This is the oldest known photo of a deer. It's a black-tailed deer, the photo taken circa 1854 in the beginnings of photography. Hunting History!

Looks like a whitetail doe (see the tail.)

Also, not a hunting history photo.

Sorry for the critique BruceT....

Swampwolf a black tailed deer looks just like a minature whitetail deer.Just ask the people in Alaska.

Heres a hunting picture of a black tailed deer shot in California

…. Basically looks about like how yall do it these days lol

Sorry but Tom Miranda is usually spot on on his posts and pictures that I post.Carry on Lol

Maybe they "killed em all".... the black panthers that is. Wait. That might not be a bad thing? Are we talking about 2 or 4 legged black panthers here?

Back years ago there was rumors of a black panther right here in Maine up in the Matagamon lake region by Baxter State Park.One of the local Game wardens mentioned it in a book he wrote.

That is pretty good picture quality for 1854. Just saying...

Cool picture, Bruce! Thanks for posting.

Moosetrot

Black panthers and big-foot are in the same classification.
BTW, I've shot scores of blacktails; that's not a blacktail.

There are melanistic variants of all kinds of mammals including felidae,with both melanistic lynx and bobcat confirmed,
I wouldnt exclude a melanistic cougar.

^^^^
However, none have ever been documented

I thought I seen one one time but it turned out to just be a black bear with a long tail.

Regardless, it's still an interesting photo. Thanks for posting it.

Great pic thanks for posting