Deer Science Archives - Page 27 of 44

14 06, 2016

7 Facts About Summer Velvet Deer Antlers

admin2020-06-10T09:16:47-04:00June 14th, 2016|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science|1 Comment

This buck’s rack is coming along nicely. Did you know and those antlers will grow another 1/8- to ¼-inch per day for the next 2 months? Here are more interesting facts about the whitetail’s summer antlers: --Antlers are made of bone, consisting mostly of calcium, phosphorus, magnesium and other minerals. Although some of the minerals needed for antler growth are taken from food, scientists note that lot of them are sucked from the buck’s skeleton, which may cause him to develop osteoporosis during the summer. Setting mineral licks for the deer can help. --Throughout June and July, velvet antlers grow via a complex system of blood vessels, which causes them to be hot to the touch. Top whitetail scientist Dr. [...]

13 06, 2016

What Causes Warts and Tumors on Deer?

admin2020-06-10T09:16:47-04:00June 13th, 2016|Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Science|4 Comments

Big Deer Hunt Teamer and Montana bowhunter Lucas Strommen was haying on his ranch near the Milk River a few summers ago when he found this buck next to a dike, “gasping for breath and suffering, apparently near death.” The buck had large warts or tumors that nearly covered one side of his face. One growth had sealed his right eye shut. The largest one was about the size of a tennis ball. He had other numerous growths on his back, some around his groin area, a larger one on his leg, a bunch more behind his head and others on the left side of his head and face. Montana law prohibits a citizen to put an animal out of its misery, [...]

31 05, 2016

What is a Piebald Deer?

admin2020-06-10T09:16:48-04:00May 31st, 2016|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Science|Comments Off on What is a Piebald Deer?

Mike, I have seen some beautiful brown and white bucks on your blog over the years and was wondering: what causes the white in their coats? How rare are they? Gary, Virginia Experts say a genetic defect causes the “piebald” condition in white-tailed deer, when a deer’s hide—doe or buck—will be colored white and brown, similar to a pinto pony. Sometimes a piebald’s hide will appear almost entirely white, or in other cases, mostly brown. Regardless of coat color, a piebald has brown eyes and a black nose and hooves, just like any normal whitetail. In addition to a pinto coat, a mature piebald might have short legs and a Roman (bowed) nose, the latter evident in the amazing cam [...]

20 05, 2016

Whitetail Fawn Facts

admin2020-06-10T09:16:48-04:00May 20th, 2016|BigDeer, Deer Hunting, Deer Management, Deer Science|Comments Off on Whitetail Fawn Facts

We celebrate these beautiful little creatures! A fawn weighs 4 to 8 pounds at birth; their weight doubles in 2 weeks. A fawn has a unique smell that the mother doe recognizes. A fawn spends its first month in hiding, separate from the doe, except to nurse 2 to 4 times a day. A healthy fawn can outrun you when it’s only days old. A fawn has about 300 white spots. 25% of twin fawns have different fathers. Twin fawns are the norm. In a prime habitat where the soil/feed/cover is outstanding, 20% to 30% of does might drop triplets. In a habitat with poor soils and feed, a doe is lucky to have and raise one fawn. An individual [...]

13 05, 2016

Deer Habitat: Best Food and Cover

admin2020-06-10T09:16:48-04:00May 13th, 2016|Big Deer Stories, Big Deer TV, BigDeer, Deer Science|1 Comment

My favorite science blog, Deer Forest Study, posted on the ideal habitat for whitetails, and from that post here are important things you need to know about deer food and cover. BEST DEER FOOD: Early successional forest (regenerating stands of woods less than 6-8 years old) provides 1,000-2,000 pounds per acre of woody browse, forbs and soft mast. This type woods habitat can support about 60 deer/square mile during the winter, far surpassing other forest age classes. Do you hunt a woods like that? Is that where you find deer feeding? Biologist Jeannine Fleegle points out that the list of food for deer is long and varied and includes browse, forbs, grasses, mast, fungi, algae and even mosses. It is no [...]