Deer with Hairloss

[Dr. Death]

I'm sure this has been on here before, but what's the deal with deer with hairloss? I have one near my house with it pretty bad. Do I try and get her while the season is open? Does or could it effect the other deer in the area? Can they get better? Does it effect the meat in any way?   

[sirfunkeybut]

my friend shot a doe that was pretty bad so i called WDFW and they said she could be molting(sp?) I asked what if she isn't molting and they said it was still fine to eat, me and my friend ate her and tasted just fine and we are still doing ok.

I'm sure this has been on here before, but what's the deal with deer with hairloss? I have one near my house with it pretty bad. Do I try and get her while the season is open? Does or could it effect the other deer in the area? Can they get better? Does it effect the meat in any way?   

[Shootmoore]

my friend shot a doe that was pretty bad so i called WDFW and they said she could be molting(sp?) I asked what if she isn't molting and they said it was still fine to eat, me and my friend ate her and tasted just fine and we are still doing ok.

I'm sure this has been on here before, but what's the deal with deer with hairloss? I have one near my house with it pretty bad. Do I try and get her while the season is open? Does or could it effect the other deer in the area? Can they get better? Does it effect the meat in any way?   

They really said molting?  I did'nt know anything but some birds did that?  Never heard of deer doing it.  They shed a winter coat, maybe I am wrong but I think you got someone on the phone that did not know what the hell they were talking about.

Shootmoore

[sirfunkeybut]

they might not have said molting but it was what popped into my head while typing.

[hunter guy]

The very first deer I shot was an old doe.  This was back when the game department asked us hunters to send in the teeth to judge age.  It was estimated at 8 1/2 years old.  Its hair also pulled out like feathers.  I always thought it was beause she was old.  The meat was gamier than normal.

This year I harvested a deer that was all alone and I had no idea it was a button buck.  It was my 14th deer shot in WA.  Its hair also plucked like feathers.  A couple of dime sized fat balls with a gray center were found while boning it out and cleaning up the meat.  This little guy had very little fat.  Could have been sick, I don't know.  These are the only two that have done this.  I have no idea what was wrong with these deer, but I'd like to know more...other then that, the backstraps tasted better than any that I have ever tasted  the kids even loved it!

[Dr. Death]

Molting? I've seen this deer for awhile and she's had this for quiet some time. From behind her shoulders to just about where her hips start.She hangs out with another who looks just fine...

[rasbo]

Ive noticed in deer around brinnon,and some extream cases in my hunting friends

[BrushChimp]

I say go ahead and kill and eat her. She will likely die of exposure this winter anyways. A quick death is much better than then a slow one. Plus, if half the deer are dying due to hairloss and hunters try to kill the other half, that doesn't leave many deer, lol.

[Curly]

Did she look like this? :

[DOUBLELUNG]

A couple of dime sized fat balls with a gray center were found while boning it out and cleaning up the meat.  This little guy had very little fat.  Could have been sick, I don't know. 

Those gray-centered lumps are lymph nodes, and they are entirely normal.  The three largest are found inside the hind quarter between the three largest muscles; at the front of the hindquarter, just lateral to the base of the backstrap; and between the shoulder bone and the ribs.  They are typically encased in large masses of fat, and aren't noticed by the person butchering unless they happent o slice through one and see the off-color center.  In a very thin animal, they are not encased in fat, and sometimes cause concern for the hunter that they have a sick deer (they might, but the lymph nodes are not abnormal).

[Dr. Death]

To answer if she looked like those in the picture, no not really. Those look like they are loosing their winter coats and growing their summer coats. She looked normal on the butt & shoulders forward. She looked thin or bald in between. If she out tonight I'll try to get a picture.

[Michelle_Nelson]

If it were my deer I'd eat it.  Wash the meat real well after skinning.  I believe what cases that is some kinda skin mite from exotic deer. 

I have never seen a deer like in the pictures above even when they shed their winter coat. 

[DOUBLELUNG]

If it were my deer I'd eat it.  Wash the meat real well after skinning.  I believe what cases that is some kinda skin mite from exotic deer. 

I have never seen a deer like in the pictures above even when they shed their winter coat. 

Pretty much - it is an exotic louse, native to fallow deer.  Doesn't affect anything under the skin, unless you consider increased mortality rates an effect!

[steen]

I've seen deer that look like the top layer of hair is scraped off,  Is that what you are talking about?  They didn't seem unhealthy other than that.

[DOUBLELUNG]

I've seen deer that look like the top layer of hair is scraped off,  Is that what you are talking about?  They didn't seem unhealthy other than that.

They die of hypothermia/starvation at high rates in winter.