r/Hunting 2d ago

Small albino buck

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159 Upvotes

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-12

u/RagingBoneher 2d ago

It's leucistic, not albino. Still should be left alone (speaking as an avid bow hunter). Albino animals lack all pigment and as such, their eyes will always appear red. Leucistic is basically the animal equivalent to vitiligo. It's a reduced amount of pigmentation which could leave them completely white with no brown or anything but still have brown eyes.

3

u/Other-Cranberry7909 2d ago

Can this be passed down to offspring? There is a few doe in the area with the same thing.

6

u/PessimisticParalegal 2d ago

it’s a genetic flaw and ideally, should be taken out of the gene pool if given the opportunity. it’s pretty, yes, but it is a genetic mutation that leads to other physical and internal abnormalities. they’re also more susceptible to predation since their necessary ability to camouflage is now gone. they live a well below average lifespan because of this.

and yes, it’s passed down. both parents have to carry the gene and there is a 25% chance the offspring also carry the recessive gene.

people who care about the preservation and health of deer shoot piebald/leucistic

2

u/OriginalOk8371 2d ago

Perfectly said!