Breeding in White-tailed Fawns

White-tailed doe fawns can become capable of breeding at six to seven months of age and approximately 70-pounds, but this varies a bit depending upon latitude and individual body condition. In northern states, whitetail fawns may achieve adequate size, but because of their bodies need for energy for survival, reproductive development will be delayed.

In addition, shorter days and cooler temperatures provide environmental cues that limit both sexual maturity and the breeding season in does. In southern parts of the United States, doe fawns can achieve puberty toward the end of the rut (January and early February) and be bred during that period. Often times, big whitetail bucks observed chasing doe fawns that have come into estrus are blamed for the “late rut.”

Doe fawns with excellent nutritional levels have greater incidence of ovulation and puberty than fawns with inadequate levels of nutrition. With this in mind, in areas with very poor habitat, even yearling does (1.5-year old) can remain sexually immature! In one research study in the mid-west, approximately one-third of doe fawns examined were reproductively fertile in December.