“The white deer is a mutation. It does not belong in the wild. It should be shot.” Günter Giese, the president of the Saxony Hunting Federation, Germany.

There’s a whole lot of killin’ goin on around here. It’s deer season and this past week I’ve heard several tales of the mighty hunters bagging 10 pointers.

Several weeks ago I asked an experienced hunter if he’d ever seen an albino deer. He had. In Northern Michigan years ago. The reason for my question was an excerpt I’d read from Vance Randolph’s account of albino deer in this area.

Bad Joo-Joo?

It is very generally believed that the appearance of an albino deer is a bad sign; some hillfolk think it has something to do with witches’ work, others that it is an indication of disease among the deer, and that venison will be unwholesome for seven years. In 1939 a white deer was seen in Taney county, Missouri,and many natives were pretty much upset about it.

It was said that if early settlers saw a white buck in the woods, nobody would shoot it for fear of bad luck.

Last weekend, one of the fearless hillfolk here heard about an albino deer sighting nearby and started stalking his prey. He found it in some thick woods, and shot it from about 125 feet away. He plans to have it stuffed, “marveling at the rarity.”

Cloisonne Deer Urn

Crispy and clear, I ran out the door barefoot this morning around 5 to try to spot the space shuttle reentering the earth’s atmosphere, but couldn’t locate. I was blinded by that northern star. That rock is hot!

It’s supposed to pass directly over the Ozarks again at 11:15-ish AM, hopefully I’ll hear the “double sonic boom”.

In the news: Surgery performed on the Indian baby born with four arms and legs was successful. Villagers consider her a modern day Hindu Goddess.

The girl, Lakshmi, is named after the four-armed Hindu goddess of wealth, “Everybody considers her a goddess at our village,” said her father.

Others sought to make money from Lakshmi. Her parents kept her in hiding after a circus apparently tried to buy the girl, they said.

In the Ozarks, we’re gearing up for Deer Season.

It’s time to thin the herd. A deer crashed through the front door of a local business here. Imagine starting the day with the sound of breaking glass and a wild animal in the lobby. Really don’t want to start my day trying to shoo a bloody crazed doe out dee doe.

Changing of the Seasons: On location at undercover assignment I noticed a little tension regarding lobby decorations. Image is everything. Manager was resisting the urge to tear down the beautiful fall vignettes created and bring in Christmas. I watched the dynamics unfold until Manager was persuaded to ditch the withered mums, relax and enjoy the fall color.

I’m preparing a memo to suggest incorporating taxidermied deer into the decor, so we can dress them up at Christmas! Maybe Bass Pro will donate a deer family. We’ll let you know how that great idea turns out.

Today’s tip: Make sure it’s a deer you’re shooting at.