Ask A Scientist Zoology Archive

name         Henry
age          14

Question -   Is it illegal to kill a black deer. If so why?
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Do you mean black-tailed deer? There are two species of deer in North America, black-tailed 
deer from the Rocky Mountains to the west coast, are more commonly called mule deer in most 
of their range. White-tailed deer are common from the plains to the east coast. A "black" 
colored deer might be a melanistic form of either, and would be very very rair. All deer 
in the United States are protected by various state hunting and game laws, and may be legally 
hunted in some seasons in most states, but only under those regulations. Hunting laws allow 
sport and subsistence hunting while still insuring that species as a whole will thrive.

J. Elliott
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