Behaviors of The Whitetail Deer

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Behaviors of The Whitetail Deer

• ByDiana Markert
• Bellarmine
• Ecology

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History of Whitetail Deer

• Fossil records suggest that deer arose around the
  mid tertiary period.
• They have survived for 2 million years by grazing
  for food and seeking refuge in scattered clumps
  of trees.
• They are very adaptable to the changing
  environments.
• They are the most abundant large herbivore in
  North America.
• There are 38 different subspecies of the
  whitetail deer.

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Behavioral Adaptation Through History

• Has quick speed to run away form danger
• Uses well known trails
• Will run downhill to escape
• Runs through shallow water to lose its scent
• Crosses other deer trails to mislead predators

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Research Procedure

• Went out to research area to observe deer while
  sitting in a tree stand.
• Recorded time of deer sighting, and behavior that
  they displayed.
• Recorded environmental conditions form the
  underground weather website.

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Introduction to Area Researched

• The Department of Fish and Wildlife breaks the
  state up into 4 zones depending on the population
  sizes of deer.
• Each Zone has Hunting regulations for controlling
  the deer herd in that area.
• The area where I did my research was in Henry
  County and is classified as zone 1.
• This means that there is a large population of
  deer in that area.

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Description of Property
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General Behavioral Observations

• Deer are seen mainly in the broken wood patches
  near their food source.
• By November deer are rarely seen moving in
  daylight hours.
• Deer are usually seen right before or after
  sunrise or sunset.
• They tend to move in groups of 3-6 , usually 1-2
  does and their fawns.
• Bucks are rarely seen on the property.

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General Behavioral Observations

• Most of the deer seen were foraging for food as
  they walked through the woods to the field for
  feeding.
• They forage mainly for acorns and you can hear
  and see them eating them.
• Others were seen bedded down during the day.
• Some were spooked and were running through the
  woods at a fast pace.

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Data Analysis
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Data Analysis
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Data Analysis
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Data Analysis
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Data Analysis
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Data Analysis
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Data Analysis
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Data Analysis
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Data Analysis
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Conclusions

• The deer are seen less as the season goes on
  because they go nocturnal to avoid predation.
• The Deer movements seem to be governed day to day
  by environmental conditions.
• Deer were usually seen moving into or cross wind.
• Many bucks are rarely seen because of the bad
  buck to doe ratio.