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Deer Ecology 101
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Right now there are lots of fawns hitting the ground, and they will continue all summer long depending on where you are at in the state. I have seen fawns on the ground as early as April and as late as September. As a rule, deer have a gestation of about 215-220 days. You can use that to count back from the arrival of fawns to get a better idea of when your does are getting bred.
Fawns, when born, are not ruminants. Initially they are monogastrics (one stomach), and do not actually develop all 4 compartments, rumen, reticulum, abomasum and omasum, of the true ruminant system for over a month. Obviously milk is ther only food for the first several weeks and slowly will transition over to grasses, forbs and other feeds.
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Originally posted by Hawkpuppy 1 View PostBack on track now with some more info....
This time of year can, and is, just as critical as any other for WTD. Right now, bucks are in probably their worst body condition and dropping antlers. Does are about 3.5 months from dropping fawns. Nutrition is a major factor right now more than ever. Bucks body conditions must be brought back up to "normal" to ensure maximum potential for a good start to new antler growth. Does need the same to help keep their body conditions up for fawn development.
Now, all that being said, if you are just now feeding to help with these issues, you're way behind the 8 ball. I hear and see a lot of people that only feel the need to supplemental feed protein during the summer months for antler growth. While that is a critical time, year round availability of both quality native and supplemental feed is just as, if not more, important. Keeping deer in their best body conditions all year long is extremely important for antler and fawn production, mortality reduction from post rut stress and a host of other things. Don't be they guy that just feeds corn after September...
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