In the Northern Hemisphere, the white-tailed deer’s cyclic rhythms in physiology, metabolism, coat molt, reproduction, and general behavior are closely regulated by the changing amount of daylight, or “photoperiod.” The shortening day length in autumn triggers a...
Instead of relying heavily upon complex visual displays and voiced sounds for social communication, whitetails make greater use of scent-marking to communicate matters of social significance. This doesn’t mean whitetails are voiceless. Using sophisticated electronic...
In order to survive and reproduce, whitetails must have favorable habitat that provides food, shelter, and water in the proper proportions and within accessible distances. However, during the fawning season, “space” also becomes important and, in cases of high deer...
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...
