PENNSYLVANIA WILDLIFE (JAN/FEB 2000) – The 1999 deer population in the state of Pennsylvania is approximately 1.4 million. Deer were practically non-existent in 1907. Each year 45,000 deer are killed on PA roadways (this is only the number physically removed by PA Game Commission, not those injured and stumbling off the road before dying. Nearly 400,000 were harvested in 1998. Gary Alt was elected to head the new PA Game Commission Deer Management Section.
VIRGINIA WILDLIFE - Average survival rate of bucks are: 35% loss as fawns, 40% loss as yearlings, 20% less as 2 ½ year-olds, leaving about 5% to survive to 3 ½ years of age. Maybe 1% live to 4 ½ years old, when antlers reach trophy state. (Bucks reach max size antlers at 4 ½ to 7 ½ years old.)
VIRGINIA WILDLIFE (10/99) – During the fall rut, bucks are more likely to be seen during the day and are less wary of humans/predators due to their raging hormones that have been stimulated by the shortened day length. The rut causes an increase of movement by does in estrus and by bucks that are searching for them. The does tend to come into heat together, at a 28 day interval. The first rut in October is a low-key event, normally occurring in the middle of the month. It is modest in impact on deer movement and mating. The November rutting is the major event. It can vary from region to region in the state and does not necessarily happen at exactly the same dates each year, but generally takes place sometime between November 7 through 24. Scrapes are found at this time, either in the form of rubs on small tree trunks that bucks have made with their antlers and rubbed with their forehead glands, or cleared, pawed-out oval areas, where bucks have urinated over his tarsal glands to deposit scent. The scrape both marks his breeding territory and attracts receptive does. Several bucks and does can use a single scrape. Some scrapes include bushes and low branches that can be thrashed by the buck’s antlers and applied with his scent. A final rut occurs in December, 28 days after the November rut. Only does that weren’t mated in the first two ruts come into heat now. Does are only in heat for two days.
NATURAL HISTORY (10/97) - 25 million deer in US, same as when Pilgrims landed in 1620. Venison is the name of any member of the Cervidae family. Deer (rather reindeer species) were found at Paleolithic sites of Europe 100,000 year ago, being a primary food source at the peak of the last Ice Age 20,000 years ago.
By 1696, Massachusetts enacted laws to restrict deer hunting. By the turn of the century, deer are very scarce on East Coast. Thirties see movement to regulate hunting. Then comes Bambi in 1942; called "the most effective piece of anti-hunting propaganda ever made."
Because of the loss of between 43 and 63 million bison on the great plains, trees and shrubs grew, and with controls on natural fires, great plains are now great deer range. Deer are extremely adaptable and will always chose the most nutritious food, including the farmer’s crops. Wolves, bear, humans and the screwworm fly used to be the biggest predators. With the eradication of the screwworm fly through federal programs in the 50’s and 60’s, only man is the remaining predator.
SMITHSONIAN RAP Dec 12, 1994 Dr. William McShea
-acorns make deciduous forests go around
-deer range triples in 9/15 to 10/15---movement out in day; return at night
-deer spit out caps, eat 300 acorns per day
-mast year---next year, more mammals
-50 per sq mile in SNP (with 300 sq. miles, then 15,000 in park)
-30 per sq mile in GWNF
-gypsy moth increasing deer pop
-deer "cut" tannins by chasing with a bush
-bear and coyotes thriving due to fawns
NATIONAL WILDLIFE (10-11/94) - 25 Million deer in lower 48 States. This is nearly 2x estimate ten years ago. Does breed as early as six months in some areas, 18 months in others. Over a ten year span, one doe and offspring can produce 100 deer. Female young of dominant does claim adjacent, and often overlapping territories of the mother. Does separate fawns (by at least 200 feet) from birth till 25 days old for protection. Does force out yearlings and young females force out males. Young bucks retain antlers longer into winter than older. Some believe antlers are more important to determine social order than actual combat. Deer are attracted to roads due to salt and vegetation. Car whistles haven't been shown to work. Deer typically freeze until car is near, then deer bolt ahead of "predator", trying to get out in front; ahead of it---which they can't do. Before a storm, the low pressure causes deer to feed, which make them vulnerable to road kills. Yards are defense mechanisms. Can be one square mile to 30. Built in areas of less snow, with several escape routes.
NATIONAL WILDLIFE (12/1 - 93) - White-tailed deer grow winter coats four times thicker than summer coats.
In Virginia, 209,373 shot in 94-95;218,476 in 95-96; and 207,560 in 96-97.
It is believed there were 500,000 deer in Virginia in 1607, falling to a low of 25,000 in 1930, and now at a maximum of 1,000,000.
1,917 deer killed by cars in Maryland in 1994. 1996 MD pop is 250,000 to 300,000. In 1995, 39,406 deer legally killed, only 33,942 killed in 1996; so a special two-day female season was added in 18 western counties.
PENNSYLVANIA WILDLIFE (VOL. XVIII, NO.3) – In 1996, 350,997 deer were legally harvested (153,432 bucks and 197,565 antlerless deer). The ten year average for bucks is 140,000 to 182,000), while harvested does average from 177,000 to 248,000.) The top buck and doe harvest county in 1996 was Bradford.
Adirondack studies reveal stable winter and summer ranges year after year (site fidelity). Winter range sought with 15" of snow cover. Go down to lower lands with food, shelter until April 1. Open habitat herbivores like bison, caribou and musk ox form large groups to protect their young from predators while it is believed that forest habitat herbivores would be solitary and resort to hiding to escape predators. But Adirondack studies show great summer overlapping of female ranges---mostly all maternally related. They move as very lose herd, (approx 500 acres per deer) only making visual contact about once a day. All go back to same winter range. 95 % of females make overlapping range of mother, like rose petals, until the group reaches about ten members. After that, new female members just crowd into established area. Outside of clusters, some areas have no deer pops. 80% of males leave natal area between 18 and 30 months of age and take up range near (or including) another female cluster, following them to their winter range. In Adirondacks, 30 % of fawns are killed by bears and coyotes each spring. Since fawns use their energy in growth, not winter reserves, if winter (>15" of snow) lasts over 80 days, most fawns will perish, due to lack of food.
Stokes Nature Guide---Animal Tracking and Behavior - In the Cervidae, or deer family, which is in the order Artiodactyla, comprising all those hoofed animals with an even number of toes. The mule deer is the other species of deer in North America, Odocoileus hemionus (the black-tailed deer is a subspecies of the mule deer).
Bucks and does remain apart, except for rutting. Bucks travel in groups of two to five while does are usually in groups of two to nine, which include yearlings and fawns. Larger groups may be found at good feeding grounds, but will shortly break up.
Deer are crepuscular. They have a range of 2 to 3 sq. mi., with an often very fixed pattern of movement through this area for weeks at a time. They are very reluctant to leave the area even when chased.
Antlers grow from April/May to August/September. Rubbing is usually in September. Longer rubs (often up to ten inches) occur in October and seem to be visual signs. Bucks favor 1" dia trees 6 feet tall, preferrably pine, cherry, red cedar and sumac.
Scrapping is also done at this time. A rectangular 1 to 3 foot depression is made, usually by bucks during the peak of mating time. Usually many in an area, accompanied by rubbing on trees.
Buck groups break up in late August and look for does, who come into estrus by October; receptive for 24 hours, then not again for 28 days. Does remain together during this mating period. After a 200 day gestation period, the pregnant does leave the group with fawns born in June. For the first 30 days, fawns are left alone (within 30 feet of birthplace) until they can travel with mother. By August or September, the does and fawns will rejoin the group. The fawns will spend the winter and following summer in the vicinity of the mother (feeding on there own). They will spend the next winter (2nd winter) also with the mother before being pushed out the 3rd spring (like grizzly bears).
Spring molt in May and June with Fall molt in September and October. The fall molt has longer, hollow hairs. Fawns molt later, like Oct through Dec.
Ruminants with four stomachs.
Bucks "rut" in September, also fawns lose spots then. Does receptive in October for one day only. Doe milk 2x fat solids as cows. One out of 4,000 does have enough testosterone to have antlers.
An excellent web page on deer in North Carolina is maintained by the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission. (Go to the "species" link at the top row. Then, "publications", and then you'll see it listed under the NC Wildlife & Wildlife Management Publications.)