They change color from summer to winter as their reddish summer coat is replaced by a gray winter coat. And many deer display other unique markings or color variations based on where they live. Besides the standard, familiar color, there are four major coloration categories of deer: albino, leucistic, piebald and melanistic.
We all know what normally colored white-tailed deer look like. Sure, the color of their hair may change seasonally, and even vary a bit between individual deer, but whitetails tend to be some shade of brown combined with white on the throat, belly, and under the tail. However, some color variations exists, and more on.
The hair color of a normally brown whitetail might vary in a wide array of shades and patterns. Black or nearly black is called melanism. It is caused by over- production of melanin, a chemical responsible for dark pigmentation in animals.
Melanistic deer will have a dark, almost black coat. Just as people can be blonde, brunet or redhead, hair color does vary between individual deer. This includes both the body and the head, although differences are often more pronounced in the latter.
Skin Abnormalities Most seasoned whitetail hunters are familiar with the two most uncommon presentations of genetic hair color dilutions in deer: albinism and leucism. Albino deer, those that are all white with red eyes, are extremely rare; whereas leucitic deer are a bit more common and result in a brown and white piebald hair coat. Piebald deer are born with a rare genetic condition that gives them small to large patches of white hair mixed in randomly with normal brown hair color.
Bucks and does can be piebald. Some piebald deer have only a few outward signs of the condition, such as small patches of white hair. Others might be mostly white.
Some of the genes that cause these changes in coat color also control other. In terms of coloration, which whitetails are the rarest of all? Most hunters would claim that distinction belongs to albinos, which lack any pigment in their skin or hair. But as unusual as it is to see a whitetail that's far too light in color, it's even less common to see one that's far too dark.
On the continent as a whole, "melanistic" or "melanic" deer. Knowing the different colors, lengths, and textures of hair on a white-tailed deer can help you determine where you hit the animal when you examine your arrow or when you find hair at the hit site. Back hair is long, dark (often black-tipped), and coarse.
Neck hair is like short back hair except it is light. Out in the woods, deer likewise are changing their attire from the dark-colored heavy winter coat to a lighter, reddish summer coat. While you've been out scouting or hunting during turkey season, you've probably noticed that the deer you saw were looking kind-of ragged and unkempt.
They no longer have that sleek, well. The reddish, paler brown summer coat seems to be quite thin and the red hair reflects the sun's energy. This helps deer to keep cool in the summer without the stress of the heat.
When the fall arrives with the cool nights, the winter coat begins to grow, due to hormonal changes. This will happen quickly, usually in one or two weeks.