A Phantom Black Mule Deer Spotted
November 20th, 2007 David King - King's Outdoor World
Many of you have never even heard of a Black Mule Deer, let alone seen one. However, this recent photo taken in Winnemucca, Nevada showcases the rare occurence.
Mike Cox, big game biologist at the Nevada Department of Wildlife, has his own name for the phantom deer…he calls it a genetic alteration. It’s not quite as catchy as Tahoe Tessie, but it does explain things.
“It looks like it fell into an oil spill, but obviously we don’t have those in the middle of Nevada,” jokes Cox. “There are genes that map out the characteristics of an animal in its embryonic stage. Sometimes it’s a funky hoof, or a tweaked antler, or in this case the hairs of this mule deer are a different color than the normal mule. Sometimes there are recessive traits that are hidden in those genes that never see the light of day except for maybe one in a million, or one in two million.”
NDOW biologist Ed Partee states that black mule deer have been spotted before in Nevada.
“We have seen these black deer in the past in Humboldt County, mainly in the Jacksons, but we haven’t seen it for quite some time,” said Partee.
Cox reports that there appears to be nothing else out of the ordinary with the black mule deer doe other than its striking color.
“It’s definitely unusual. We may never see it again for a generation, or 50 years, or we may see it next year,” said Cox. “It’s almost like slot machines. You have to pull that slot machine a long, long time until you get the right combination, and that’s what happened with this melanistic mutation.”
******
Just as I was posting this, I received an email of another Black Mule Deer spotted. This one a buck mule deer. These photos show the buck in velvet and then after he has rubbed off. These are amazing photos. Apparently, it was spotted near Eagleville , California which is just northwest of Reno and the photos were taken September 2nd and 3rd of 2007.
Entry Filed under: News and Stuff, Buck Alert!
19 Comments Add your own
1. Anna | November 20th, 2007 at 8:27 pm
Wow, that is amazing! You would have to do a full body mount on a deer like that just because it is so unique; anything less would not do it justice.
2. Doc | November 22nd, 2007 at 12:24 pm
‘Round here, it is fairly common to see pure white mulies, although, very few bucks are seen. About 12 years ago, a feller took an albino cow elk….that was pretty cool.
I don’t think I would shoot any of ‘em and hopefully spread their genetics another year or more to bring this recessive gene more dominant.
3. Southern Adventures | November 22nd, 2007 at 8:24 pm
Very beautiful animal. I don’t pass albino or piebald whitetails up on my lease. I don’t want a recessive gene becoming the majority on the land I hunt.
4. dillon neer | November 22nd, 2007 at 9:21 pm
wow ive never seen an albino deer where could u find one at???
5. rusty galetka | November 24th, 2007 at 9:22 pm
my niece took a black mule deer this year in ut. my wife also took a semi black 4 point 2 years ago.I have pictures. we are getting them mounted soon and hope to find a place to display them here in utah.
6. adam bedont | November 26th, 2007 at 5:01 pm
Ya thats cool i’v never seen a black mulie. Good job
7. 5-6favre fan | November 26th, 2007 at 8:58 pm
I think that is very unique to see a deer like that. I’m 12 years old and on November 22 2007 I shot my first deer. it’s a huge 5 by 6 whitetail.
8. mike fischer | November 27th, 2007 at 5:35 pm
wow never seen nothing like that, and I’ve seen some wicked deer.Like this hunting season I shot my first mulie buck and it was a 12×10(I thought it was pretty wierd)but this is awsome.
9. Lord Billous | December 7th, 2007 at 6:07 pm
wow, i’ve never seen a black or white mulie in my entire life. and i bet i will never see one at that, GREAT PHOTO!
10. roy finkle | December 11th, 2007 at 10:59 am
dude thats the gnarliest black buck ive ever seen
11. harold Hunt Jr | December 13th, 2007 at 3:21 pm
Thats a first for me also although I have seen several solid white whitetails.One encounter was on my trail bike I must have toped out at a speed of 60 miles an hour and it just run off and left me like i was standing still great photo of that buck.
12. jim | December 24th, 2007 at 10:43 pm
my dad was born in 1925 and grew up in and around mountain city nevada in either 1954 or 55 two of his friends were guiding deer hunters from california sonny morse or george bieroth the two guides were also hunting one of them killed a descent 4×4 buck that was black and one of their hunters talked him out of it .he took the deer back to california with him and a year or so later there was a small picture of the deer and a short story about it in outdoor life the reason I know this story is about 15 years ago while scouting for deer in the steens mountains in oregon I saw a black deer and my dad relayed the story to me .
13. JAY SIGOUIN PRINCE GEORGE BC | December 28th, 2007 at 7:23 pm
ARE THEY LEGAL TO SHOOT IF MULE DEER ARE IN SEASON, AND A GUY MIGHT HAPPEN TO COME ACROSS ONE. TWO YEARS AGO I WAS GLASSING A LARGE CUT BLOCK ABOUT 200 KM NORTH OF PRINCE AND I SPOTTED A 5X5 WHITE MULE DEER WITH UN-BELIEVABLE MASS. I COULD HAVE MADE A SHOT ON HIM. I RANGED HIM AT ABOUT 400 YARDS, BUT I WAS NOT SURE IF A HUNTER WAS ABLE TO TAG A WHITE OR BLACK DEER. SO I LET HIM WALK, NEVER TO SEE THAT BUCK AGAIN. (WONDERING)
14. bryan | January 5th, 2008 at 9:20 pm
i wonder if this has any thing to do with the nukes they set off in nevada in the late 40’s early 50’s.. if any one see’s a all black mulie in the ely area let me know so i can go to church and pray for a tag!!
15. JAY SIGOUIN PRINCE GEORGE BC | January 8th, 2008 at 6:43 pm
ARE THEY LEGAL TO SHOOT IF MULE DEER ARE IN SEASON, AND A GUY MIGHT HAPPEN TO COME ACROSS ONE. TWO YEARS AGO I WAS GLASSING A LARGE CUT BLOCK ABOUT 200 KM NORTH OF PRINCE AND I SPOTTED A 5X5 WHITE MULE DEER WITH UN-BELIEVABLE MASS. I COULD HAVE MADE A SHOT ON HIM. I RANGED HIM AT ABOUT 400 YARDS, BUT I WAS NOT SURE IF A HUNTER WAS ABLE TO TAG A WHITE OR BLACK DEER. SO I LET HIM WALK, NEVER TO SEE THAT BUCK AGAIN. (WONDERING) i tried to send this comment to you but i think my e-mail address was wrong. just looking for a reply.
16. kolby grimes | January 12th, 2008 at 5:58 pm
thats crasy ive never heard of a black mule deer
17. Cobra | January 12th, 2008 at 6:00 pm
In the old days when we “Burn Bros Travel Centers” had a truckstop just south of Winnemucca at Pluckerbrush, you could see the bucks hanging in the area just north of Winnemucca on the downhill into town. Great viewing during the early summer months and late fall. Nice to see that the bucks are still around the area.
18. JJcarter | April 12th, 2008 at 4:56 pm
http://i289.photobucket.com/albums/ll227/jjcarter30/175205.jpg
I have a black mule deer that I got in Utah. Above is a picture. Do you have any idea if this is worth anything?
19. roy finkle | May 13th, 2008 at 8:08 am
I got me one of them whitetail deer with 16 point on it rack. I told my brother Cletus that it was a black mule deer, but he didnt believe me.
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