The white-tailed deer’s cycle of antler growth, hardening, casting (dropping off), and regrowth is largely controlled by hormones. This cycle involves a complex interplay between the tiny pineal gland, the hypothalamus of the brain, the pituitary gland, and the...
We normally assume that all sexually mature whitetail bucks compete aggressively to breed as many does as possible. But is there any evidence that some “big” bucks, otherwise physically and physiologically normal, opt not to compete for breeding...
With white-tailed deer, glandular secretions and scent-marking play a more important role in communication than do visual signals and vocalizations. The latter serve only immediate, short-range purposes, whereas scent-marks serve as an extension of the animal itself,...
Visual signals expressed through body language play an important role in establishing social bonds and in aggressive behavior among whitetails… by John Ozoga November 01, 2017 Even we humans can relate to, and differentiate, the intents involved in...
A SILENT LANGUAGE by John Ozoga July 01, 2017 The whitetail’s keen sense of smell serves in finding food, detecting predators, social communication, reproductive behavior, and probably a good many other things we humans don’t fully understand. Deer...
