The most common deer you’ll find in the U.S. is the Whitetail, and the largest population of Whitetail Deer in the states is actually right here in Texas. They get their namesake from the white underside of their tail, and the fawns are born with white spots that they lose when they’re a few months old.
Unlike traditional Whitetail, Fallow Deer (or Dama dama) aren’t native to Texas—in fact, they’re a European species, which classifies them an exotic animal here in the U.S. And because they’re not a native Texas species, they aren’t restricted by state hunting seasons. That means you can stock, hunt, and purchase Fallow Deer in Texas any day of the year. They’re also one of the few species of deer that retain their white spots into adulthood, though they fade in the winter months. Usually a deep chestnut color, some Fallow Deer can be completely white or black, making for an impressive sight when one crosses your path.
One of the most unique and attractive attributes of the Fallow Deer is its antlers—while most deer species have narrow, spindle-like racks, Fallow Deer have antlers similar to that of an elk or moose, with broad palms at the tip. For this reason, Fallow trophy bucks are coveted not for the number of tines (or points) on their rack, but for the width of their palms, which can grow up to seven inches wide. Like most deer species, only the males grow antlers, and they develop their shape over a span of three years, though the antlers will continue to grow as the buck matures. At peak maturity, a male Fallow Deer can reach about three feet tall at the shoulder and weigh more than 220 pounds, while the does are slightly smaller, at an average of two and a half feet at the shoulder and weighing around 130 pounds.