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Spring And Summer Deer Management

Spring And Summer Deer Management. Original Power Point Created by Andy Harrison. Modified by GA Agriculture Education Curriculum Office July 2002. Arrival of Spring. Fall fat reserves are depleted 200 days after breeding Fawn drop coincides with spring green-up

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Spring And Summer Deer Management

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  1. Spring And SummerDeer Management Original Power Point Created by Andy Harrison Modified by GA Agriculture Education Curriculum Office July 2002

  2. Arrival of Spring • Fall fat reserves are depleted • 200 days after breeding • Fawn drop coincides with spring green-up • Varies with area of the country: • Earlier in the south • Later in the north and Canada • Actually in the summer in Mexico

  3. Fawning Territories • Does travel in social groups and are not typically territorial • Does usually travel in groups when not fawning • In fawning season does stake out range of fawning area • Most try to avoid areas occupied by other does

  4. Dominant Doe • Usually an alpha doe is present in the group • Stakes out the best habitat • best food source • best screening cover • Lesser deer have higher mortality rates of fawns

  5. Fawning • In the last trimester of gestation, the fetus grows very fast • Prior to fawning, does are usually not very active • Fawns are usually born in pairs in does 2 years or older. • Triplets are not uncommon • Immediately after birth the doe cleans up the fawn by licking • This establishes identity

  6. Fawning • Doe separates the fawns by leaving them in different areas • Helps with protection from predators • Fawn mortality may be as high as 2/3 in first 10 days- especially in overpopulated herds • Higher mortality rates in lower social status does

  7. The Orphan Fawn • When fawn is found by itself • Doe is usually nearby • Does leave their fawns by themselves, so do not attempt to move

  8. Fawns • Fawn usually places itself • Doe doesn’t know fawns exact location but knows its general locale • When returning to feed, the doe makes a gentle grunting sound and the fawn comes to the doe • Fawns nurse very quickly • Doe affirms identify by call and smell

  9. Fawns • As fawn nurses, doe licks and bathes the posterior end of fawn to stimulate excrement • Helps keep the area clean of waste and odors • Assists in predator protection • Does and fawns remain secluded for about 2 weeks • Afterwards they return to the group

  10. Life in the Social Group • Does are very protective of their fawns • They do not tolerate fawns of the subordinates inside their personal area • However, they will watch the fawns of other does • Does in the social group are of varying ages • A few yearling bucks may also be present in the social group • They are not tolerated for long and are run-off from herd prior to fawning

  11. Doe Fighting • Fight as frequently as the bucks • Stand and box • Kick • Direct stare with ears laid back in aggressive posture

  12. Buck Social Groups • During fawning, bucks live in social groups • As spring approaches, bucks are in worse condition than does due to: • Fall rut • Antler development • Normally drift back to old feeding areas and reestablish old hierarchies

  13. Buck Social Groups • Normally leave the best habitats and feeding to does • Ensures survival of the species • May be a group of several bucks of different ages • One dominant buck • Younger bucks move in and out of the herd until rut

  14. Bucks • Antler growth coincides with spring green-up of food • Same growth curve as fetus • Spring and summer ranges are smaller than fall and winter

  15. Late Summer Stress • Foliage growth is slowed to completion • Forage is poorer in quality • Usually prolonged dry periods • Malnutrition • Parasite loads and disease increase

  16. Late Summer for Bucks • Shedding of summer coat and growing of a grayish-colored winter coat • Requires protein • Mineralization of antlers • Storing of fat

  17. Late Summer for Does • Shedding or molting • Growth of winter coat • Storing of fat for winter

  18. Summary • Spring brings • Forage growth • Fawn growth • Dominant alpha doe takes best habitat • Does return to social groups when fawn reaches an adequate size • Does become antagonistic toward young offspring prior to fawning

  19. Summary • Casting out of young causes more roaming among yearling bucks • Equals a higher mortality rate • Bucks travel in social groups • Order established by kick boxing and intimidation • In late summer bucks and does prepare for rut • Significant stress period

  20. Summary • High nutrient demand • Lowest availability in late summer • In late summer bucks and does shed summer hair and grow winter hair • Antler mineralization • Fat storage

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