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
Leslie, the answer is simple. The piebald and/or albino traits are in their genes. The more animals that have these genes, whether they exhibit them or not, the more of these differently-colored animals you will have in the future.
I’ve killed two piebald whitetail deer in the eight years I’ve been hunting. The first one was in ’05 with my rifle and then one this year with my bow. Neither had a defect. The first piebald was a seven point this second one was a button buck. People say I’m lucky to have seen two in my life, let alone kill two. I can’t disagree because it’s just luck.
My husband and I saw a young piebald at dusk last night in our wooded subdivision in Clemson, South Carolina. Like others, at first we thought it to be a white goat. From a distance it was all white except for the top of its head and ears. I managed to get a decent photo using the telephoto lens on my camera. It was with several other deer and appeared healthy.
I live and hunt in upstate Ne York and have been watching a group of piebald deer for the last few years. I don’t own the land where they live, so I don’t know as much as I’d like about them. I do know the white varies from a few patches to all white with a couple brown patches.
The local mindset is not to hunt them and let them breed, but if it’s not healthy for the herd, they should be hunted. I honestly would not have shot one before I did a little research, but now I probably would as long as it was a doe or mature buck.
I saw an piebald deer with my Dad on tonight while hunting in Maine. It was amazing! It had spots and was white, but I could not shoot it because it was a doe and I don’t have a doe permit. I can’t wait to get back out tomorrow. There was a 200 pound doe with it.
On November 9, 2010, I was enjoying the beautiful morning. Before my eyes I see a deer that I later learned to be a piebald. The doe was pure white from chin to between her front legs. The oddest part was her jet black ears that had hair hanging down as if she was an Alpaca. Wish I had a camera!
We take evening walks down the country road where we live in Simpsonville, Kentucky, and frequently see deer. About a week ago we saw what I thought was an albino deer until I found out later that it was a piebald deer. A neighbor told me there are 3 in the immediate area. Sorry, I’m not a hunter, but I understand why they must be killed as my county has one of the highest populations in the state.
My son just got a piebald deer today. I had never seen one before in my 69 years, and the man who checked it in in the checking station said he had only seen one in his lifetime. The buck had a beautiful rack on it and my son is getting it mounted. We are in Indiana.
My father took his first piebald deer. It was a crotch horn up in the Adirondack Mountains in New York. It was the first one I have ever seen. It is definitely rare!
Looked out my window at 0730 this morning and saw a white animal walking in the woods. I thought maybe it was a goat got away from somewhere, but when I got my binoculars I saw that it was a young buck, maybe 6 points. I also saw that it had small gray spots near its hindquarters, which got more numerous toward the head.
My wife took some pictures through the window, and you can tell its a deer, but they are blurry. Called a buddy who hunts regularly and he told me of the piebald deer stories, though he had never seen one. We have been in Buford, Georgia, over 12 years and have seen many deer come and go in the woods behind the house, but this is our first piebald. Hope he comes back!
Saw 8 young deer on a front lawn outside Doylestown, Pennsylvania. One was a piebald. At first we thought the deer was a statue, it was almost all white.
I’ve lived here for 11 years in Roopville, Georgia, and have seen a lot of deer in my yard. Always looking out my window for that big buck. Saw a piebald 5 times in 7 days. I went and got license on the November 23rd and saw the piebald 3 days later. Came right up in my yard. Never killed a deer on my property before, but got a piebald on November 26. Got him about 100 yards out from my house. Beautiful deer.
My boyfriend and I are bowhunters from Northwestern Connecticut. Last week, he harvested the most beautiful piebald 8 point buck! I was so amazed when I saw it. Never even knew they existed!
I SAW MY FIRST PIEBALD DEER A COUPLE DAYS AGO. THERE WAS NO DEFORMITY EXCEPT FOR THE ANTLERS WHICH, HAD A NARROW SPREAD, TALL BROW TINES ( ABOUT 6″) AND THE MAIN BEAM WERE ABOUT 15 INCHES TALL AND FORKED ABOUT 4 INCHES FROM THE TIP MAKING IT A WIERD LOOKING 6 POINT.
WE HAVE A 13″ MINIMUM SPREAD IN THE COUNTY I HUNT AND I WAS NOT SURE HE WOULD MAKE IT SO I DID NOT SHOOT HIM. WAS SO ENGROSSED IN WATCHING HIM THAT I MISSED OUT ON SHOOTING ONE OF THE DOES THAT WAS WITH HIM.
I saw my first piebald buck yesterday hunting just north of Pittsburgh. Too far away to take a shot with a bow but a beautiful animal. Did not appear to have short legs.
Me and my buddy went out hunting and I got my first piebald deer today. Good looking deer but is has a “buck” body, but no horns at all and no male parts under it. It is small with very short legs.
My husband got a piebald doe several weeks ago in Keystone Heights, Florida. She has a white blaze on her face separating to her jaws and white rings on her neck. She had white on her hips and belly. My husband said she had dew claws on all four legs. We gave her to a friend who is a taxidermist who was going to do a full body mount, but did a shoulder mount for him as a Christmas gift. Even though I could never hunt, I have to admit she is beautiful hanging in our log home.
I have been hunting deer and turkey since 1993 and have seen some incredible sights, but today I saw my first piebald deer. While hunting our property in Hardeman County, Tennessee, I saw him. It was a little, short front-legged hunched-back 4 point. I watched him for about 45 minutes, until it was too dark to see.
Bleats and grunts appeared not to phase the little guy and even though he offered many opportunities to be harvested, I chose to pass. I can only hope for him to pass this cool color gene along for many generations to come, and maybe offer me the same opportunity again in the future.
I don’t hunt, but I do look out my window in the morning here in Maryland. Three deer in my back yard walking through on their usual path. The one in the middle was a small piebald. Beautiful!
My nephew got a nice 10 point piebald buck this year. We had seen it a time earlier while bow hunting and thought we would never see it again. Well, he ended up seeing it again on the first day of muzzle loader season, and now he is going to mount antlers and tan the hide. He is 13 years old and very excited!
January 19, 2011 – While hunting in my far back stand I shot a piebald buck. It was the most beautiful animal to see; pure white with the exception of a light brown spot on his crown, white nose, and pink hooves which are very long and curled upward (foundered?). I would love to do a full body mount to justify the animal, however, that is to costly.
Searched for an explanation of a strange deer we spotted last night in our wooded back yard. (St. Mary’s County, Southern Maryland). Was amazed to learn of these rare piebalds! Have lived here for over 30 years, and observed generations of whitetails… even being able to name them by their markings and personalities. Only oddity in all of that time was a male “dwarf” that we named “Bitty.” Thank you for all the info and comments. Hope to see it again, in better light, so that we can get a photo.
I grew up in Keystone Heights, I never knew any other kind of deer existed. That is all we have is Piebald. I have seen a lot of solid white deer too. I don’t know what causes it, but they are all like that out on Indian Trail in Keystone Heights, Florida.
I recently saw 4 piebald deer standing alongside a rural road through orange groves near Lake Wales, Florida. They were standing on the shoulder of the road in the dark. The headlights of my truck illuminated them. I almost ran off the road looking at them.
I had seen a piebald fawn deer around November of 2010 late one evening on the road to our house outside of Waverly, Tennessee. I am so excited because I have finally seen him again this week (five months later), and not once but twice. It is so awesome to see him growing. I love hunting and have done it all my life. Sure hope that he has a long life because I hope to see him again.
I’m from the northern lower peninsula of Michigan and we have 4 piebald deer that stick together in my area. They are very laid back as I’m sure they are familiar with people looking at them and taking pictures. Are they legal to hunt in Michigan? I know that it is against the law to shoot an albino deer here if you see one.
There’s a piebald doe in this area of Carbon County, Pennsylvania, that’s now 3 years old and just bore twins, both of which are brown. It’s nice to see it roaming free, passing through my front yard every few days. I’m surprised it’s made it this long the way it sticks out.
We have been watching a beautiful piebald fawn with another spotted fawn and an adult female along with 6 or 8 other deer for about a month now. The piebald does not look physically any different from the other fawn. Could they be twins, even with different coloration? We are in Buena Vista Township, Atlantic County, New Jersey.
Took some wonderful photos of a piebald deer yesterday here in SE Georgia. My first sight of one in over 50 years of hunting this area. On my birthday too! LOL!
I’m in Mechanicsville, Virginia, and saw my first piebald this morning! Was on my way to fix a cup of coffee when something in the backyard caught my eye. Thought it was a goat at first because of both the coloring and the size. Sadly, this one has some of the deformities associated with the variation, but otherwise seemed healthy, not thin. Hoping I see him/her again.
My 11 year old son took a 6 point piebald buck on November 12, 2011. When he got the shot he had no idea what he had. It was not your average buck… it was a beautiful piebald. He bagged the buck in Ardmore, Alabama.
I live in a heavily forested area and was on my way home this afternoon. It is deer season now. I am not a hunter but the 7 years I have lived hear I have seen all kinds of animals, especially deer. They cross the road constantly or feed on our property. I saw a deer in front of me almost completely black with brown on the shoulder and hunches. It’s tail was solid black. It was less than 75 feet in front of me so no mistaken it for anything but a deer. Any comments please.
We have been spotting Piebald Deer on our property (Northern Baltimore County – near the Pennsylvania Line) now for the three years. Since our property is small (and heavily wooded) we allow only one person to hunt it. Several days ago our hunter harvested his first piebald (a doe). The animal had normal eyes – the head seemed different from most deer. It was with a herd of normally colored whitetail.
I just saw a piebald deer the other day while driving near my home. We live in a wooded, rural section of Orchard Park, New York, and see deer all the time. When I first saw it at a distance, I didn’t know what it was, but as I got closer I saw it was a white deer with brown patches on it.
Saw my first piebald today. At first I thought it was a cow, but it was a whitetail deer for sure. I let her walk!
Got a piebald buck this season! I saw nothing but rack coming out of a bottom through the thick brush. He came out on a scrape that I have been working for a few weeks. He brushed his antlers in the tree and started working the scrape. I was shaking so bad it took me 15 minutes to get a shot. He was half white and had massive horns for what he was. He is a buck of a lifetime for me. He will be added to my mounts. Getting full body done on him. It’s going to be an awesome 9 point mount.
my niegbour seen a black and white deer behind our house but her husband almost called her nuts.so she thought it was a dog.while i walk my dogs in the woods and i seen the deer,it looked black and white and was with 4 or 5 more normal looking deer.it looked small and short.this is eufaula alabama.i have seen some in louisiana but not her.very interesting
I see a doe mule deer every year that looks like that. Have never seen any other deer in the area that have different colors.
I have a big piebald that’s been roaming around my area for two years. Can’t get close enough to see how many points he has, but very neat to observe.
I have a young piebald that comes up with seven other deer in to my back lot to eat twice daily. It is mostly white up to the shoulders. My neighbor and I have taken several pictures of it I could share if anyone is interested. They come out of a pine thicket behind our homes.
We saw a whitetail deer, all white with one brown spot, on the grounds of the Perry Point VA Hospital in Perryville, Maryland. It was late evening and many deer were around, June 26, 2012.
Just seen my first piebald doe and I didn’t take her. Would it be wrong to kill a rare breed of deer?
Piebald are the same breed, they are whitetail deer. Free-ranging bucks that score over 200 inches are rare too, but most do not question taking a shot on them.
WE HAVE PIEBALD DEER IN GAINESVILLE FLORIDA
Never knew these deer existed until this weekend, my friend got one this weekend in northern Minnesota. beautiful deer!
This is my very first time hunting and on opening day I got a piebald doe. She’s absolutely beautiful. Didn’t realize how rare it was until I got back to camp and started researching it.
Wow… took my first piebald doe this morning on John’s Mountain WMA… November 23.2012. Getting a piebald is fairly rare, but its extra special to me because today is my birthday also. Go me! 🙂
I just spotted a Piebald deer in Stow, Ohio. Never seen anything like it. Mottled like a cow. Brown and white.
MY 15 YEAR OLD SON GOT HIS FIRST PIEBALD TODAY. BEAUTIFUL DEER! I AM VERY PROUD. HE TOOK HIS WITHIN 100 YARDS OF WERE I TOOK MINE EXACTLY 15 YEARS 2 WEEKS AND 3 DAYS AGO. YERY RARE AND SPECIAL.
A beautiful piebald fawn is visiting our gardens this winter (Swan Point, Maryland). It was curious about our dog; maybe thought it was a fellow deer because of its coloring and size — quickly realized — nope, better run!