Branch County Piebald Buck

[bigbucksstop]

http://www.michigan-sportsman.com/photopost/data/521/medium/DSCF00062.JPG
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Shot this buck of a lifetime Thursday night, what a shock seeing this walk in. I was truely shocked to see what was happening. This buck was actually down wind off me about 60-70 yards, and snorted 3 times before it actually walked in. I do everything possible for scent control keep my clothes in a duffle bag and spray down all the time. The buck still came in, so I must not off scared him to much. Honestly when the deer came in I thought it was a doe, but I really wasn't looking for horns. This is the smallest buck I have ever shot, but the best one I have ever shot. The fact I was seeing a piebald walking in to my stand was a shocker. I think thats alot of the reason I didn't realize it was a buck. It got in to 8 yards and was in a thicket and there was no way I was getting a shot and then he turned away from me and walked to the field. At this point I thought there is no way I'm gonna get a shot. Then he started to quarter a little and I gave him a blah and he stopped and turn his head toward me at 30 yards. I smoked him, took out both lungs and he went 40 yards and drop dead. The reason I haven't posted til now is I was waiting to get pics from my cousin (Hypox), My Dad (Grayfox) took some but, he didn't have any good ones with tag on him. It has been quite a experience in all, I'm the talk off the area. Just Glad I got to enjoy it with family. Dad (grayfox) Brother (Boss), Cousin (Hypox). Thanks for everything Guys. By the way you can guess, I'm getting a full body mount by Roussey Taxidermy out of Bronson, Mich.

One last thing I'll be taping Hypox out of the same tree tonite so, LOOK OUT!!!

[Michigander1]

Going to be a great mount i hope :),Mich

[Ridge_runner7]

Unreal! That is a buck of a lifetime, congradulations!

[Airoh]

That is cool.
Never seen a pattern like that on a piebald.

[Bowslayer]

That is an awesome deer! I think it's even better that you're having a full body mount. Have you guys ever seen him on the property before? It seems like someone had to know he was around.

[Gobblerman]

Great deer, that will make an awesome mount.

[bigbucksstop]

Actually a guy I know seen this buck about two weeks ago about 3/4 of a mile away from where I shot it. I have never seen it, and I scout and put lots of hours in the field year round. After I shot it though more and more stories come out about him and his twin sister. The mother I was told is a full albino and she had twins last year and the doe fawn was almost full white but had a little brown on her.

[grayfox]

I was glad to be a a part of this story.....this is only the second piebald I have ever seen....the other at my weekend place in Irons. After all of this excitment.... it will be back to normal deer business as usual here in Branch County. Great job son .....your never ending commitment to your passion has earned you a great reward.

[SPITFIRE]

awsome trophy you got there.

[Sam22]

awesome deer, many congratulations!

[Swamp Ghost]

Awesome! Congrats! We got a melanistic 8 point on our place. Must be something in the water. :)

[Randy]

any chance you got him north of Coldwater along side I 69 area, have heard stories,

Thanks,Randy

[zx10r2004]

awesome deer.great job!!!:bowdown:

[Backwoods-Savage]

Congratulations on a great hunt and a great buck. The way to really do this justice now is if it is possible at all, get a full body mount. Second best would be a shoulder mount and tan the rest of the hide with hair on. You'll enjoy this for many, many years.

[grayfox]

any chance you got him north of Coldwater along side I 69 area, have heard stories,

Thanks,Randy

Nope, my boy got him west of Coldwater just off M-86. Thanks to all!!!

[Reel_Screamer86]

Congrats on one fine deer hope the mount turns out good for you....:D

[HunterHads]

Now that is SWEEEEEEEEEEET!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[wyldkat49766]

You sure you didn't shoot a small bovine? Interesting at least.

[trav06]

I have never saw anything like that actually. Beats any of my hunting stories by a mile! Congradulations

[WMU05]

That's one heck of a buck. Congrats!!

I hadn't heard anything about that deer being around.

[andy capp]

I hunt that area also a little west of coldwater. I will bring it up when I go out there.

[old graybeard]

Once in a life time if your lucky:cool:

[ishootdeer]

I was driving out to Grand Rapids yesterday to do some fishing on the Grand and we saw an I96 East bound vehicle with a pure white deer on the roof (along with 3 other deer, I think). My wife and I sure was shocked to see this. Anyone know of that deer kill? I'd love to hear more on that. We were driving about 70 mph, so it made gawking kind of hard!

[bigbucksstop]

Well, I hope it wasn't all white because your not suppose to shoot albino's!

[kccaro]

How close to Bronson were you? My brother in law and I hunt just north of Bronson and he says that he's seen the albino doe before. Do you know if she's tagged with an orange collar? It's great to see a fellow Branch County dude get a unique deer such as that!

[AL D.]

Congrats on the buck of a lifetime!!! Be sure to post pics of the finished mount. Al

[bigbucksstop]

How close to Bronson were you? My brother in law and I hunt just north of Bronson and he says that he's seen the albino doe before. Do you know if she's tagged with an orange collar? It's great to see a fellow Branch County dude get a unique deer such as that!

I live and hunt in Bronson. Right off m-86. Batavia township.

[ishootdeer]

Well, I hope it wasn't all white because your not suppose to shoot albino's!

Kind of hard to tell at 70mph in the other direction! I thought the same thing though! I guess if it was albino, they wouldn't have displayed it like that on top of the SUV! They did have that one all the way in the back so everyone could see that one! I believe it was a buck as well with a NICE rack.

[boss]

CONGRATS BRO,,,,,WHAT DID YOU USE TO HOLD THE TAG ON IT SORT OF LOOKS LIKE A TAPE OF SOME SORT!!!!!:lol: NICE DEER ANYWAY I'LL TELL YOU HOW THOSE BACK STRAPS TASTE!:corkysm55

[ST8]

make sure and post pics of the mount! Great job and congrats!!

[bigbucksstop]

The taxidermists wants to have it done by Christmas for some shows, he wants to take it to.

[bigbucksstop]

CONGRATS BRO,,,,,WHAT DID YOU USE TO HOLD THE TAG ON IT SORT OF LOOKS LIKE A TAPE OF SOME SORT!!!!!:lol: NICE DEER ANYWAY I'LL TELL YOU HOW THOSE BACK STRAPS TASTE!:corkysm55

A black zip tie!!!

[grayfox]

Were those back straps white meat????

[hypox]

Congrats on harvesting a true trophy & the most unique deer I've ever seen. I'm glad I got to share in the excitement. I can't wait to dig in to the pickled piebald heart in the fridge;). The season is just warming up and I couldn't have dreamed a better start. I guess naming that stand won't be as hard as it seemed when we hung it, "The Piebald Stand" seems a good fit. One question, how are you going to top this deer? Or better yet, how am I going to top this deer:D.

[bigbucksstop]

Congrats on harvesting a true trophy & the most unique deer I've ever seen. I'm glad I got to share in the excitement. I can't wait to dig in to the pickled piebald heart in the fridge;). The season is just warming up and I couldn't have dreamed a better start. I guess naming that stand won't be as hard as it seemed when we hung it, "The Piebald Stand" seems a good fit. One question, how are you going to top this deer? Or better yet, how am I going to top this deer:D.

Well I guess you'll have to shoot my Dream Buck now that I shot yours. (Double droptine Buck)

[grayfox]

kccaro......where north of Bronson??????

[bigbucksstop]

I hunt that area also a little west of coldwater. I will bring it up when I go out there.

How far west of coldwater? Are you on M-86 or not?

[chuckinduck]

I was driving out to Grand Rapids yesterday to do some fishing on the Grand and we saw an I96 East bound vehicle with a pure white deer on the roof (along with 3 other deer, I think). My wife and I sure was shocked to see this. Anyone know of that deer kill? I'd love to hear more on that. We were driving about 70 mph, so it made gawking kind of hard!

Were they all large bucks? On possibly a black suburban? If so, I'm pretty sure its one of my clients. He stopped in the office to tell me about there hunt on a ranch over that way last weekend and they had shot four bucks, one of the guys shot a pure albino, and they got home, and he got a knock on the door at 11pm from the DNR. He showed the officer the kill tag for preserve deer and all was fine.

By the way, congrats on a once in a lifetime buck, but how come you didn't pass him up til he got a bigger rack next year? :D Only kidding of course, thats going to be one sweet mount. I'm glad you didn't miss, can you imagine living that down?

[kccaro]

How far west of coldwater? Are you on M-86 or not?

My parents have about 20 acres that are mostly farm fields and horse pastures, with a little bit of woods at the west side of the farm. It's on Parham Rd, north of Bronson at the first stop sign you see. Not a huge woods, but I've seen some nice big bodied deer there. Plus this year with the muzzle loader, I'll have a chance at almost anything that I can see.

[IceDaddy]

That's one in a life time for sure. Congrats on a fine animal.

[fasthunter]

VERY COOL AND RARE INDEED!!!!! Congrats!!:):coolgleam

[andy capp]

How far west of coldwater? Are you on M-86 or not?

Just south of the AIRPORT

[bigbucksstop]

Just south of the AIRPORT

Have you been seeing any? Had any luck yourself?

[kccaro]

I've seen a couple of nice does, and one shooter buck, got about 15 feet from me at dusk, perfect broadside shot, but when I let out a B-U-U-U-R-R-R-P-P to try to get him to stop, he started jogging away in the same direction. I didn't even get a chance to count the points on his rack. It looked like a nice size deer though, and with atleast 8 points.

[bigbucksstop]

I've seen a couple of nice does, and one shooter buck, got about 15 feet from me at dusk, perfect broadside shot, but when I let out a B-U-U-U-R-R-R-P-P to try to get him to stop, he started jogging away in the same direction. I didn't even get a chance to count the points on his rack. It looked like a nice size deer though, and with atleast 8 points.

He'll be back just stick with. Probably the fact that the buck was so close, he thought you was another deer and he just reacted from being startled. As long as he didn't spook, just play the wind you know where he came from so play that to your favor. Your already one up on him. Good Luck!!!

[ROBPALMER]

I can tell you about the Albino deer shot. My buck was on of the Bucks on the Black Suburban. I was following him in a white suburban. This was our 5th year at Hidden Horns ranch (formerly, Blue Collar Ranch) in just Norhwest of Howard City,
Weve shot nice bucks since the first year, each year getting a liitle bigger, shot some buffalo and some corsican rams.
We shot 3 nice bucks all rough scord between 145 and 165 and the albino.
We saw some bigger driving through the property but never while we hunted. I used to be all against high fence hunting but its a lot harder than you think, trust me. Ive sat many of times and not seen a deer, although it is a big piece of property you wouldnt expect that.
The albinos horns were nice and from what we were told very large since albinos typically dont get large racks. It probably scored high 120's but a big boddied deer, over 250 lbs. Wow did we get the looks on the way home and figured we would get pulled over by the Dnr or State cops.
Dave did get a knock on his door by the Dnr and did have to show him the permit from the preserve. Aprarently someone saw him at a gas station in Rochester and wrote down his license plate and called the police and the Dnr showed up at his house in Troy late that night. After Dave showed him the tag he was cool and wanted to hear the story.


Were they all large bucks? On possibly a black suburban? If so, I'm pretty sure its one of my clients. He stopped in the office to tell me about there hunt on a ranch over that way last weekend and they had shot four bucks, one of the guys shot a pure albino, and they got home, and he got a knock on the door at 11pm from the DNR. He showed the officer the kill tag for preserve deer and all was fine.


[quote=ishootdeer;1815152]I was driving out to Grand Rapids yesterday to do some fishing on the Grand and we saw an I96 East bound vehicle with a pure white deer on the roof (along with 3 other deer, I think). My wife and I sure was shocked to see this. Anyone know of that deer kill? I'd love to hear more on that. We were driving about 70 mph, so it made gawking kind of hard!

[bigbucksstop]

I can tell you about the Albino deer shot. My buck was on of the Bucks on the Black Suburban. I was following him in a white suburban. This was our 5th year at Hidden Horns ranch (formerly, Blue Collar Ranch) in just Norhwest of Howard City,
Weve shot nice bucks since the first year, each year getting a liitle bigger, shot some buffalo and some corsican rams.
We shot 3 nice bucks all rough scord between 145 and 165 and the albino.
We saw some bigger driving through the property but never while we hunted. I used to be all against high fence hunting but its a lot harder than you think, trust me. Ive sat many of times and not seen a deer, although it is a big piece of property you wouldnt expect that.
The albinos horns were nice and from what we were told very large since albinos typically dont get large racks. It probably scored high 120's but a big boddied deer, over 250 lbs. Wow did we get the looks on the way home and figured we would get pulled over by the Dnr or State cops.
Dave did get a knock on his door by the Dnr and did have to show him the permit from the preserve. Aprarently someone saw him at a gas station in Rochester and wrote down his license plate and called the police and the Dnr showed up at his house in Troy late that night. After Dave showed him the tag he was cool and wanted to hear the story.


[quote=chuckinduck;1819509]Were they all large bucks? On possibly a black suburban? If so, I'm pretty sure its one of my clients. He stopped in the office to tell me about there hunt on a ranch over that way last weekend and they had shot four bucks, one of the guys shot a pure albino, and they got home, and he got a knock on the door at 11pm from the DNR. He showed the officer the kill tag for preserve deer and all was fine.

How much did the other bucks weigh. Sounds like they know when it's diinner time, they can hear the dinner bell a couple miles away!!

[ROBPALMER]

the deer were all 200 lbs plus, the albino was the biggest bodied. Brent feeds them all year round. He estimates he has 10 to 1 ration of bucks to does and estimated a cost of $200 per deer per year to feed them.

he estimated 150 deer on his property from different times hes counted them out in his field on summer nights.

So if hes spending $30,000 a year on feed plus he has tons of acorns, you could imagine the deer arent going hungry. The $30,000 doest include the minerals for antler growth he is using too. Brent the owner is also a breeder and his breeder buck which he showed us a picture of is a 2 1/2 year old and would score around 190 right now. He breeds these deer and then transfers them into the ranch. He doesnt shoot anything under an 8 point. and I didnt see on wierd or odd ball looking deer this last trip. Mostly typical nice 8 - 12 points. You just have to look for the longest tine length, thickest horns and make sure they are out about 4-5 inches past the ears to get you moneys worth. Binoculars are a must at the ranch or youll never be able to get the most for your buck being he usually charges one price for any buck on the ranch.

[bigbucksstop]

I've been told someone from Hillsdale County shot a piebald anyone heard of that?

[Whit1]

For those reading this thread you need to keep in mind that true albino deer are protected in Michigan. It is illegal to shoot them in the wild. Yes, I did see where the albino mentioned above was taken off a game ranch. I'm not posting in reference to that deer, but rather to those found in the wild.

[Wally Gator]

Sweet Buck dude!:)

[cgc Zephyr]

So some one tell me how a pie bald comes about being? And it isn't from a Albino and a Non albino breeding.

[Ferg]

So some one tell me how a pie bald comes about being? And it isn't from a Albino and a Non albino breeding.

It's my understanding that it's a genitic pigmentation defect -

ferg....

[hypox]

Well, Bigbucksstop & I took last week off to do some serious bowhunting. We hunted hard and saw many many bucks. I saw 25 bucks in stand over 11 hunts including an absolute monster that we had never seen. We both passed on a 4 1/2 year old plump half rack (Hope he makes is till next year). Wednesday night I was lucky enough to score a nice one out of his best stand. I think he was a little more willing to share his best spot with me because of his piebald;). Looks like another sucessfull bowhunting year has come to an end for us. Come on Oct. 1st. 2008!

[Swamp Ghost]

Well, Bigbucksstop & I took last week off to do some serious bowhunting. We hunted hard and saw many many bucks. I saw 25 bucks in stand over 11 hunts including an absolute monster that we had never seen. We both passed on a 4 1/2 year old plump half rack (Hope he makes is till next year). Wednesday night I was lucky enough to score a nice one out of his best stand. I think he was a little more willing to share his best spot with me because of his piebald;). Looks like another sucessfull bowhunting year has come to an end for us. Come on Oct. 1st. 2008!

This monster wouldn't have been a 170" 10 point would it?

It was a great bowseason, we saw a few whoppers and a ton of 2.5 year olds. I blew a lay-up shot on a nice 12 point and my brother missed that 10 point on the morning of the 9th, he was still shaking 2 hours after he took the shot, it was pretty funny. He said it had 12" brow tines and G2s with a lot of mass. Hope he comes across one of our gun lanes.

I hate this time of year...............

[andy capp]

This monster wouldn't have been a 170" 10 point would it?

It was a great bowseason, we saw a few whoppers and a ton of 2.5 year olds. I blew a lay-up shot on a nice 12 point and my brother missed that 10 point on the morning of the 9th, he was still shaking 2 hours after he took the shot, it was pretty funny. He said it had 12" brow tines and G2s with a lot of mass. Hope he comes across one of our gun lanes.

I hate this time of year...............

Maybe they will run a couple miles and cross one of my lanes;)

[bigbucksstop]

Well, Bigbucksstop & I took last week off to do some serious bowhunting. We hunted hard and saw many many bucks. I saw 25 bucks in stand over 11 hunts including an absolute monster that we had never seen. We both passed on a 4 1/2 year old plump half rack (Hope he makes is till next year). Wednesday night I was lucky enough to score a nice one out of his best stand. I think he was a little more willing to share his best spot with me because of his piebald;). Looks like another sucessfull bowhunting year has come to an end for us. Come on Oct. 1st. 2008!

You hit it right on the head, hopefully Half Pint makes it and come on Oct. 1 2008!!!! Congrats again on a great buck. Quick kill, great hunt, and I guess I would have to say the stand is pretty good too!!!!!

[RunMich]

Cool looking deer !!

[hypox]

This monster wouldn't have been a 170" 10 point would it?

It was a great bowseason, we saw a few whoppers and a ton of 2.5 year olds. I blew a lay-up shot on a nice 12 point and my brother missed that 10 point on the morning of the 9th, he was still shaking 2 hours after he took the shot, it was pretty funny. He said it had 12" brow tines and G2s with a lot of mass. Hope he comes across one of our gun lanes.

I hate this time of year...............

This deer was huge but I'm sure it wasn't 170". Sounds like you guys have some big ones running around. You have an extra tree stand?;).

[Swamp Ghost]

This deer was huge but I'm sure it wasn't 170". Sounds like you guys have some big ones running around. You have an extra tree stand?;).


We try. I shot a 160" a few years ago and he said that the 160" would have fit inside the missed one's rack............:yikes:

I am pretty sure it's one I saw 1 week prior out in the middle of a cut corn field at dawn, I put the bino's on him and immediately said 170"+

[bigbucksstop]

We try. I shot a 160" a few years ago and he said that the 160" would have fit inside the missed one's rack............:yikes:

I am pretty sure it's one I saw 1 week prior out in the middle of a cut corn field at dawn, I put the bino's on him and immediately said 170"+

Well hopefully one of us gets a chance to meet up with this deer in the near future but hopefully it'll be late bow season or next year. You got my number, are you gonna be around Thurs. or Friday or the weekend?

[Swamp Ghost]

Heading that way Wed. and hunting until Fri. afternoon.