White Tailed Deer
What are the physical characteristics?
 Size
 3 feet tall at withers
5-6 feet in length
 Northern deer are larger
 Adult females weigh 100 pounds
Adult males weigh 100-150 pounds
Newborn fawns weigh 4-8 pounds
 Weight depends on region, habitat, age, season
What are the physical characteristics?
 Pelage and color
 Winter pelage: thick, grayish in color, short under fur with long
guard hairs. Shed April-June
 Summer pelage: short thin, reddish in color. Shed AugustSeptember
 Fawn pelage: spotted for protection. In August-September, lose
spots
 White markings around eyes, nose, throat, under belly and rump.
Long white hairs under the tail, “white tailed deer”
What are the physical characteristics?
 Glands
 Preorbital gland: lower corner of eye, scent markings on rubs
 Tarsal gland: inner hock on rear legs. Scent marking on scrapes
 Metatarsal glad: outer rear legs, scent marking on bedding area,
sense vibrations
 Interdigital glands: between toes, scent marking trails
 Forehead: below antler base, scent marking on rubs
What are the physical characteristics?
 Senses
 Vision
 Monocular
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Binocular
Motion detection acute
Peripheral vision
Very good night vision
Color blind
Rarely look up
 Smell
 Critical for survival
 Warning, breeding activity, food and family group location
What are the physical characteristics?
 Hearing
 Acute hearing
 Antenna-like ears
 Investigate sounds
 Adapt to sounds
 Taste
 Similar to humans
 Touch
 Critical to fawn survival
 Stimulates doe receptivity
What are the physical characteristics?
 Skeletal System
 Prey animal adapted for running
 Gait is a mix of leaping and long strides
 Efficient runner and swimmer
What are the physical characteristics?
 Antlers
 Fastest growing tissue in animal kingdom
 True bone, grow directly from skull
 Velvet aids in growth. Growth period: May-August
 Velvet antlers sensitive
 2 categories:
 Typical
 Non-typical
What are the physical characteristics?
 Scoring Systems
 Boone and Crockett
 Pope and Young
 Antler size depends on genetics, nutrition, and age
 Antler growth dependent on male hormone
 Antler hardens and velvet sheds in August
 Decrease hormone level after rut triggers antlers to “cast off ”
What are the physical characteristics?
 Teeth
 No upper front teeth
 32 teeth
 Used to determine age
 Average lifespand 2-3 years bucks, 4-6 years does
What are the physical characteristics?
 Digestive System
 Ruminants
 4 chambered stomach
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Rumen
Reticulum
Omasum
Abomasum
 Deer droppings
 Estimate age
 Locate bedding, feeding and trail areas
 Population census
 Stand location
 Current activity
What is the reproductive process of the
white-tailed deer?
 Correlated to four seasons
 Summer
 Family groups of does and fawns
 Bachelor group of bucks
 Dominance established during summer non-violently
What is the reproductive process of the
white-tailed deer?
 Fall
 Bachelor groups break up
 Three distinct phases
 Pre-rut
 Antlers harden, shed velvet
 Bucks make “rubs”
 Sparring matches
 Bucks eat less, spend time alone
 Does continue feeding
 Does ward off bucks
What is the reproductive process of the
white-tailed deer?
 Rut
 Minnesota rut is mid October-December
 Triggered by “photoperiodism”
 Bucks neck enlarges
 Buck makes scrapes
 Buck very aggressive
 Doe indicates receptivity
 Several days of courting
 Does in estrous for 24-36 hours every 28 days
What is the reproductive process of the
white-tailed deer?
 Post-rut
 Buck’s hormone level decreases
 Buck begins to eat heavily
 Antlers cast off
What is the reproductive process of the
white-tailed deer?
 Winter
 Breeding activity ends
 Gestation is 187-212 days
 Deer regroup and “yard-up”
 Mortality
What is the reproductive process of the
white-tailed deer?
 Spring
 Antler growth begins
 Fawns born May-June
 Does seeks solitude
 Twins/triplets in high quality habitat
 After birth, doe quickly cleans fawn
 Spring fawn mortality is high
What type of communication do whitetailed deer use?
 Stomping
 Scent glands
 Tail movements
 Tail wagging
 Tail flicking
 Tail flagging
 Vocalization
 Fawn bleat
 Doe bleat
 Bawl
 Doe snort
 Buck snort