Pictures of White, Leucistic and Albino Deer.

In Arthurian legend a white stag presaged a quest, as it represented an elusive and often mystical quarry. In reality white deer are typical a result of leucism, a pigmentation pattern controlled by a recessive gene. White deer may arise more often in captive populations due to inbreeding and the absence of predators.

Some areas now have fairly stable populations of white animals rather than just the occassional one or two. (For example, areas of Wisconsin, the New Forest--see examples below).

Some people consider white deer prized trophies and they are very vulnerable to hunting or poaching due to their trophy value and high visibility. Others value having white deer alive in the environment and try to keep their locations a secret.

There is a considerable debate amongst hunters and in the general public as to whether white deer should be protected a rare and beautiful creatures, or shot as genetical inferior animals who are not only more vulnerable to predation but can draw predators to their normally colored kin.

White deer may not be hunted in various states including Iowa.

In 2009 this white stag was rescued from being entrapped in a rope swing. One of the rescuers suggest the deer might be a true albino because "The nose, eyes and even the deer hooves were more red than usual."

See also:

• Rare white albino deer rescued from rope swing

• Deer Me! Rescuers Free Trapped Rare Albino

Pearl is a white roebuck spotted on a Scottish estate (2008). [Telegraph]

See also:

• Rare white deer

• How much to kill this deer?

Pictured in an undisclosed location this stag is a red deer. White stags are far less common in red deer than in fallow deer. [Reuters]

A white fallow deer was observed in the New Forest, United Kingdom, in 2008. The coloring suggests he is a result of leucanism. [Isles Project]

See also:

• White deer roam the forest [Telegraph, 2008]

This ten point stag was shot (2010) at a hunting lodge that deliberately brought in deer carrying leucistic genetics.

Illinois

The Seneca Army Depot is home to a population of white deer. [Encyclopedia Britannica]

For more pictures see:

• Prairie State Outdoors
• White Country Cabins

Wisconsin

The stag shown right was brought in by hunters in 2006.

A herd including many white deer living in the Boulder Junction area [video], who are the subject of the book "White Deer".

Greg & Sons have a mounted buck head showing how leucistic deer often have some patched of blonde or reddish hair.

North Carolina

Slater Taxidermy has a several mounts of white deer.

Montana

Smaller numbers of white deer are found in Montana. In the Golden Valley county area the shooting of white deer is prohibited.

Texas

Unlike most of the deer shown on this hub, this fawn appears to be a true albino with pink eyes. It was reported found in the wild in Texas in 2005--but the origin of the report is not clear after it is has passed around the internet. (e.g. Room 322). The fawn was apparenty nick-named "Powder".

It is not even certan that this fawn was found in Texas as other versions of the email report it was found in Stanley, North Dakota or West Liberty, Kentucky, Snopes listed the legitimacy of this story as "undetermined".

In the Žleby, this mounted specimen of a white stag is displayed. Age and provonance unknown. Žleby is an amazing gothic castle with a deer park. There is a herd of deer there (living ones) many of whom are white.