Albino Deer - Mille Lacs

[Mayfly]

Last weekend I spent 3 days up on Mille Lacs and had the pleasure of running into one of the Albino Deer that you hear so much about. After all the time I have spent up there I finally caught a glimpse!!

[Grute Man]

Cool pics, Mayfly!!!

[BearGuide]

That is really cool.  Nice photos.

[laker]

What an experience! Great pictures too.

[Spinach]

I have permission to hunt on that landowners land, he said they have 4 albino deer on the property. We were up 3 weeks ago and met the landowner and saw one of the deer then.

Nice picture!!

[GirlGuide]

Cool pictures Mayfly!!!  I have a question for everybody, just curious...if you had the opportunity to shoot an albino deer during deer hunting season, would you take the shot?  I know it is still legal here in Minnesota, but not in Wisconsin.  What are your points of view on this?  Anyone?  gg

[Spinach]

Thats a great question GG. I was still under the impression that it was illegal to shoot any Albino animal though, and we were supposed to call the local CO and report the sighting. Maybe that has changed or i am wrong, no matter if it is legal game or not, I definitely would not shoot one, just for the simple fact that they are so rare. I'd get as many pictures as possible and wait for something else to cross my shooting lane.

If it is legal, i would not have any problem with someone shooting one if they wanted to fill their tag, as long as they are following the law.

[Realtree]

Great pics Mayfly, thanks for posting them.

GG, I would have to agree with Spinach on this one! It would be kind of cool to shoot one and have the mount at home in the office, but with as rare as they are, I would like to think that I would let them walk on by while snapping some pics as well. How many times in your life will you get that kind of opportunity. 

[bowhunter73]

 I for one would not shoot it. For one simple reason I would rather let my kids have a chance to see it later in life.

  If you are like me your hart pumps more before the shot than after! ( thats when it slows down )So sometimes just knowing you could have, would be good enough.

 But if somebody did shoot it legally and that works for them. GOOD FOR THEM.

[Grute Man]

I think if I had the chance and it was legal (I think it is) then I would do it. 

I also read an article that said the albinos are actually a weaker strand of the same family we normally see and it would be better for the herd if the weaker ones were taken so as to not pass on the weaker trait of albino-izm.  Can't say I KNOW that for a fact though.  Anyone else ever hear that?

[luvnlife]

Well to be totally honest.....I would shoot it. Like Grute said the albino's are weaker and predators would get them. The meat taste the same and also they do not pass on the genes. LUVNLIFE

[ThunderCAT]

On a related note, I was on the golf course this afternoon and we saw an albino squirrel. Scared the heck out of me when I saw it!

[Outdoors Junkie]

I am not sure what I would do.  My first instinct would be to put the cross hairs on em.  I don't think I would shoot it, but maybe.  That is a great question.  I guess I will just have to wait and see if I ever have the opportunity to come across one during hunting season.  Then, I will have to make my mind up.

[GirlGuide]

I think this would be a once in a lifetime opportunity.  If I saw a 30 point buck, would I take the shot?  Yes, and if I saw an albino deer I would also take the shot?  Yes I do believe I would.  My husband had this opportunity 2 years ago, and he did shoot an albino deer.  I've never seen someone so excited in his life, what an experience it was for him, for all of us, our whole hunting party.  I have pictures, I will try to post them somday.  We did have a very big let down afterwards though, very big.  We did not know this at the time, but an Albino deer has a very very fine hyde compared to normal deer.  Well we let the deer hang too long, before we brought it in to the taxidermist.  He said that with albino's you need to bring them in a.s.a.p. because the hyde literally falls apart, it is that fine.  We went and got second and third opinions and everybody said the same thing.  My husband and I both felt terrible about this, and still do.  We have some really great pictures, but if we knew the deer was not going to be mounted, he never would have shot it.  I am only telling this story to you all, in case you ever do get the opportunity to shoot anything albino, please please please bring it in right away.  It was a hard lesson to learn, and we will never feel quite right about it all.  I will say that we have learned from this experience, but it was a very hard way to learn.  So I guess I'm trying to say that we found out the hard way, which really sucks.  If we knew then..what we know now....Hope this helps somebody out, I feel terrible even talking about..it's a hard thing to admit to.  Live and Learn...gg 

[GirlGuide]

A forgot to mention that the albino deer that my husband shot was also in the Mille Lacs Lake/Garrison area.  The year before my husband shot his we heard of someone else that got one in the same area.  I know that they are a very rare deer to see, but I do hear of more people seeing an albino than say a 30 point buck.  So my scenario might have not been right on, but I'm sure you all know what I mean.  Either way, I still  believe this was a once in a lifetime opportunity, so to each their own regarding taking the shot.  I respect all of your opinions on this either way.  I'm not trying to start any controversey, I just really enjoy seeing everyone else's opinions on this, so just want to say thanks. gg

[Realtree]

Right on GG!!! Thanks for sharing your experience with the Albino deer with the rest of us. I think it was a great thing to get people to think about and hear what others opinions are on the issue.

Also, thank you for the great and useful info regarding how the Albino deers hyde is different from the norm so if anyone does harvest one in the future and wants to have it mounted they will know to be diligent in getting it done asap.

Have a great rest of the weekend GG!!        

[GirlGuide]

Right on GG!!! Thanks for sharing your experience with the Albino deer with the rest of us. I think it was a great thing to get people to think about and hear what others opinions are on the issue.

Also, thank you for the great and useful info regarding how the Albino deers hyde is different from the norm so if anyone does harvest one in the future and wants to have it mounted they will know to be diligent in getting it done asap.

Have a great rest of the weekend GG!!        

You are so very welcome RT!!  I'm glad to share my story with you all and I'm so glad I haven't got any "hate mail" yet, and sure hope I don't.  I just wanted to try and help somebody out if I could, I know we could of used some information on this ahead of time....but who would of ever thought we'd ever get that opportunity anyway...I guess you just never know...that 30 pointer COULD be just around the corner.  You have a great day RT, talk to you soon hopefully!  GG    8)

[tripnchip]

I would take the shot if it was in the size bracket i wanted. I also have read more then once that it is better to take them out of the herd because they are a weaker strain. Thanks for the post GG, it always nice to hear how fellow hunters feel about things. And congrates to you hubby on taking one.
 My general feeling on the taking of game is you do what you want as long as it is with in the law. And I am not one to want laws changed to suit my way of thinking.

[Grute Man]

Well no hate mail from this guy.  I can tell you really took it to heart.  I probably would have done the same thing thinkin I had plenty of time.  Thats some good info that I would have NEVER guessed/thought of.  I know what its like to lose something like that.  Tell your hubby congrats.  Maybe get a picture framed or something??
Grute

[GirlGuide]

Thanks for all of your input on this guys and Luvn', everybody sure does have their own opinion, which I think is great.  As Trip said as long as it is within the law, you have your own right to your own decision and opinion.  And Grute, we sure did take the whole situation to heart, I'm glad that you were able to see that.  We do have some nice pictures and we will always have the memories...it's something we won't be forgetting in the near future.  gg

[WoodChuck]

 ::cheers:: right on !! nice pics, and just my idea would be NOT  to shoot this rare animal anywhere just BECAUSE ! woodchuck

[GirlGuide]

On a related note, I was on the golf course this afternoon and we saw an albino squirrel. Scared the heck out of me when I saw it!

We live in the cities, and see albino squirrels quite often.  They, like every other squirrel in our yard are starting to drive me crazy though, they have been getting into everything they possibly can in my garden.  After all the hard work I put into, I would like to take each and everyone of these squirrels out of my yard, including the albinos!  I just don't really care for squirrels much, never have...flying little rats!   Again, just my opinion.    gg

[Ryan]

I also hate squirrels, for the last two winters they have made a home in my garage and it better not happen again this year.  It's funny because before reading this I would not have shot an albino deer.  After reading this I would not have any problem pulling the trigger on one.  I didn't know they were the weaker breed so I guess I learned something.  I don't think there are any albino deer where I hunt so I guess it really does not matter anyway.

[GirlGuide]

I also hate squirrels, for the last two winters they have made a home in my garage and it better not happen again this year.  It's funny because before reading this I would not have shot an albino deer.  After reading this I would not have any problem pulling the trigger on one.  I didn't know they were the weaker breed so I guess I learned something.  I don't think there are any albino deer where I hunt so I guess it really does not matter anyway.

We never imagined that we would see an albino deer either Hedrocks...so you just never know...!
   gg