| Whitetail deer are found across the North | | | | throughout the year. The entire molting process |
| American region, at 29 million strong, including | | | | can take months to occur, normally starting in the |
| where cities are expanding. These areas intrude | | | | spring and ending in late summer. When hunting in |
| on what was once the whitetails domain. As deer | | | | October hunters will notice that in a week to two |
| become more and more exposed to this humane | | | | week span the deer's coats have changed from |
| society, they become less afraid of humans. In | | | | red to gray. In the winter they will notice the |
| these areas you can find deer walking right up to | | | | color has changed to bluish gray. |
| you, not spooked one bit, and coming into your | | | | Deer also have very interesting changes in their |
| yard to find whatever morsel of food they can | | | | antlers. Well nourished bucks will start growing |
| find (deer can eat up to 5-9 lbs of food EVERY | | | | their antlers in April. A buck will use its antlers to |
| day). | | | | establish dominance over other male deer and for |
| Deer are herbivores and eat a variety of foods. | | | | the right to mate with does. Antlers are the |
| Just like humans, deer have preferences of food. | | | | fastest growing tissue on earth and can grow up |
| They will eat their favorite whenever given the | | | | to 1/2" per day! The size mass and number of |
| chance. Some of the foods deer eat a lot are | | | | horns on antlers is determined by nutrition, |
| grass, leaves, acorns, apples, corn and berries. | | | | genetics and age of the buck. Bucks mark their |
| The deer teeth are designed to chew these | | | | territory by rubbing their antlers on tree bark; this |
| tough foods. | | | | is called a buck rub. Once they mark their |
| While on the topic of senses, deer have very | | | | territory they will stay there until the area is |
| keen vision, hearing and smell. Although they are | | | | taken over by predators or hunters. |
| colorblind, the position of their eyes on the sides | | | | When free of predators and hunting pressure |
| of their head allows them to have a field of vision | | | | deer can double their population in a year. When |
| of 310 degrees. This position however makes it | | | | free of these pressures deer can also live to be |
| hard for the deer to focus on objects. The | | | | 11 years old. This is when their teeth wear out |
| muscles in the deer's head allow their ears to | | | | and they can no longer eat. You can determine |
| move in all directions, making their ears so | | | | the age of a deer by its teeth. Like humans, |
| sensitive to sound it is believed they can tell how | | | | deer's baby teeth fall out; when they are 18 |
| far away the sound was made. Deer lick their | | | | months old. A full grown deer can stand 3 foot tall |
| nose to keep it moist, allowing scent particles to | | | | from the ground to its back and weigh 200 plus |
| stick it and allowing the deer to smell better. | | | | pounds. |
| Studies show deer can smell humans in | | | | Hope you enjoyed these interesting deer facts |
| underbrush days after we have been there. | | | | and remember. The BUCK STOPS here. |
| Deer have very interesting changes in their fur | | | | |