By Tom McIntyre
Some hunters believe that unusually colored animals are too rare to shoot, or that it’s unsporting to hunt an animal that stands out so dramatically (in Scotland, deer stalkers don’t shoot white stags because they make the herds easier to spot on the hills). Other hunters believe these animals are legitimate trophies, no different from a non-typical deer.
Take a look at the animals in this gallery of odd-colored game, then let us know what you would do if you saw one of them while you were hunting. To shoot, or not to shoot? That is the question.
A note on coloration: Besides their normal colors, animals can be albino (lacking color pigment in the hair, feathers, skin, and/or eyes), leucistic (white haired or feathered), melanistic (black haired or feathered), or “erythristic” (having unusual reddish pigmentation in the hair, feathers, or skin).
This “black” bear, photographed in June of this year, is an example of albinism.
Photo by Greg Doggett
Check out these photos of unusual-colored game animals. Would you shoot one if you saw it in the woods?
Photo Gallery Comments (63)
Weird stuff.
i would take the coyote but the others would be just photos. There to cool to shoot.
absolutly, it is just a genetic default.y wouldn't I shoot one. the deer and elk will end up dead anyways,Shoot it, get the pictures mount it on a wakll and ask the departement of fish and game if they want the body. If u don't somebody else will or another animal wll eat it.
Hell yeah I would shoot any of them. Bad genetic are bad genetics.
In Illinois it is illegal to take all white deer, but if I had the opportunity, yes, I would shoot an albino.
Probably not. But only because I'd feel obliged to have a full body mount.
That is wild.
I would take an albino game animal because they're going to die anyway or another hunter would take it.
albino's need to be removed from the herds because they are a genetic freak subject to all kinds of disabilities and diseases.
clolor variations are just that-nothing more.
In my opinion, the pictures of the Albino game is breath taking. They are beautiful.
I would have to shoot them too, to save the future of each of the breeds. They are still beautiful, but must go!
Having worked for the Ill. DNR for 17 years I can say I would shoot any of these animals. Animals that are not genetally correct need to be culled to prevent them from breeding and contaminating the bloodlines. We culled pheasants and geese that were not colored or sized right to maintain bloodlines. Most of these aberations are caused by interbreeding wih domestic stock. Although this is probably not the case with bears, deer and elk.
For some odd reason this reminds me of a canabal joke. A tribe of canabals ambushes a circus troop. The tribe is sitting around their campfire later and one guy passes a roasted clown thigh to his buddy and says, "Try this. Does it taste funny to you?"
They would be on my wall!!! All of them!!
I would shoot if I could afford a full body mount and i could display it in a sporting goods store for lots of people to enjoy. As long as it was known that it was my trophy
The hooks on that turkey are extremely long, nice trophy.
yes, the albinoness is only a genetic defect, and people think that they are rare, but it's just that their natural camo is gone, so the are easily spotted by prey
correction, wasn't thinking, predators
Yea..these are some neat photos, but I would take them as a trophy.
In Michigan, "Pie Ball" game is legal, but Albino is not. This has discussed before on this blog, and I don't understand if they are inferior to the species why not take them out? I would like to have an Albino Black bear rug!
These are all beautiful animals. However, even with correct coloring, they are still very beautiful. I would love to see the trophy on my wall
If it is legal it is food.
i dunno, i'm not one for bear so i'd probably leave them alone. the rest however, look like trophies i would be glad to take even if they weren't albino
YES def. they would look great on my wall haha, but the fact is that if u dont take it, then some other animal, or hunter will. And Its not like its a sub species that will become extinct. Its rare like a 10 pound bass. TAKE IT.
I'm not 100% positive, but I think the elk where found in Knox County, KY. Anyone know for sure?
no we have a albino doe where I hunt in Fla she is solid white, I have seen her now three years in a row while turkey hunting never while deer hunting.
Yes I would shoot, its the other white meat.
Nature on her own does some beautiful things .. altho I would have nothing against hunting these rare creatures, sometimes the unspoken agreement just to enjoy them while they are around is all that Mom needs to encourage her to produce some more jewels to share with us.
Once I told my young sons (6 and 8) that albino animals and maladapted animals can actually hurt the breeding lines, they were "all in" for SHOOT.
True albinism has proven itself to be unable to significantly contaminate blood lines (Take a look around.) If albino animals were not harvested they would still be very rare. If you see a true albino (pink eyes and white fur) shoot it if you want to. No matter what you choose to do, your decision will not determine weather or not there will be a significant albino population in the area.
i shot a half white deer about 5 years ago its was like you drew a line a cross the deer midsection from his chest to his butt was all white legs and everything but top half brown didnt find him till a week later tracked him a wayz but he circled and dropped 60 yards from my stand i didnt get a chance to go back out until the next week and found him.i say shoot em if you hunt a certain animal and you find a white one its like hitting the lottery
I have shot steel gray coyotes, and missed a black that my buddy shot.
In Ohio the DNR wants white deer shot to prevent the pollution of the gene pool. West Virginia doesn't want them shot.
no,too hard to find in snow
all tastes the same to me
That albino turkey was a first for me. I would take the shot... They are all trophys.
the albine turkey is beautiful.so is the diffrence taste in the white ones or are the same.i never heard anybody say boy that albino deer sure was good.
I would take these animals given the opportunity. They are absolutely stunning specimens.
My cousin had a nice 8-point albino whitetail mount in his living room for a while. He almost was run out of the neighborhood because of it. The mout's now in the back bedroom where nobody can see it. A shame. Genetic mutations are rare, but predation on mutants is usually the way that nature culls these animals. I'd feel obligated to take it out of the gene pool if I saw one, no matter the species. That's as long as the season was open, of course..
who says what is genetically correct. Maybe all the "normal"deer are genetically incorrect. I don't mind either way but mostly man is the reason that wildlife is so jacked up anyhow. who are we to say what is norm. Just my 2cents
heck yeah id shoot one
Pretty Cool article.
I would rather allow someone else to see the rare sight of albino deer or any other animal. Shooting one jsut doesn't seem right.
I deffinately would shoot these animals. They are tremendous trophies, and a game animal is a exactly that no matter what color it is. ialso would to keep it from breeding and spreading the genetic deffect on to future generations. Although, I don't necessarily agree with shooting them because they are going to end up dead any. You can say that about any animal.
I agree that the albino animals need to be removed to prevent them taking over but i wouldnt shoot it unless it was trophy standard, a oddly colored trophy would be the coolest thing in the world (#10)
Nice bird that would be the ultimite turkey except bigger :-)
Nice bird that would be the ultimite turkey except bigger :-)
i'd shoot it, if the genetics work oout that way, then it's still like a normall animal
I am not to sure about this one. The coyote I might if it is already on my land. Otherwise I would just shoot pictures of it. The others though I might have to say that I would only shoot pictures and track them throughout the year to try to keep a log of their activity and movement. Yes they may be killed by other hunters and animals, but I do not think I would. However, it is always a different story when you get out there and you are faced with the position to choose to shoot or not.
I think I'd shoot. I might think about it, but bottom line--it's a genetic defect & a cool trophy.
Meat is meat, for A'that.
pretty wicked pics
i would definately shoot an albino, such a cool trophy to mount
Albino elk, even better when in velvet... The meat tastes the same, as from someone in MT who has shot an albino deer, the meat is all the same. A cool trophy and a unique story to boot.
Just because it's white or whatever color doesn't mean it's something that is endangered or a species that needs to be protected. A deer is a deer, color doesnt change it. If it's a trophy, take it.
Pretty neat stuff!
I would definitely shoot!
I'd kill it and grill it.
I've never seen a white black bear and a black coyote. The black bear is it's own oxymoron. The one thing I think is more weird is an albino racoon. My friend found one on the side of a road and has a full body mount of it in his living room.
I would not discourage anyone for shooting a albino because of the bloodlines but myself I would have a hard time to do so just because of how rare they are.
I wouldn't shoot a albino bear, but an albino deer, yeah. I would also shoot a small game animal.
no I would not shoot. I think it is bad luck! just lick the guys that shot the two albino deer illegely thay got caught.BAd luck!!!! plus thear nice to look at.
I would not shoot. These are amazing examples of off colored animals.
There are a few white elk on a private ranch near here. Always neat to see.
I have the same stance as if I saw a Bigfoot. A picture of it in the wild goes great beside the mount.
Also, it would have to be the same size as shootable game that wasn't off-colored. I'd just get the picture at that point.
where i come from its a legend where if you kill a pie bald deer (white and brown) you will die within a year. its a seneca indian legend. my father had a friend who had a heart attack three months later
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absolutly, it is just a genetic default.y wouldn't I shoot one. the deer and elk will end up dead anyways,Shoot it, get the pictures mount it on a wakll and ask the departement of fish and game if they want the body. If u don't somebody else will or another animal wll eat it.
I would take an albino game animal because they're going to die anyway or another hunter would take it.
Having worked for the Ill. DNR for 17 years I can say I would shoot any of these animals. Animals that are not genetally correct need to be culled to prevent them from breeding and contaminating the bloodlines. We culled pheasants and geese that were not colored or sized right to maintain bloodlines. Most of these aberations are caused by interbreeding wih domestic stock. Although this is probably not the case with bears, deer and elk.
Yea..these are some neat photos, but I would take them as a trophy.
In Michigan, "Pie Ball" game is legal, but Albino is not. This has discussed before on this blog, and I don't understand if they are inferior to the species why not take them out? I would like to have an Albino Black bear rug!
i would take the coyote but the others would be just photos. There to cool to shoot.
Probably not. But only because I'd feel obliged to have a full body mount.
I would have to shoot them too, to save the future of each of the breeds. They are still beautiful, but must go!
I would shoot if I could afford a full body mount and i could display it in a sporting goods store for lots of people to enjoy. As long as it was known that it was my trophy
Yes I would shoot, its the other white meat.
In Illinois it is illegal to take all white deer, but if I had the opportunity, yes, I would shoot an albino.
In my opinion, the pictures of the Albino game is breath taking. They are beautiful.
For some odd reason this reminds me of a canabal joke. A tribe of canabals ambushes a circus troop. The tribe is sitting around their campfire later and one guy passes a roasted clown thigh to his buddy and says, "Try this. Does it taste funny to you?"
The hooks on that turkey are extremely long, nice trophy.
yes, the albinoness is only a genetic defect, and people think that they are rare, but it's just that their natural camo is gone, so the are easily spotted by prey
These are all beautiful animals. However, even with correct coloring, they are still very beautiful. I would love to see the trophy on my wall
i dunno, i'm not one for bear so i'd probably leave them alone. the rest however, look like trophies i would be glad to take even if they weren't albino
YES def. they would look great on my wall haha, but the fact is that if u dont take it, then some other animal, or hunter will. And Its not like its a sub species that will become extinct. Its rare like a 10 pound bass. TAKE IT.
I'm not 100% positive, but I think the elk where found in Knox County, KY. Anyone know for sure?
no we have a albino doe where I hunt in Fla she is solid white, I have seen her now three years in a row while turkey hunting never while deer hunting.
Once I told my young sons (6 and 8) that albino animals and maladapted animals can actually hurt the breeding lines, they were "all in" for SHOOT.
True albinism has proven itself to be unable to significantly contaminate blood lines (Take a look around.) If albino animals were not harvested they would still be very rare. If you see a true albino (pink eyes and white fur) shoot it if you want to. No matter what you choose to do, your decision will not determine weather or not there will be a significant albino population in the area.
I have shot steel gray coyotes, and missed a black that my buddy shot.
In Ohio the DNR wants white deer shot to prevent the pollution of the gene pool. West Virginia doesn't want them shot.
i'd shoot it, if the genetics work oout that way, then it's still like a normall animal
I am not to sure about this one. The coyote I might if it is already on my land. Otherwise I would just shoot pictures of it. The others though I might have to say that I would only shoot pictures and track them throughout the year to try to keep a log of their activity and movement. Yes they may be killed by other hunters and animals, but I do not think I would. However, it is always a different story when you get out there and you are faced with the position to choose to shoot or not.
I've never seen a white black bear and a black coyote. The black bear is it's own oxymoron. The one thing I think is more weird is an albino racoon. My friend found one on the side of a road and has a full body mount of it in his living room.
I would not discourage anyone for shooting a albino because of the bloodlines but myself I would have a hard time to do so just because of how rare they are.
Weird stuff.
Hell yeah I would shoot any of them. Bad genetic are bad genetics.
That is wild.
albino's need to be removed from the herds because they are a genetic freak subject to all kinds of disabilities and diseases.
clolor variations are just that-nothing more.
They would be on my wall!!! All of them!!
correction, wasn't thinking, predators
If it is legal it is food.
Nature on her own does some beautiful things .. altho I would have nothing against hunting these rare creatures, sometimes the unspoken agreement just to enjoy them while they are around is all that Mom needs to encourage her to produce some more jewels to share with us.
i shot a half white deer about 5 years ago its was like you drew a line a cross the deer midsection from his chest to his butt was all white legs and everything but top half brown didnt find him till a week later tracked him a wayz but he circled and dropped 60 yards from my stand i didnt get a chance to go back out until the next week and found him.i say shoot em if you hunt a certain animal and you find a white one its like hitting the lottery
no,too hard to find in snow
all tastes the same to me
That albino turkey was a first for me. I would take the shot... They are all trophys.
the albine turkey is beautiful.so is the diffrence taste in the white ones or are the same.i never heard anybody say boy that albino deer sure was good.
I would take these animals given the opportunity. They are absolutely stunning specimens.
My cousin had a nice 8-point albino whitetail mount in his living room for a while. He almost was run out of the neighborhood because of it. The mout's now in the back bedroom where nobody can see it. A shame. Genetic mutations are rare, but predation on mutants is usually the way that nature culls these animals. I'd feel obligated to take it out of the gene pool if I saw one, no matter the species. That's as long as the season was open, of course..
who says what is genetically correct. Maybe all the "normal"deer are genetically incorrect. I don't mind either way but mostly man is the reason that wildlife is so jacked up anyhow. who are we to say what is norm. Just my 2cents
heck yeah id shoot one
Pretty Cool article.
I would rather allow someone else to see the rare sight of albino deer or any other animal. Shooting one jsut doesn't seem right.
I deffinately would shoot these animals. They are tremendous trophies, and a game animal is a exactly that no matter what color it is. ialso would to keep it from breeding and spreading the genetic deffect on to future generations. Although, I don't necessarily agree with shooting them because they are going to end up dead any. You can say that about any animal.
I agree that the albino animals need to be removed to prevent them taking over but i wouldnt shoot it unless it was trophy standard, a oddly colored trophy would be the coolest thing in the world (#10)
Nice bird that would be the ultimite turkey except bigger :-)
Nice bird that would be the ultimite turkey except bigger :-)
I think I'd shoot. I might think about it, but bottom line--it's a genetic defect & a cool trophy.
Meat is meat, for A'that.
pretty wicked pics
i would definately shoot an albino, such a cool trophy to mount
Albino elk, even better when in velvet... The meat tastes the same, as from someone in MT who has shot an albino deer, the meat is all the same. A cool trophy and a unique story to boot.
Just because it's white or whatever color doesn't mean it's something that is endangered or a species that needs to be protected. A deer is a deer, color doesnt change it. If it's a trophy, take it.
Pretty neat stuff!
I would definitely shoot!
I'd kill it and grill it.
I wouldn't shoot a albino bear, but an albino deer, yeah. I would also shoot a small game animal.
no I would not shoot. I think it is bad luck! just lick the guys that shot the two albino deer illegely thay got caught.BAd luck!!!! plus thear nice to look at.
I would not shoot. These are amazing examples of off colored animals.
There are a few white elk on a private ranch near here. Always neat to see.
I have the same stance as if I saw a Bigfoot. A picture of it in the wild goes great beside the mount.
Also, it would have to be the same size as shootable game that wasn't off-colored. I'd just get the picture at that point.
where i come from its a legend where if you kill a pie bald deer (white and brown) you will die within a year. its a seneca indian legend. my father had a friend who had a heart attack three months later
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