WONDERSWONDERSWHITETAILWHITETAILWHITETAIL

By

The World of

The White-tailed

DEER far the most common deer inhabiting North

America is the white-tailed deer. Its totalpopulation is millions ahead of the mule and

Byblack-tailed deer combined. The whitetail is truly a

story of an animal meeting the challenges of anever changing world, instinctively and with the help

of wildlife management. Few animals have shownthe capability of adapting to habitat alterations as

successfully as the whitetail.With today’s estimated whitetail population

exceeding 25 million on the North American conti-nent, this member of the Cervidae, or deer family isthe most prolific on record. It has infiltrated nearly

all corners of the United States, with populationsknown in all contiguous states, Canadian Provinces,

and throughout most of Mexico. In all, more than30 subspecies of the whitetail inhabit North

By Dale Deckman

The World of

The White-tailed

DEER

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SCIENTIFICNAME

Photos by John R. Ford

America, plus an additional eight subspecieslive in South America, an amazing example of

both adaptability and perseverance.From a historical perspective, the whitetail

has been known to exist for over 20 millionyears, and for the past one million years in the

same basic form we see the animal today.Through evolution, some physical characteris-tics have been altered, most significantly, the

feet. What used to be a five-toed mammal hasdeveloped into a sleek and swift two-toed

ruminant (four stomachs) with two unusabledewclaws several inches above the main toes.The fifth toe, corresponding to the thumb on a

persons hand, was eliminated over time,probably due to non-use.

SCIENTIFICNAME

All animals of the world are placed in acategory and classified in accordance with a

scientific name. The whitetail has been classi-fied into the genus - Odocoileus, and the spe-

cies - Virginianus. The arrangement value ofthe two-word classification has great signifi-

cance in the world of science. The most widelyaccepted application of the name was giventhe deer by a scientist named Rafinesque in

1832. The scientist was believed to havefound the tooth of a deer in a cave in Virginia,

and upon examination noted that the toothwas hollow. Odocoileus corresponds closelywith the Greek word for “hollow tooth.” The

species name, virginianus, denotes the loca-tion of the find as being the state of Virginia.

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Other physicaltraits

ANTLERS

TEETH

WHAT MAKES A WHITETAIL DIFFERENT?

TEETH

Mature whitetails have a total of 32teeth, consisting of 12 molars, 12

premolars, 6 incisors and 2 canines. With abasic diet consisting of plants, the lower frontincisors and canines clip food off, while therear molars and premolars grind and breakdown the food. Front teeth in the upper jaware absent, replaced with a tough pad thataids the incisors by securing food. Biologistscan determine the age of the deer quiteclosely by examining the wear on the molarsand premolars. As deer age, their teethgenerally wear down, losing the sharp cuttingedges. As the teeth wear, feeding can becomevery difficult for the deer.

Other physicaltraits

Unless you’ve had the opportunity tosee a deer close up, most assume the

size of the animal to be larger than it actuallyis. On the average, a mature deer stands about

38 inches at the shoulder, somewhere around the belt lineheight of a man. Northern subspecies of the whitetail aretypically larger animals than their southern relatives. Thelength of a deer can range from under 60 inches, to morethan 70 inches, again depending on the subspecies.

The weight of a deer also varies. For example, one ofthe smallest subspecies, the Key deer of Florida, doesn’treach over 100 pounds full grown. Deer of the northernrange can tip the scale at over 300 pounds.

The stomach of a deer is a very complicated system.Whitetails are classified as ruminants, possessing a four-chambered stomach. They include the rumen, reticulum,omasum, and abomasum. Similar to the milk cow, butdeveloped for different reasons, deer generally feedquickly and store food first in the rumen. Quick feedingallows deer to expose themselves for only brief periods,avoiding the perils of predation. After eating the food,deer will generally retreat to a more confined resting area,not only for safety, but to finish digesting their food. Food

ANTLERS

Almost without exception, members of the deerfamily have at least one trait in common, the males

have a set of antlers that fall off and regrow every year.Whitetail antlers distinguish this species from others

in the deer family primarily by the way the bone develops.All points of the whitetail antler generally protrude offone main beam on each side of the head with a single,noticeable brow tine at the antler base. In most cases thetypical antler begins growth out of the head in a backwardmotion, then quickly changes direction and sweepsforward. Mule and black-tailed deer found mostly in thewestern United States; unlike the whitetail, exhibitbranched antlers that fork, rather than come off a mainbeam. The antler also rises off the head more to the sidesof the skull, without the forward sweep.

WHAT MAKES A WHITETAIL DIFFERENT?

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SIGHT-SOUND-SMELL

LOCOMOTION

HOME RANGE

stored in the rumen regurgitates up in a partially digestedform to be rechewed before entering the other stomachchambers. This process of “cud chewing” is characteristicof many herbivores, better known as plant eaters.

LOCOMOTION

T he ability to run is a tremendous asset to thelife and livelihood of deer. They are a prey

species, hunted by numerous predatory animalsincluding wolves, bear and eagles. Domestic dogs,and the automobile also take their toll on thewhitetail. In most situations, without the ability toescape, deer would fall victim to their stalkers.

Depending on the situation, whitetails will runquickly in a galloping motion or bound into timber.They also trot, walk, and at times crawl underobstacles. This wide variation of locomotionincreases their chances for survival. If required,deer can reach top speeds in excess of 35 miles perhour for short amounts of time.

HOME RANGE

C ontrary to many beliefs, most deer don’ttravel far in a lifetime. One square mile

seems to indicate a close approximation of thehome range of deer. Within these borders they canusually find all the necessary requirements forsurvival. They include food, water, escape cover,and retreat. Some deer have been known to travelor migrate great distances during a lifetime but this

would be considered out of theordinary. During the breedingseason, bucks will at times oversteptheir normal boundaries in search ofa mating partner. Male deer alsomark territories during “rut” byleaving scent and urine in “scrapes”pawed into the earth. These territo-ries can be found on the perimeter ofthe buck’s home range.

SIGHT-SOUND-SMELL

N ature has perfected the sensesof the whitetail giving it every

advantage when it comes to survival.Deer have particularly keen eyesight.

Their eyes are located on the sides of their head allowingfor excellent peripheral vision, an indication of a preyspecies. They can detect movement at great distances.

The ability to hear is also critical for deer survival.Whitetails use their ears in conjunction with other sensesto identify danger.

Smell is the most useful sense a deer possesses. Aircurrents often times bring the scent of alarm long beforethe eyes or ears can detect danger.

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SEASONS OF THE WHITETAIL

or sunny. Springtime inwhitetail country can be oneor many of these conditions.The weather is generallyuncertain, but the birthingprocess is a miracle thatdoesn’t wait.

Whitetail fawns areborn during the months ofMay and June, after agestation period of around200 days. Sometimes a bitearlier, sometimes a bitlater, but the majority ofnewborns arrive in thesetwo months. Fawns usuallyemerge into the world frontfeet first followed by the head and the rest ofthe body. The female doe, typically withoutregard for a pre-selected birthing site enterslabor for a time period of as little as 10 minutesup to an hour or more before actual birth.

Fawns weigh between four to six poundswhen they are born, with the males a bitheavier. The familiar spotted coat of young deeraids in concealing the newborn by blendingwith the surrounding woodlands or habitat.They are colored in shades of brown, red, white,and black. Immediately after giving birth, thedoe will lick the fawn clean, and sometimes inas little as 10 to 15 minutes, the young deer, on unsteadylegs, stands up and soon follows the doe away from thebirth site. This is instinctive for does. They are aware ofthe fact that they must remove the young deer from thebirth area, because during birth, fluids from the doe soakthe earth and leave a scent detectable by predators.

et, Muddy,windy, snow,

sleet, cold, warm,

Does have four nipples located ontheir underside, enough for four young tosuckle up to. However, most first yearmothers bear a single fawn, while secondtime mothers and beyond, give birth totwins as a rule. Fawns stay at sites selectedby the doe for about a month, or until theyare strong enough to follow their mother.Deer milk provides high nutrition andfawns grow quickly. As the fawns age, theyexperiment with new food types, browse,shoots, and other tender growth. After atime they begin to demand less and lessmilk from the doe. Soon, they are com-pletely weaned and feed entirely on plants.

The buck or male deer takes on asomewhat sedentary role in the spring,

concentrating heavilyon feeding to replaceweight lost in the wintermonths. At this time,usually around April,bucks will begin theannual process of antlergrowth. The scars orpedicles left in the headfrom dropping of theprior years antlers soonfill with new growthtissue. As springadvances, both bucksand does shed their longhollow, highly insulatedhair of winter. The oldcoat is replaced with ashort flat hair, some-times red in color. Thishair is more advanta-geous to warm weather.

From April through late August the buck’s antlerscontinue to grow rapidly, nourished by an outside cover-ing of skin called velvet. Velvet is made up of millions oftiny blood vessels that carry proper nutrition to thedeveloping antler.

Spring, for the most part, is a prosperous time ofyear for whitetails.

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SPRING

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SEASONS OF THE WHITETAIL

SPRING

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SUMMERSUMMER

s spring changes to summer, the general healthof the deer herd is good. Water, food, and escape

cover are plentiful in both the forest, andagricultural fields.

Fawns begin to take on more and more characteris-tics of maturing deer. By late summer most of the spotsare gone, replaced by a new coat. Their diet consistsalmost entirely of plant foods, and they have learned andacquired many of the skills needed to survive alone ifneed be.

Does take on a secluded lifestyle, as much as pos-sible. They are concerned with the everyday need tonourish their bodies with available food and water. Doesnow are less concerned about their offspring, and in thesummer months, as well as in spring and winter, lead asolitary life away from male deer. Older does often takeon the responsibility of group matriarch, keeping alookout for danger.

Bucks are also concerned with food intake. This isthe time of the year when they take advantage of theample supply of nutritional food sources. They becomemore solitary during the summer but can sometimes beseen in the company of other males. The antler of the buck

reaches its greatest size during the summer. The overalldimensions of the antler are dependent on several factors,the most important regarding size are nutrition, genetics,and age of the animal. Antlers can also be damaged duringthis growth period and bucks are careful not to bump, rub,or hit objects with them. Unusual growth patterns canoccur as the result of an injured antler.

Therefore, the quality and quantity of food a buckeats is a factor to consider when we talk of antler size.Genetics, or his bloodline, is also important. If father andforefathers had antlers of a particular size and shape, hehas a good chance to take on some of the characteristics ofhis ancestors. Age is also very important for maximumantler size. First year buck fawns will likely sport only“buttons” on top of their head. Male deer living throughthe first year and advancing to their second summer willsupport a small set, usually spikes or small forked antlers.After the first year, antlers can gain rapidly in size. Third,fourth, and fifth year bucks can support tremendous racks.Few deer live past the fifth year, but if lucky enough, theirantlers can grow even more massive. Old bucks, nineyears or more, typically have antlers that regress in size.Age here works against the animal.

Summer is a time for replenishment, a season ofgeneral calm and tranquility among the deer herd. But inlate summer and early fall attitudes begin to change anddeer begin to exhibit traits associated with furthering theirprogeny, the “rut,” or mating season.

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AUTUMN

s summer transforms to autumn, the whitetailhabitat takes on a different character. The physi-

cal appearance of the woods changes as the hardwoodleaves transform from green to the more vivid colors ofyellow and red, and soon afterward fallgently to the earth.

Autumn is the breeding season forwhitetails. Deer become more sociableand tend to form small groups. Fawnsare still at their mothers side althoughin most cases don’t require any assis-tance for survival. They have maturedinto young adult deer and often timesfemale fawns will mate with a buck andbear their young the following spring.

Does are willing to breed withmale suitors only during their estrusperiod, a window of time lasting onlyabout a day, to a day and a half, begin-ning in October or November. If a doefails to breed during this time, she willagain enter estrus about a month later.

Bucks become more aggressive inthe fall. From early September whenbucks begin to rub the velvet off theirantlers exposing hard, tough bone, they

begin to partake in mock sparring matches withother males. This activity is only practice for theaggressive challenges of the later rut period.

The antler of the buck now offers a real value.Larger antlers represent stronger, more dominantdeer. Smaller upcoming bucks usually lose the battlewith more mature bucks. Two bucks fightingusually lock antlers once, twist, shove, push, and ingeneral try to overcome their opponent until theloser flees the area or backs down. On occasionbucks sink an antler in the body or neck area of theiropponent resulting in injury. But this doesn’t happenvery often, injury is generally avoided.

Males eat very little during the breedingseason, opting to spend their time in pursuit of awilling doe. The neck of the male in typical fashionswells from gorged blood vessels. One buck canbreed with numerous females during rut, a factorthat can help strengthen the overall population of theherd. The more dominant males pass along favoredtraits through the process of natural selection.

Autumn is also the time of the annual huntingseason. During the fall a percentage of deer, both maleand female are harvested to keep the overall herds incheck with the available food supplies. Most states offerregulated seasons, and utilize hunting as a technique tomanage deer populations.

AUTUMN

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WINTER

Bucks lose their antlers during winter. They don’thave a need for them anymore, as the breeding season isover. They once again take on a solitary role in the herdand are interested only in the daily requirements forsurvival.

In extremely severe winters, deer of the upperMidwest states will often “yard.” This process includes agroup of deer that stay in a confined area during deepsnows and cold snaps. Safety in numbers is thought to be

inter is a difficult time formost animals. Many varieties

of birds and waterfowl migratesouth to avoid the cold. Bear, squirrels,and numerous other mammals remain intheir territory and go into hibernation toavoid the harsh reality of winter. Deeron the other hand, tough it out as bestthey can.

If snows are infrequent and light,the vast majority of deer will survive.Longer lasting spells of both deep snowand extreme cold are detrimental to alldeer, but most susceptible are theyoung, old and the unhealthy.

Food supply is limited, as no plantlife grows in winter. If snows are deep,the forest floor offers little food value. All availableforage and browse is consumed by the herd as the seasonprogresses. Deer begin to feed heavily on trees and tallerbrush. Often times the younger, smaller animals can’treach the higher nutritious browse as easily as can thelarger more mature deer. During long periods of unavail-able food, nature chooses to eliminate many of the young,keeping the remaining herd, the strongest animals, rela-tively healthy and able to sustain the worst of the period.

the reason for yarding, as predators areless likely to attack a grouping of deer.Yarding however presents another set ofproblems.

Food supplies in a confined area arevery limited. Sometimes when suppliesare exhausted, deer will opt not to moveout of the area. Their instinct to conserveenergy and remain in the area is thatstrong. By not seeking food elsewhere,starvation comes to many in the herd asconditions become intolerable.

Winter is by far the most strenuousseason for the whitetail. Fawns survivingthrough the first year have an excellentchance at life’s second year. As theseason nears the end, cold and snowdepths lessen, more food is available onthe forest floor, and the hint of warmweather and new growth signals thecoming of spring and the beginning of anew year.

WINTER

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State Whitetail Populations

Range Of The Whitetail

Indiana ................................. 350,000Iowa ..................................... 200,000Kansas.................................. 250,000Kentucky ............................. 400,000Louisiana ............................. 650,000Maine ..................................... 50,000Maryland ............................. 160,000Massachusetts ........................ 50,000Michigan ........................... 1,700,000Minnesota ............................ 800,000Mississippi ........................ 1,500,000Missouri ............................... 750,000Montana ............................ Unknown

Alabama .......................... 1,5000,000Alaska ............................................. 0Arizona ................................ 135,000Arkansas .............................. 675,000California ............................ MinimalColorado .................................. 7,000Connecticut ............................ 50,000Delaware ................................ 14,000Florida ................................. 850,000Georgia ............................. 1,210,000Hawaii ............................................. 0Idaho ...................................... 75,000Illinois .................................. 300,000

Nebraska .............................. 150,000Nevada ................................ MinimalNew Hampshire ..................... 42,000New Jersey .......................... 155,000New Mexico ..................... UnknownNew York ............................ 750,000North Carolina ..................... 750,000North Dakota ....................... 145,000Ohio ..................................... 250,000Oklahoma ............................ 250,000Oregon ..................................... 7,000Pennsylvania ..................... 1,175,000Rhode Island ............................ 4,500South Carolina ..................... 750,000South Dakota ....................... 225,000Tennessee ............................ 700,000Texas............................... 3,200,0000Utah .................................. UnknownVermont ............................... 850,000Virginia ................................ 500,000Washington ............................ 70,000West Virginia ...................... 800,000Wisconsin ......................... 1,300,000Wyoming ............................... 60,000

live in your state?

deal wildlife habitat provideswhitetails with proper amounts offood, water, escape cover and space.If these requirements are met, they contribute to a healthyenvironment in which wildlife can survive. All animals rely onhumans to protect existing habitat from being destroyed and toimprove or create new habitat. This will be the key to the futuresuccess of wildlife survival.

How many whitetails

Range Of The Whitetail

Estimated totals

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ANSWERS:

PREFERRED FOODS AND FEEDING HABITS

Whitetail Fun Facts

WORDS TOKNOW

The feeding habitsand nutritional require-ments of the whitetailvary by season and byregion. In times of plantabundance, usually duringthe growing season, adultdeer will consume nearly10 pounds of food perday. In winter, when food

resources are scarce they eat what they can find,sometimes as little as a few pounds per day.

Deer become active, typically feeding about anhour before sunset, and continue until about an hourafter sunrise. This nocturnal behavior gives deer theedge, opting for little exposure during the daylight

Antler growth usually begins duringthe month of April or May, and by the earlypart of August, antlers are fully grown.

Whitetails have extraordinary senses.Their ability to smell is probably their great-est asset, but deer also have exceptionallykeen ears for hearing, and eyes for spottingdanger.

A mature doe will typically bear twins,which usually double in size during the firsttwo weeks of life.

Most whitetails are born in late May orearly June, depending upon geographic lo-cation. The normal pregnancy lasts approxi-mately 200 days.

Whitetails can run to speeds in excessof 35 miles per hour. They are also capableof clearing a vertical object up to 8 feet inheight.

The whitetail is considered a “browser”because they wander, feeding on tenderbuds, twigs, and leaves, yet they remainclose to the woods for quick escape cover.

1) The mark on a tree trunk where a buck rubs his antlers. 2) A young deer, normallyunder a year old. 3) A confined area in which deer will group together to live duringsevere winter conditions. 4) An area on the ground that a buck digs up during thebreeding season. This will alert does that he is in the area. 5) The adult male of thedeer family. 6) A term used to refer to a deer’s antlers. 7) A soft coating on the newlydeveloping antlers of a deer. 8) The adult female of the deer family. 9) A period oftime in the fall when breeding takes place. 10) When two bucks use their antlersto twist, shove, and push each other, in order to test each others strength. 11) Aname used to refer to a deer’s antler after it has been dropped (or shed) during thewinter months.

1. RUB2. FAWN3. YARD4. SCRAPE5. BUCK6. RACK7. VELVET8. DOE9. RUT10. SPARRING11. SHED

What is a . . .?

PREFERRED FOODS AND FEEDING HABITS

WORDS TOKNOW

Whitetail Fun Facts

hours. Not always holding to the rule, deer can bespotted feeding at midday.

Deer select foods that are not only available, butthose that taste good. Food preference is seasonal andis determined by availability. Listed below are someof the favorites.

Corn Grasses BlackberriesSoybeans Cranberries Sumac BushesAlfalfa Oak Buds Maple BudsBlueberries Grapes Shin OakForbs Persimmon WheatSunflower Snowberry CottonwoodBlackgum Honeysuckle PokeberryCoralberry Greenbrier Goldenrod Cor-albells Acorn Mast Clover

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Whitetails Unlimited, Inc.National Headquarters

PO Box 720, Sturgeon Bay, WI 542351-800-274-5471

www.whitetailsunlimited.com© 2003

A National Organization“Working For An American Tradition”

hroughout the years, Whitetails Unlimited

has built a reputation based on conserva-Ttion measures tailored to our nation’s wildlife

and natural resources, with major emphasis on

the white-tailed deer.

WTU has established strategies and implemented

programs to sustain traditional values and pro-

mote the philosophy that wildlife is a

cherished resource. Our belief is that future

programs must continue to be fostered to ensure

that the delicate balance between man and

nature is maintained.