shorter than normal lower jaw. (took comparison with other buck pictures from a similar angle to see that).
So I see half the pictures showing the physical defects the writer talks about.
My husband took photos of a piebald doe munching on a holly right outside our window in a suburbanizing rural area in West Virginia’s eastern panhandle. Because of her small size, stocky legs, and brown and white patches, his frist thought was that someone’s goat had gotten loose. Does anyone know if this mutation confers any advantages such as disease resistance (similar to the way sickle cell trait confers resistance to malaria)?
I have been watching a piebald deer all season. I let her go the frist time and was hoping to see her again, but as time went on and three months past their was no sign of her. However, on January 12 I saw her and I harvested her. I was so excited! My frist piebald deer. Never seen one until this year.
I’ve seen about 4 piebald deer in about a 6 or 7 mile distance along the road. Three of them were within a half mile of each other. One was a nice 7 or 8 point buck that we saw 2 days in a row in the same spot. It did not appear to have any physical abnormalities. Another piebald we saw was in the same spot as the buck and was a large doe. This occured only a week after seeing the buck. I consider myself to be very lucky to see these rare deer.
I have never heard of such a type of deer. I was out in my yard and saw this unusual white speckled animal and tried to get a closer look. I realized it was a deer and then came in to look it up online. I have one of these deer in my backyard!
I wish I’d see a piebald deer in my area. I would get a full body mount.
I just saw a buck piebald 2 days ago that I had previously seen in January. It was good to finally see it again and know it is still alive and kicking
I have a number of deer that frequent my backyard here in the rural town of Willamette Valley in Oregon. A couple of days ago I saw a doe with two fawns, and one of them was a piebald. I’d never seen such a creature; although looking somewhat like a deer it was almost pure white.
It had the undershot jaw, and was much more frisky than the other fawn. I don’t know about scoliosis, but it had a different body type than its mother and sibling. I went online to see if deer and llama can interbreed, as there are a number of llama farms nearby. Then, when it bacame clear that was not possible, I entered “piebald deer”… and found this website. Thanks for the good info.
I live in Suffolk just off of 58 and have just found a piebald fawn. Unfortunately, it has many deformities. It is quite small for its age (half the size that it should be) and its mother has abandoned it. I have watched it try to interact with other deer but they want nothing to do with it. I have never heard of this type of deer before, and although it is beautiful, I’m sorry to say I can not allow it to breed with the deer herd on my farm. It will be a sad day for me when I put it down.
I live in upstate New York. I have never heard of a piebald deer until today. I have many deer that run my property, and I saw a beautiful piebald doe this morning. She seems very healthy and content. The deer was about 70 yards from the house. First sighting of her and hopefully not the last. Really cool looking.
I live in Oregon and I have seen piebald deer in our black-tailed deer.
I’m in Northeast Ohio. I grew up in the Metropark system and now live in Parma, near the Big Creek Reservation. I am 43 yrs old have probably seen a thousand deer in my lifetime and never heard of a piebold until seeing one today (thought the poor thing had mange at first). What a beautiful animal.
After further reading I found out there are several known and photographed white deer in the Rocky River Reservation and in nearyby Avon County. Amazing there are so many around here! Why so many, I wonder, in the Cleveland area?