Pere David's Deer, or Milou, as a species is totally extinct in the wild. A French missionary named Father Armand David first discovered these deer in the Chinese Emperors hunting park, south of Peking in 1865. He sent specimens to Europe the following year and a breeding herd was later set up by the Duke of Bedford at Woburn Abbey.

The entire Chinese herd was destroyed during the revolution in 1900. But the herd in England was successful and increased in size and eventually their descendents found their way into parks and zoos. Eventually some their offspring found their selves on some of the ranches in this country. This seeding of animals has grown on some ranches into herds large enough to sustain a huntable population.

The Pere David has a longish tail and stands about 45 inches at the shoulder. Their color is a reddish gray, with a white undersides and a white ring around the eyes. A large male will weigh up to 400 pounds with the female going up to 200 pounds.

The antler configuration is different in the Pere David than in most deer. Their horns have forked brow tines and long slender back horns sometimes with many points off them.

Written by Steve Mahurin on August 28, 2000.

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