Assessment of Fawn Breeding in a South Carolina Deer Herd

Authors

Olin E. Rhodes Jr., University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
James M. Novak, Eastern Illinois UniversityFollow
Michael H. Smith, University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory
Paul E. Johns, University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory

Document Type

Article

Publication Date

January 1986

Abstract

Annual variation in breeding success among female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns on the Savannah River Plant (1967 to 1985) was determined from direct counts of pregnancy in spring-collected fawn females and evidence of lactation and measurements of udder thickness in fall-harvested 1. 5-yearolds. Percent lactation in 1.5-year-old females collected during September and October gave the best estimate of fawn breeding in the previous year. The overall mean fawn breeding estimate from September and October was 41 % , and the yearly variation in fawn breeding was significant. An estimate of the average yearly contribution to recruitment was 43 fetuses per 100 fawn females.

Recommended Citation

Rhodes, Olin E. Jr.; Novak, James M.; Smith, Michael H.; and Johns, Paul E., "Assessment of Fawn Breeding in a South Carolina Deer Herd" (1986). Faculty Research & Creative Activity. 224.
https://thekeep.eiu.edu/bio_fac/224