If you are an experienced hunter who is seeking a unique and captivating trophy stag, an intriguing option is Père David’s Deer. The distinctive antler structure makes this prey a notable trophy that is ideal for mounting. Cotton Mesa Trophy Whitetail Ranch provides an exceptional opportunity to pursue these amazing game animals in a naturally wild setting. As a challenging and exhilarating hunt, taking down a trophy Père David’s stag at Cotton Mesa is truly an unforgettable event.
All About Père David’s Deer
Père David’s Deer are native to the swampy grasslands of Northeastern China. Over a century ago, this species faced extinction in the wild and its survival is notably due to a few English families and zoos who kept Père David’s Deer in captivity. Additionally, a dedicated conservation effort was made to re-establish protected areas in China and across the world for Père David’s Today wild populations only survive in managed or fenced reserves. In captivity, this species is thriving, especially in game ranches and preserves in the United States in populations across the globe.
This amazing animal is named for Père Armand David who was a French naturalist. He first described this species for the Western world in the 19th-century as he explored China as a French missionary.
How to Identify Père David’s Deer on the Hunt
Père David’s Deer possess a unique combination of features and offer a striking appearance. The antlers are what truly set this species apart, as they are long, backward sweeping, and uniquely forked. The main beam of the antlers branch both upwards and downwards. They can reach lengths of over 30 in and the number of points is most often less significant than the mass and unique configuration. Père David’s Deer often shed their antlers in late fall to early winter and begin regrowth in the spring. They are known for their odd mix of physical characteristics, with a donkey’s tail, a cow’s hooves, a horse’s face, and a deer’s antlers.
Mature stags can weigh between 300 to 500 lbs and most females weigh between 250 and 350 lbs. They typically stand between 3 and 5 feet at the shoulder and grow to a length of 6 to 7.5 feet. Their coat is typically reddish brown in the summer and transitions to a longer grayish brown coat for winter, in both cases, their underside is lighter. Their long bushy dark tail tends to be more donkey-like and they bear a noticeably dark dorsal stripe that makes them a unique prey.
Père David’s Deer tend to prefer the river valleys, swamps, and marshlands. They thrive in wetland ecosystems with abundant water and vegetation. This striking species grazes on grasses, reeds, aquatic plants, and shrubs. You’ll notice that Père David’s Deer live in single-sex herds and typically mate from June to August. They bear one offspring at a time with a gestational period of around eight and a half months.
Cotton Mesa has carefully cultivated a large breeding herd over the past decades, providing ample opportunity to take a trophy Père David’s stag while on the hunt at the ranch. Contact us today to book your Père David’s Deer hunt of a lifetime!
For more information on Père David’s Deer Hunts in Texas, contact us (903) 654-3416!
