Do you consider Piebalds genetically inferior?

I was showing a friend of mine some recent trail cam pics and we came across the piebald buck I've been watching for the past 2-2.5 yrs. He thinks I should take him out the herd ASAP due to bad genes. I disagree. I've enjoyed watching him grow and was going to hold off until next year to see how much he grows.

How do you guys feel about piebalds? Leave them be or take them out of the herd whenever given the chance?

 

The piebald I have running around my property shows little sign of being genetically inferior. He's a 2.5, possibly 3.5, but he's a solid healthy 8. I won't use one as an excuse to "cull," but rather to have the chance at a unique trophy.

 

Here is a piebald a guy I know shot about four or five years. He has since passed, but I wouldn't call this deer genetically inferior by any means.

 

GC, that thing is awesome.

 

Some piebalds are really messed up. Malformed jaws and legs and whatnot. Just having piebald coloration doesn't mean the animal has all the flaws too.

If it were a buck, I'd leave it alone unless it were sporting a decent rack. Young bucks don't pass on a whole lot of genetics so I wouldn't worry about it. If it were a doe; I'd probably smoke it. But I don't pass up many does.

 

Here is my Piebald doe running the property!

 

Never saw one in the woods. If it was a legal buck or a doe, I'm shooting.

 

___________Me too__________

 

I have a decent 8 point that has the coloration, I'm givin him another year.

 

finch we got one down here thats solid white and its had offspring thats solid white i've had the opportunity to see both on occassion. the buck has a decent rack but his body is kinda thin. I wouldnt neccessarily say they are inferior but i would say unique nonetheless. I coulda shot him in a food plot awhile back but didnt want to cause they are real cool looking and you just dont get to see those everyday.

 

I don't hunt fenced in areas or raise deer, so the "passing" on of bad genes isn't even an issue! I shoot what I want, when I want, if I want!

 

The buck in my initial post had a sibling but I haven't seen him/her. Anyway, like i said. I'm gonna stick to my initial plan and let this guy grow. Can't wait to see what he becomes (if he survives this season).

 

If you enjoy having him around then I'd say leave him be.

 

Are they genetically "inferior"? Well......no. Do they have certain traits that are inherent to piebalds? Sometimes.

LOTS of misconceptions on piebalds (and genetics, in general).

I'm with Joe. Shoot 'em if you wanna shoot 'em. They're cool trophies.

 

Any buck that is unique whether it be in the rack or coloration of the body is cool. Some may have flaws, but you can find flaws in some "normal" looking white tails too. Check out this melanistic buck....

 

I guess I don't understand this. Everything I've read from D & DH say bucks pass on around 70% of the genes especially in terms of rack characteristics regardless of age. What would age have to do with any of this?

 

In most cases, the older bucks don't let them play in the reindeer games.

 

Exactly! I'm sure the young bucks would be more then willing to pass along their genes...if they were allowed.

 

If you think young bucks aren't doing a lot (even the lion's share) of breeding.......think again.

Herd dynamics will dictate how much. But, unless you're hunting whitetail utopia, the youngster's are dippin' their noodles more than you think.

 

So the question is if this guy is "dipping his noodle" a lot, is it damaging to the herd? I'm gonna say no.