Whitetail interbreeding

[Diehard Hunter]

Ur entitled to ur opinion and im entitled to mine.

My reply was not an opinion. I have read a few articles, websites and blogs from biologists and deer breeders who are in the know, unlike you and I, about the possibility of whitetails and fallow deer interbreeding. They all agree it is not biologically possible. I'll put my trust in the experts, not what someone thinks they see in the wilderness.

U wanna question whether it can happen or not ill be glad to show u around and u can spend 3 yrs urself asking the same question i did.

I'd rather someone show me hard factual proof, like DNA testing to proof their suspicions.

The consensus from what I have learned is this: "Fallow Deer (Cervus dama) are of the Cervus genus. White-tail Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are of the Odocoileus genus. Both are from the Cervidae family, but the different genus makes egg fertilization impossible." Thus if interbreeding did take place, a viable offspring could not result.

A few links that you may find interesting:

http://www.tndeer.com/tndeertalk/ubbthr ... 07&fpart=3

http://vafallowdeer.blogspot.com/p/chro ... ginia.html

http://wkcurrent.com/boutique-game-animals-p551-72.htm

http://www.deer-forums.com/discus/messa ... 1237603419

http://www.taxidermy.net/forums/DeerTax ... 31FF7.html

Im well aware of the facts. I have a degree in wildlife biology and have worked in the wildlife field since ive been out of school.

I have also spent time around a free ranging fallow deer herd and know that there are some wierd looking whitetails in this area. We can argue about what the book says for days and no I have never actually seen a whitetail mount a fallow deer.

Like I said, you want to make the drive up, ill be glad to show you around. We'll go out and hunt a couple of my stands. Ill even buy ur supper. Have a good one.

Surely you have some pictures of these animals if they are that common. Maybe you have even killed a couple since you hunt there. I would love to see them.

 

[Football Hunter]

In fact, they are common in some geographic regions.

Very common in Southeast Louisiana. Lots of 70" 12 points being killed down there

Yup, that's exactly the region I was thinking of.

In the far north, palmated (flat, knife-like) beams and points are very common.

Coastal plan of SC has some areas palmation is pretty commoun too,killed a nice 8 pt there 15 or so years ago that was palmated.

 

[bowriter]

Palmation in wt antlers is almost always the result of the young bucks being hit in the head with frying pans. It frequently occurs near areas where fallow deer are being fried or where young grey squirrels are being used as a common staple for breakfast. Therefore, a lot of frying takes place. The young bucks are attracted to the salt being used in the batter and get hit with the skillet when they get too close.

My source for that information was D&DH.

 

[Diehard Hunter]

Palmation in wt antlers is almost always the result of the young bucks being hit in the head with frying pans. It frequently occurs near areas where fallow deer are being fried or where young grey squirrels are being used as a common staple for breakfast. Therefore, a lot of frying takes place. The young bucks are attracted to the salt being used in the batter and get hit with the skillet when they get too close.

My source for that information was D&DH.

Good to see someone is in good spirits after returning from vacation!

 

[Andy S.]

My source for that information was D&DH.

Very believable. :grin:

 

[bowriter]

My source for that information was D&DH.

Very believable. :grin:

Aint that the truth!

 

[BSK]

My source for that information was D&DH.

Unfortunately, D&DH used to be a great magazine for good scientific information. Not any more.

 

[bowriter]

BSK- you would not believe what all has gone on there. At one time, I felt honored when they published one of my articles. Now, I won't even submit one.

Their so-called experts, make me want to gag.

 

[BSK]

Their so-called experts, make me want to gag.

I couldn't agree more.

 

[BlountArrow]

its a whitetail and btw you cant shoot the fallow if you do see one because there is not a hunting season for them

For someone who might come across this thread later this is not true. You can kill fallow deer even though there is not a season for them. I'm after one now and I was told by a TWRA Game Warden in Region IV that I could kill him and that I didn't have to wait for whitetail season to roll around.