Pere David

Eight Point Ranch has Pere David for sale in Texas. Centrally located 8 Point Ranch is 45 minutes from Austin in Elgin. Contact 8 Point Ranch for your next Pere David order for delivery.

Pere David Facts:

Origin - Originates from Eastern China in Asia

Description - Large, brown-to-buff deer with broad hoofs and dark tail tassel. In winter, males grow shaggy throat mane. Newborns woolly with white spots. Males grow unique antler type with foreshaft branching two or three times while hindshaft sweeps back in a simple curve (may develope jags). Large antlers 25 to 36 in. up to 39 1/4 in. In Texas, velvet shed in August with antlers dropped in January and February. Father north and east, many stags in hard antler from late April or early May until December or January. Male weight 400 to 500 lbs. but drop 100 lbs or more during rut; female weight 300 to 355 lbs.

Food Habits - Do fine all year on grass, but prefer rushes and other aquatic plants in summer. Occasionally eat a few leaves. Relish acorns.

Habitat - Native to marshes and wet-lands along rivers. Exotics thrive on grass areas with trees and large ponds or streams available.

Water and climate - Wallow in cold weather as well as hot weather. Lounge in water to moderate heat. Quite winter-hardy as long as they have sufficient forage. Use trees for shelter.

Temperament and compatibility - Generally placid. Generally compatible, but best not pastured with red deer or elk.

Special considerations - Need trees for winter shelter and summer shade. Like plenty of water, including water with shade, for wallowing space. Each stag ruts (gathers harem) for 2 weeks during 6-week rut period. Keep 2 to 3 males with females during rut for competition to insure breeding. Rutting stags very noisy. Legs make a snapping sound as walking.

Breeding season - May to September (Texas peak August to September)

Birth season - March to June

Gestation and young per birth - 9 1/2 months; 1 young

Sexual maturity - Male 2 yrs; Female 2 yrs

Fencing - 7 ft ordinarily adequate. Can just clear 8 ft with a downhill run.