Mike Belt
Well-Known Member
I'm seeing bookoos of does with single, pairs, and triplet fawns here around the house in SW Tn but 85% of them are still small and full of spots.
Fawns
- Thread starter Mike Belt
- Start date
BSK
Well-Known Member
I'm definitely seeing more fawns, but honestly, many appeared to have dropped a little late. Not a big difference, but a difference.
peytoncreekhunter
Well-Known Member
I've got several does on trail cameras with full spotted fawns.
Same in my neck of the woods.
BSK
Well-Known Member
But with the poor acorn crop experienced in my area last year, a later rut by a week or so was probably a reality.
Fawns around my house seemed to be born at normal times. Its always give or take a couple of weeks.
As I understand it, that's one of the things that make whitetails so adaptive. They breed from early fall to early spring, spreading their fawn drop across the entire summer, rather than all at once. Come hell or high water some of those fawns will survive to reproduce. Not one catastrophic event will eliminate the entire crop. Every year we hear about rut activity in late summer when bucks should be losing velvet, then hear about rut activity in spring when they should be shedding their antlers. It's not illogical to assume that if they're rutting, breeding is occurring.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Although it is true that breeding/fawn drop has been documented during nearly every month of the year, that is just Nature at work. Nature gets around to trying everything. This allows Natural Selection to take place. Those fawns dropped at the optimum times will have the highest chance of survival and to pass on any unique breeding timing that is genetically linked. This is how unique optimum breeding/fawning times develop in individual locations. For example, peak breeding in July/August works best in the Florida Everglades. Peak breeding in September is best for the coastal Carolina region. Peak breeding in December works best for southern TX. Peak breeding in early November works for the northern tier of states.
However, having breeding spread out over a long time period in one location is definitely NOT good for the deer population, especially in regions (most of their range) where predators that focus on killing and eating fawns predominate, such as coyotes. In those regions, Nature has developed the process of "prey saturation," where the highest percentage of the fawn crop for that year all hit the ground about the same time. This allows predators only a brief period to eat defenseless fawns and reduce the total fawn crop.
Bucks displaying rutting behavior in late summer is simply due to the surge of testosterone their bodies produce to shed velvet, and in spring, to start the new antler growth process.
However, having breeding spread out over a long time period in one location is definitely NOT good for the deer population, especially in regions (most of their range) where predators that focus on killing and eating fawns predominate, such as coyotes. In those regions, Nature has developed the process of "prey saturation," where the highest percentage of the fawn crop for that year all hit the ground about the same time. This allows predators only a brief period to eat defenseless fawns and reduce the total fawn crop.
Bucks displaying rutting behavior in late summer is simply due to the surge of testosterone their bodies produce to shed velvet, and in spring, to start the new antler growth process.
shopson
Well-Known Member
I only have one set of twins at my house and they are close to spotless.
tater salad
Member
Most of the fawns I have here on the plateau have almost lost all of their spots and most of the does have shed their summer coats.
Yep. Same here. Gonna be some little ones running around all over us this year.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Does where molting into their winter grey coats as of Sept 9-10 in my area. Fawns were starting to molt out of their summer spotted coat as well.
gordonc615
Member
I know here in Nashville I'm still seeing alot of fawns that have plenty of spots on them still. I almost want to think its because of the high ratio of does to bucks. If deer carry for 7 months it's not unheard of breeding going done in February. I always see alot rut activity from muzzleloader into rifle. Last year I hunted a park the 2nd week of Dec and had a big buck still breeding a doe. Warm winters mess with eveything..
SJS
Well-Known Member
Same here in Houston Co. One of my cameras had 1400 pics on them in 30 days and 95% were does and spotted fawns. Lots of fawns! Some pretty small for this time of the year I believe.
SJS
Well-Known Member
Speaking of acorns this year, it appears to be spotty on my property. I noticed the trees that have them they are dropping already and the deer are coming out at dusk to hammer them.
BSK
Well-Known Member
Wow, in my part of Humphreys we're going to have a bumper White Oak crop from Hades. One of those "walking on ball-bearings" years. The reds are a bit more spotty, but still a decent crop.
tater salad
Member
Acorns are already dropping here on the plateau.
Hymie3
Well-Known Member
I had eleven in my yard yesterday. All does and fawns except one 5 pointer who is a mommas boy evidently. Three of the does had their grey winter colors on already. Fawns are almost spotless except one runt
Bears get most of ours when they drop anymore.
