Deer are native to all continents except Australia and Antarctica, and many species have been widely introduced beyond their original habitats as game animals.
In all but one species of deer, males carry antlers. In the reindeer (Rangifer tarandus), both sexes carry antlers.
The single antlerless form of deer is the Chinese water deer (see above image).
A deer's life cycle has six primary stages: gestation, birth, the first year, yearling to maturity, mating, and end of life. During most of the year, male and female deer self-segregate into small herds. In the fall or early winter, herds break up as the deer search for a mate. Then, in May or June, fawns are born. Young bucks leave their mothers when they are a bit over a year old and travel outside the territory to live in a bachelor group.
The Chickasaw story “Ghost of the White Deer” is one of the most well known Native American legends.
A brave young Chickasaw warrior, Blue Jay, fell in love with Bright Moon, the daughter of a chief. The chief did not like the young man, so he created a price for the bride that he was sure Blue Jay could not pay.
“Bring me the hide of the White Deer,” said the chief. The Chickasaw believed that all white animals were magical. “The price for my daughter is one white deer,” the chief laughed. He knew that an albino deer was very rare and would be very hard to find. White deerskin was the best material to use in a wedding dress, and the best white deer skin came from the albino deer.
Blue Jay went to his beloved, Bright Moon. “In one moon’s time, I will return with your bride price and we will be married. This I promise you.” Taking his best bow and his sharpest arrows, Blue Jay began to hunt.
Three weeks went by. Blue Jay was hungry, lonely, and scratched by briars. Then, one night during a full moon, Blue Jay saw a white deer, who seemed to drift through the moonlight. When the deer was very close to where Blue Jay hid, he shot his sharpest arrow. The arrow sank deep into the deer’s heart. But instead of sinking to its knees to die, the deer began to run. Instead of running away, he charged straight toward Blue Jay, with his red eyes glowing and his horns sharp and menacing…
A month passed and Blue Jay did not return as he had promised Bright Moon. After months of waiting, the tribe decided that he would never return.
But Bright Moon never took any other young man as a husband, for she had a secret. When the moon was shining as brightly as her name, Bright Moon would often see the white deer in the smoke of the campfire, running, with an arrow in his heart. She lived believing the deer would finally fall, and Blue Jay would return.
To this day the white deer is sacred to the Chickasaw People.
Fun Facts :
- Each year, antlers fall off and regrow. As they regrow, they are covered in a furry coat called velvet. The velvet is rich in nerves and blood vessels, allowing the antlers to regrow quickly.
- The length of pregnancy in deer varies according to size. Generally, the larger the species the longer the gestation. It is dependent on where a species lives as to when it will breed. Deer in tropical climates can breed all year round.
- Deer can jump up to 10ft high and are very good swimmers.
- The Irish Deer’s antlers could span 12ft, four times the width of a single bed!
INGREDIENTS:
Yield: 6 servings
1½cups extra-virgin olive oil
¾cup soy sauce
½cup red wine vinegar
½cup freshly squeezed lemon juice
¼cup Worcestershire sauce
2garlic cloves, peeled and crushed
1½teaspoons roughly chopped fresh parsley
2tablespoons dry mustard
2¼teaspoons kosher salt, plus more as needed
1teaspoon black pepper, plus more as needed
2pounds venison loin or leg, cut into 6 steaks
PREPARATION
Step 1:
Combine all ingredients except venison in a large bowl. Submerge venison in the marinade, cover with plastic wrap and refrigerate at least 8 hours and up to 12 hours.
Step 2:
Heat broiler, stovetop grill pan or grill. Remove venison from marinade and season with salt and pepper. Working in batches if necessary, place steaks under the broiler or on the grilling surface and cook, flipping once, until medium-rare, 4 to 5 minutes per side. Allow venison to rest for 5 minutes before serving.