I let her walk....pics

[Izzy]

Great pic Skipper. What a rush.

[Longbow58]

Been there Skipper, very cool to just watch. Good on ya! Awesome pic.

[fmscan]

Skipper, must have been a hard decision, letting her walk was the classy thing to do, but if someone takes her out in gun season (I have to think her camo works against her w no snow & guys will be targeting her) then not much gained. Let's hope she makes it. Thx for pictures.

[johnnyk71]

cool! a 100# doe is a beast where i hunt, though. not sure i could have resisted. hat's off to you.

[njloco]

I would have passed also, I figure they have a hard enough life sticking out, except when it snows.

[drewsbow]

well done Joe

[Possum Head]

Beautiful critter.

[Herdbull]

nicely done. glad you got to see her again

[Soonerlongbow]

Beautiful deer!

[Caughtandhobble]

Beautiful, I'd likely been in awe and forgot the photo opportunity.  

[grouse11]

I don't want to come across in anyway negative with this post, and completely understand and admire your decision to pass on this deer.

That said, being a wildlife science major and having learned all about genetics and inferior genes and learning a lot about deer, I would never pass a shot at a piebald or an albino deer no matter what the size. The genes that cause these are recessive and inferior and often times the physical appearance is just the start of the differences. These deer can have bone deformities, vision problems, and a slew of other issues that only that deer knows about. My schooling tells me that these deer are a harm to the genetic makeup of the herd and should be removed to keep the herd healthy.

Another thing to consider is that piebald deer are often times dwarfish in the fact that they have a shorter nose, shorter legs, and weigh less compared to a deer of equal age. That deer may have well been a 1.5-2.5 year old deer.

Just my two cents but to each their own, seeing that beautiful deer in the woods was clearly an amazing encounter and a kill clearly does not even come close to the moment the OP had in the woods that day, and that is truly what hunting is all about  

[fmscan]

Grouse, very good comments, some real good points and well said...I learned something...

[BUCKY]

Shot one about 15 yrs ago for some of the reasons grouse said. Also because it was something I'd always remember. My friend has the hide in his man cave.

[twitchstick]

Pretty cool! Good to let this one walk.

[frassettor]

Your skills on the ground joe, always amaze me!  

[joe skipp]

Not funny...I just read a Missouri bowhunter who killed a 10 pt Albino buck has been receiving numerous death threats. He donated the meat and is getting the head mounted. Makes you wonder...

[Bjorn]

You left it for the next guy/gal to marvel at and you took a pic for your buds here1  

[Ron Roehrick]

Joe I applaud you for not killing her just because you could, the encounter was really neat and thanks for sharing. I killed an elbino coon in a corn field with my recurve back in 1985 and had the skin tanned by a friend and 5 years later all the hair started to fall out, so much for free taxidermy work.

[Wheels2]

In archery season I was lucky to have a spike come by with white on all four lower legs.  I hope to find him next October when he has a bit of rack and becomes legal.
I have only seen a couple of these over the years and each time, I am fascinated.  I was all set to take one in rifle season several years ago but my brother's friend decided to walk across the open field and spooked her off while I waited for a good shot.  I never saw her again so I wonder if someone else harvested her.