Question: My son recently harvested a 9-pointer in northeastern Maryland. The buck had a light grey colored nose. We’re curious, has this ever been seen before? — David M.
Answer: White-tailed deer are remarkable creatures, and the more I study them, the more I realize just how diverse they can be. Most folks are familiar with color phases like piebalds, albinos and less common melanistic deer. Earlier this year, we had someone send in a photo of a deer with silver hair and yellow eyes.
Dr. Karl Miller, Professor of Wildlife Ecology and Management at the University of Georgia’s Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources described it as “occasionally reported but extremely rare,” adding they had a deer in their research pens several years before that was more blonde than silver. Interestingly, the Georgia deer reverted to normal color in subsequent years.
Color variations are typically the result of a genetic mutation, or a rare recessive gene expressing itself. It’s possible your son’s deer was a subtle example of this. It could also be the result of some other malady such as a disease or even injury. A photo might help shed some light. I’d also be curious if any other parts of the deer (hooves, eyes) showed lighter coloration.