Ever see a deer with a mane?

[TheCream]

The first year I ran cameras, I got several photos of a doe with a distinctive mane down her neck. The photos made North American Whitetail's website last year as a "Pic of the week" thing and Dr. James Kroll commented on them. I have also seen a buck in the same area with the same mane, but both deer I believe are now dead. The buck is for sure (saw him on the highway) and I have not seen the doe in a long time.

http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i58/creamernator/Mane3.jpg
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i58/creamernator/ICAM0001.jpg
http://i69.photobucket.com/albums/i58/creamernator/ICAM0009.jpg

[swantucky]

I have only seen one and she is hanging in my trophy room. Pretty cool to see pics of one.

[BuckSlayer]

Thats pretty sweet. too bad you couldnt have killed her.

[TheCream]

I wanted that doe BAD! :D

Had I killed her, she would have been pedestal mounted and the coolest deer on my wall.

[Flippin 416]

That is a cool looking doe for sure...nice pics!!!

[Lucky]

Great pics, I have never heard of that on a deer before. Very interesting.

[hunTer06]

that is neat. just curious as to what would cause that? did Dr. Kroll say what would cause it?

[CARPN-JAKE]

I've seen a few mounts of deer with manes...Pretty cool thats for sure...My buddy Chris has a 135ish buck mount that has a mane..

[TheCream]

Ask, and ye shall receive. :)

http://www.northamericanwhitetail.com/deeroftheday/dd_march_2006/index4.html

I'm really surprised it's still on their site! Either follow that link, or read here (quote from the page):

"Actually it's not that unusual at all to see a whitetail with a mane," says Dr. James Kroll, North American Whitetail's resident biologist and whitetail expert. "It occurs in many parts of the country. I annually see hundreds of deer and find that about 1 to 2 percent have manes. Presumably this is is a genetic throwback to the whitetail's ancestors. Although the historic record remains unclear as to the exact ancestors of whitetails, the tropical forest dwelling creature that preceded the whitetail could easily have had a mane. However, since hair does not preserve well, we will likely never know."

[mulf]

I'll try and get a pic on here of that mount Jake mentioned. Definitely not something you see very often.

Another cool feature I see occasionally is the double throat patch. Never have taken one. I do have a mount of a buck with an all white chest though. No throat patch at all.

[oxmos]

Can't say that I have ever seen one quite like that before. Would definately make an interesting mount. Thanks for posting up all of these pictures lately.

[hunTer06]

the buck on the right in my avatar has somewhat of a double throat patch

[mulf]

Here ya' go. Decent mane on this one.

[3006]

I also have one hanging on the wall. Shot it up in Michigan about 10 years ago.

[hunter333]

Pretty cool pics

[Lucky]

Thanks for sharing the pic.

[fricksings]

I have 4 young deer with manes in my back yard right now. They have other interesting markings as well. They all have black stripes extending from mid-chest to under belly. One had distinctive stripes down the middle of the ears, One has a tail that is almost entirely black on the outside and all have more black on their tails than usual. They have a striking amount of black outlining the ears.

This was the first website I found with others reporting deer with manes. Before that I thought I was hallucinating and that I'd see a unicorn next.

[dar_54]

We do a few every year with manes. Nothing that long though, usually only 4 or 5 inches long. pretty neat

[Siman08/OH]

That looks beautiful!

[redcloud102]

Thats very cool looking. I have never seen one like that before.