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White-tailed Deer
Odocoileus virginianus
Family: Deer (Cervidae)
Size: L 4-7' (1.2-2.1 m); T 6-12" (15-30 cm); H 3-4' (.9-1.2 m)
Weight: M 100-300 lb. (45-113 kg); F 75-200 lb. (34-90 kg)
Description: Reddish brown during summer, grayish brown during winter. Large ears, white inside with black edges. A white eye-ring, nose band, chin, throat and belly. Brown tail with a black tip and white underside. Male antlers have many small tines originating from a central beam; antler spread is 12-36" (30-91 cm). Female is overall smaller, has a thinner neck and lacks antlers.
Origin/Age: native; 5-10 years
Compare: Mule Deer (pg. 359) has a black-tipped white tail and forked tines from the main beam. Sika Deer (pg. 347) is darker brown, has a small head and short ears and antlers. Fallow Deer (pg. 343) has white spots and distinctive flattened antlers. Axis Deer (pg. 351) has white spots over its body.
Habitat: many habitats, woodlands, scrublands, ranches
Home: no den or nest; sleeps in a different spot every night, beds may be concentrated in one area, does not use a shelter in bad weather
Food: herbivore; grasses and other green plants, acorns and nuts in summer, twigs and buds in winter
Sounds: loud whistle-like snorts, male grunts, fawn bleats
Breeding late Oct-Nov mating; 6-7 months gestation
Young: 1-2 fawns once per year in May or June; covered with white spots, walks within hours of birth
Signs: browsed twigs that are ripped or torn (due to the lack of upper incisor teeth), tree rubs (saplings scraped or stripped of bark) made by male while polishing antlers during the rut, oval depressions in snow or leaves are evidence of beds; round, hard brown pellets during winter, cylindrical segmented masses of scat in spring and summer
Activity: nocturnal, crepuscular; often moves along same trails to visit feeding areas, most active in early morning and the end of day
Tracks: front hoof 2-3" (5-7.5 cm) long, hind hoof slightly smaller, both with a split heart shape with a point in the front; neat line of single tracks; hind hooves fall near or directly onto fore prints (direct register) when walking
Stan’s Notes: Many subspecies of White-tailed Deer in Texas, all appearing similar, all acting the same. More common than Mule Deer (pg. 359), which usually do not occupy the same habitats.
In summer, antlers are covered with a furry skin called velvet. Velvet contains a network of blood vessels that supplies nutrients to the growing antlers. New antler growth begins after the male (buck) drops his antlers in January or February. Some females (does) grow antlers. Antler growth is tied to available nutrition. It is impossible to judge the age of a buck by the number of antler tines or antler size due to the direct correlation between antlers and nutrition. Examining teeth is a better way to estimate age.
Grows much longer guard hairs in winter, giving the deer a larger appearance than in summer. Hairs of the winter coat are thick, hollow and provide excellent insulation.
Usually restricts its movement to a relatively small home range and is dependent on the location of the food supply. Eats 5-9 pounds (2.3-4.1 kg) of food per day, preferring acorns in fall and fresh grass in spring. Research shows that Whitetails eat up to 500 different plants. Its four-chambered stomach enables the animal to get nutrients from poor food sources, such as twigs, and eat and drink substances that are unsuitable for people,
Able to run up to 37 mph (60 km/h), jump up to 8 1⁄2 feet (2.6 m) high and leap 30 feet (9.1 m). Also an excellent swimmer.
The buck is solitary in spring and early summer, but seeks other bucks in late summer and early fall to spar. Bucks are polygamous. The largest, most dominant bucks mate with many does.
For a couple weeks after birth, fawns lay still all day while their mother is away feeding. Mother nurses them evenings and nights.
