PERE DAVID

The Pere David Deer is native to Eastern China. Pere David males have antlers that grow almost backward from any other deer species. Their main beam grows upwards with many tines branching. A long tine off the main beam grows backwards that also have many points growing off the beam. Older Pere David can shed their antlers in the fall and grow a winter set that are very short and smaller in size. This set is only hard horned for a couple of months before shedding and growing their “summer” antlers. The Pere David females do not have antlers.

They are classified as a cervid, but do not come under the CWD rules.

The Pere David has a reddish coat in the summer that changes in the fall to a slate gray and has a long tall. They are frequently found in or near water and like to lay in dirt ponds and roll in the mud. Some refer to them as “mud bucks”, because most often they are covered in mud.

Approximate live weight ranging from 350 pounds to 450 pounds for bucks and slightly less for females. Shoulder height of a buck is approximately 45 to 50 inches.