Whitetail Deer Hunting

Whitetail Deer are one of America's favorite Game animals. In addition, they are ranked as one of the smartest and most elusive animals in the world. No wonder, we find these creatures so majestic and take great pride in being able to Hunt them. Whitetail Deer Hunting requires the Hunter to know what he is looking for. As a result, we find that becoming educated about the kind of animal you wish to Hunt is crucial to your success. In the following paragraphs, we will discuss the senses, sounds, Breeding and reproduction patterns, age and life span, antlers, and habitat of Whitetail Deer. Whitetail Deer Hunting is a great sport for those who are patient. For the best Whitetail Deer Hunting experience of a lifetime, book a Hunting Trip with High Mountain, and experience the blast of Whitetail Deer Hunting!

Whitetail Deer Senses

• Smell The sense of smell is the strongest of the Whitetail Deer's senses because a large part of the Deer's brain is responsible for odor detection. This is important to keep in mind while Hunting because Deer can detect the smell of humans; thus, making Hunting a challenge. Given the Deer's strong sense of scent, it is imperative to understand the effect that weather has on the Deer's ability to smell. A light rain will enhance the ability of Deer to smell, while a heavy downpour will wash away the scents. A light breeze will carry the human scent and make the Hunter more easily detected; similar to a heavy rain, a strong wind will disperse the scent and make smelling more difficult for Deer.
• Vision Deer have an amazing sense of sight! Their depth perception, peripheral vision, wide pupils (allowing 10 times as much light in as the human eye), and binocular vision enable them to see things at great distances and everywhere but directly behind them. As a result, it is crucial when Hunting to remain still and wear camouflage to blend in with the surroundings of nature.
• Hearing Deer can hear at the same frequency of humans, but their ability to move their ears at the base, enables them to pinpoint where the sound is coming from. Just as the weather affects the Deer's sense of smell, it also affects their ability to hear.

Whitetail Deer Sounds

Although many hunters believe Whitetail Deer make only one sound, they are found to make a variety of sounds based on circumstance. For example, a fawn calling for his mother bleats somewhat like a sheep. On the other hand, a wounded Deer will sound similar to a goat. The snorting sound of a Deer, similar to air under pressure, often signals that he is alarmed or in an effort to make an unknown object move to determine if it's a predator. A Buck will often make a low grunting sound, similar to that of a hog, during the rut. These sounds are important to take into consideration when Hunting, because pinpointing their call allows you to locate them.

Breeding and Reproduction Patterns

The Breeding season is important to understand because it marks the beginning of the White Tails life cycle. The rut, the period when most Breeding occurs, usually takes place from September to late February, but is determined by latitude and day length. Genetics also play a role in the peak and length of the rut.

Weather, growing season, range conditions, heredity, and physical condition all play a role in when doe fawns are bred. Large doe fawns may Breed when only six to nine months old, usually bearing a single fawn. However, for the doe fawns that develop slower, Breeding may be held off until 16 to 19 months old.

Bucks undergo a series of changes from the time he sheds his velvet to the time Breeding actually takes place. The Buck becomes increasing vulnerable to accidents and being Hunted because he becomes less wary, more headstrong, and careless as the levels of testosterone increase. During the rut, the Buck spends his time marking his territory to fend off other Bucks and to attract the foe.

The doe remains in heat for approximately 24-hours and if not bred, will be fertile in another 28 days. An un-bred doe is capable of five estrus cycles in a single year. If conception does take place, the White Tailed Deer is in gestation for just under seven months. Once born, the fawn weighs between four and seven pounds and stays in one general location to nurse for the first three or four weeks of its life. Although staying in the same place would generally make the fawn susceptible to being Hunted, the fawn's spots provide excellent camouflage, allowing it to blend into its surroundings and it knows instinctively to lie flat and motionless when danger is near. Furthermore, it is completely odorless for the first few days of its life. Other than nursing time, the doe stays away from the fawn to keep her odor from giving away its location.

Age and Life Span

Although Deer have been known to live up to 19 years, the average life span is rather short-usually between three and four years. You may be asking yourself, how does one determine the age of a Deer? One way to determine age is to have a trained professional examine the teeth and lower jaw for wear. By the age of seven, most of the teeth may be worn out. Another and perhaps more accurate way to determine age is to examine the tooth under a microscope. Each year, a new ring appears in the root portion of the Deer's tooth.

It is even easier to determine the age of very young Deer. A Deer's first molar is fully erupted by six months and at nine months, a second molar has appeared. By three years of age, a third molar is usually partially erupted.

Antlers

Whitetails, like many other Deer, shed their antlers annually, after the Breeding season. It is believed that the better a Deer eats and the nutrients he absorbs, the longer he will retain his antlers. Oftentimes, budding new antlers push off the old pair and continue to grow rapidly reaching their full size in 12 to 16 weeks. Antlers are made of connective tissue that stem from the pedicels on the skull and are covered by velvet, a skin-like covering that supplies blood to the antlers until they are solidified. Once the antlers are solidified and have received all the necessary nutrients, the velvet is rubbed off on bushes and small trees.

Antlers are fascinating and unfortunately many don't understand their purpose. Some believe that the number of points determine the Bucks age. Although this is sometimes the case, more often, the number of points is determined by quality and quantity of food, genetics, and hormonal regulations. Oftentimes, large antlers enhance a Buck's social rank among other males. However, the most important aspect in establishing dominance is a strong body. Nevertheless, fighting occurs most often among Deer with similar sized racks as they evaluate dominance within the hierarchy.

Abnormally shaped antlers can stem from several problems: genetics, injury to the Bucks reproductive system or castration, or injury. However, there are very few places where Hunting is sparse enough to allow Bucks to develop to maturity.

Habitat Unlike other Deer, Whitetails have definite habitat requirements and prefer a wooded area with edges surrounded by vegetation and fields which provide cover for resting and a place to escape from predators and offers a variety of food.

• Deer Beds A Deer bed is an area on the ground where the surroundings (leaves, grass, snow, or pine needles) are pressed down signifying that the Deer has been resting. On warm days, the Deer beds are often on sunny slopes or in a weedy field. However, on cold, cloudy, or windy days, the Deer take shelter and will bed among trees.
• Evasion Tactics If startled, a Whitetail can run 20 mph for three miles or more and at short distances can run up to 40 mph. In addition, they can jump eight feet high and 25 feet horizontally. In addition, Whitetails view the water as a safety harbor and will often swim across streams to avoid the Hunter. However, a Whitetail doesn't use just his or her athletic ability, they also have the ability to camouflage themselves and remain at a standstill, quietly waiting for the Hunter to pass.