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. Learn about rare whitetail deer color phases. This guide explains the genetics behind them and how often they occur.
Piebaldism, a recessive genetic trait, causes patches of white hair mixed with normal brown coloration, with deer having normal eye color. Melanism, conversely, involves an overproduction of pigment, resulting in unusually dark brown or black fur. Beyond external features, deer can also display physical deformities.
Are there two different color phases of white-tailed deer? No White. 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. 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. This is a genetic mutation for hair color but not other pigments. Piebald: Piebald deer have patches of white hair but are otherwise normally colored.
Piebalds are thought to be more common than albinos. Depending on what part of the country you are from these deer are sometimes referred to as pintos and come in various amounts of white and brown. Natural hair dyed with darker shades, creating a speckled effect.
Ideal for spinning purposes. 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. Deer Hair Natural: Approximately 12 sq". For wings, tails, and collars.
Deer Hair Dyed: Dyed over natural colored hair. Use for spinning. Assorted Package: Contains 3 to 4 smaller pieces of dyed hair for spinning.