Understanding The Doe Reproductive Cycle
It really may not have crossed your mind, as most articles are about “Rut”. “Understanding Rut” and so on. But we forget one very important particular- the doe.
All too often we put our focus on growing big bucks and big antler sets. We read article after article about “Rut”, “Understanding Rut”. Fuss about our food plots, or ordering the next best-hunting item. All the while we ignore one of the most important elements to our success; our doe herd.
SEASONAL BREEDERS… THE BIOLOGY BEHIND IT ALL
Recognizing my own lack of concern, I have had some time to refocus my thinking and am placing more emphasis on my doe herd. Below, you will find some helpful information.
Whitetail deer are polygamous, and the doe’s are seasonally polyestrous, short-day breeders. This means that temperatures, rainfall, and daylight hours becoming short all send signals to the brain. Within the brain the hypothalamus beings to secrete the LHRH (luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone). This, in turn, stimulates FSH (follicle-stimulating hormone) that eventually produces a mature egg for ovulation and fertilization.
Does are ready for breeding around the age of 16 months. Estrus behavior is seen in late September and October, lasting 17-22 days. Females go into a “heat” or “estrus” for a 24 hour period, mostly during November for northern states. Doe’s that were not mated will come back 28 days later with a second heat.
GIRLS CLUB
Now that we have the “biology” out of the way, let’s talk a little about deer behavior. Female deer are generally a friendly peaceable group. Feeding and bedding together with their fawns, in their family group year around.
This familial doe grouping consists of a “leader” who is generally the first bred and the first to fawn. The leader also gets the choice of birthing areas. Doe groupings tend to live in the same area for most of their lives, with the average deer lifespan being roughly five years.
Bachelor deer form their own herd temporarily for the purposes of safety and foraging. The group changes occur once the rut comes into play as dominance and territories are established.
GESTATION
If you’re keeping track of your doe deer herd and are witness to breeding, you can use this handy calculator to figure out her due date. Once impregnated, the gestation period for a whitetail doe is approximately 200 days/7 months. It is not uncommon for a doe to be pregnant with twins, triplets being a rarity, and a singular fawn the norm.
Birthing fawns in late spring and early summer have great advantages. The season is full of fresh and abundant food, easy temperatures, and many secluded areas for birthing. Part of her pre-birth prep is her preparing her male yearling for life in a buck group.
She will “kick out” her year old male (if he hasn’t left) and he will find a group of young bucks to feed with and bed. If she has had a female, the female is welcome to stay within the group, but as the doe prepares for birth, she will make things quite clear that the yearling female is to stay away once the new baby arrives.
HERE WE GROW
After birthing, the fawn will nurse from the doe three times a day. In between those nursing times, the fawn remains hidden nearby while mom feeds. Generally, the doe gives birth in a secluded area near water and forage.
Fawn survival (minus predator influence) is dependent on three factors:
- Mother’s age
- Weather at the time of birth
- Babies birth weight
Other factors affecting a fawn’s survival would be birth defects as well as lack of hydration.
At the age of four weeks, the fawn will begin to go out with the doe on forages; learning from the doe what to eat and where to find it. Around ten weeks of age, the doe will begin to wean the fawn.
Fawns learn a great deal through their play and exercise with other fawns. This determines their survival success in foraging, keeping safe as well as breeding and raising their own fawns.
Your doe herd is an important factor in a well-run hunting property. The polyestrous cycle is nature’s failsafe to keeping your doe’s pregnant and producing. Given a successful birth, proper motherly attention, and nutrition, your herd will be healthy and growing. Ensuring you a lifetime of legacy hunting.
RESOURCES:
https://outdoorstack.com/when-is-rut-season-for-deer/
http://gestationcalculator.com/other/deer-pregnancy-calculator
http://www.deerhunter.com/pages/deer-hunter/deer-info/social-behavior-of-whitetail-deer
https://www.deerworlds.com/deer-social-structure/
https://esajournals.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1002/ecs2.3122
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