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Published byAngelica Todd Modified over 8 years ago
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Spring And Summer Deer Management Original Power Point Created by Andy Harrison Modified by GA Agriculture Education Curriculum Office July 2002
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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Doe Fighting ► Fight as frequently as the bucks ► Stand and box ► Kick ► Direct stare with ears laid back in aggressive posture
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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
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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
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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
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Late Summer Stress ► Foliage growth is slowed to completion ► Forage is poorer in quality ► Usually prolonged dry periods ► Malnutrition ► Parasite loads and disease increase
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Late Summer for Bucks ► Shedding of summer coat and growing of a grayish-colored winter coat Requires protein ► Mineralization of antlers ► Storing of fat
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Late Summer for Does ► Shedding or molting ► Growth of winter coat ► Storing of fat for winter
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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
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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
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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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