White-tailed DeerPresented by: Ms. Ryan

Adapted From: Mrs. Reeves

Always be safe!

Objectives:List terms associated with white-

tailed deer.Discuss the description and

characteristics of white-tailed deer.Analyze whitetail populations and

reproduction.Discuss the diet of white-tailed deer.

Terms: Buck:

Male deer Doe:

Female deer Fawn:

Less than one year old Spike:

An unbranched antler of a male deer Attributed to genetics, nutrition, age

Terms: Tine:

A pointed branch of an antler Antler:

A solid bony process that arises from the frontal bone on the head of a deer

Velvet: A soft, vascular tissue found on developing

antlers Rut:

Annual period of reproductive activity

Description / Characteristics Odocoileus virginianus Also known as:

Whitetail deer Virginia deer

Texas population: 4 million Annual Harvest: 400,000 Ruminants and chew their cud

Ruminant Four compartment stomach Just like what other animals??

Description / Characteristics Sharp eyes Communication:

Snorting, stomping feet, smell raise the tail "flagging", voice call

Top speed: 30-35 mph Death usually 10 years or younger

Description Small to medium hoofed mammal

with reddish to blue-gray or tan colorings

Underside of tail is white Antlers on male consist mainly of

main beam with tines growing from it

Antlers Made of bone material Start developing in April Nourished by blood vessels

called "velvet" Velvet shed: September Antlers shed: February Prime antler development: o 5 ½ to 6 ½ years old

Diet Consists of 3-7 pounds of dry matter

per day 14 to 18% protein

Woody plants, forbs or weeds, grasses

May include: peanuts, corn, peas, clover, oats, ryegrass, wheat, etc. Example: food plots

Diet (cont.) Increased eating of grass may indicate:– Over population– Poor conditions– Too much competition

Cover 40-50% of an area Need woody cover ½ to 1 gallon of water per day Need water within 1 to 3 miles

Range Texas has most white-tailed deer of

any state Buck’s range is 2-4 times larger

than does Texas hill country is most densely

populated area in the country West Texas and the Panhandle are

the only spotty areas with whitetails

Habitat / Habits Inhabits forest, swamps, open

brushy areas, foothill plains, and river bottoms

Herbivorous – browser, eats forbs, twigs, shrubs, acorns, fungi and some grasses

Limited movement– Rarely more than one to two miles

Habitat / Reproduction Lives to 16 years in the wild Male is polygamous – Breeds more than one female

Rut starts in October through December– Spotted twin

fawns are normal

Reproduction Both bucks and does normally reach

maturity at 15 to 20 months old Does can have 3 estrus cycles per

year Doe receptive to buck about 28 hrs. – back in heat 28 days later

Gestation period: 200 days Fawns weaned at about 4 months

White-tailed Deer

Population Ideal is 1:1 ratio Healthy herd can withstand 30%

harvest A lot of spikes indicate a management

problem– Example: poor nutrition like we talked

about earlier

Overpopulation??