NZ Fallow deer video.

orchidman

Some of you are aware that I am part of the organisation that administers ballot hunting of a Fallow deer herd in one of our local forests.

Thought you might like to see what we do. This video was aired on local TV a few weeks ago.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ISKwq1s2oaA&feature=youtu.be

The best part of being involved is the TAKH ( Take A Kid Hunting) day which is shown in the latter part of the show. ( It includes a talk by a hunter who survived being shot by his hunting buddy.)

Buffco

Awesome work. I didn't realize those deer were so black.

Who is that dashing Aleck feller?

Buffco

With such a small breeding herd, are there ever any genetics brought in from outside?

orchidman

Buffco wrote: »

With such a small breeding herd, are there ever any genetics brought in from outside?

Nope. Not allowed to by law.

There are 4 main colour variations in Fallow deer.......

( copied from Wiki)

Common: Chestnut coat with white mottles that are most pronounced in summer with a much darker, unspotted coat in the winter. Light-colored area around the tail, edged with black. Tail is light with a black stripe.

Menil: Spots more distinct than common in summer and no black around the rump patch or on the tail. In winter, spots still clear on a darker brown coat.

Melanistic (black): All year black shading to greyish-brown. No light-colored tail patch or spots.

Leucistic (white, but not albino): Fawns cream-colored, adults become pure white, especially in winter. Dark eyes and nose, no spots.[5]

Most herds consist of the common coat variation, yet it is not rare to see animals of the menil coat variation. The Melanistic variation is rarer and white very much rarer still