Tufte Deer

“Tufte deer” appears to be a likely misspelling of “tufted deer.” The tufted deer is a small, primitive-looking deer native to central and southern China and parts of northeastern Myanmar. Adults generally weigh about 35–65 pounds, with males and females similar in size, though males may be slightly heavier. The coat is dark brown, chocolate, or grayish-brown, and the species is named for the prominent tuft of hair on the forehead. Males have very small antlers that are often hidden by the forehead tuft, but they also carry long upper canine tusks used in display and fighting. Tufted deer are shy forest browsers that prefer dense mountain woodland and brush. In the United States, they are primarily zoo or specialized collection animals and are not common exotic ranch stock.