Tag: white-tailed deer

Breeding Success and Fawn Survival

Breeding Success in white-tailed deer 

In some circles, you will still hear people talk about the old barren doe that lives in a particular part of the ranch. This line of thinking blames poor fawn production on the idea that many older does do not get pregnant. In reality, if the doe isn’t bred during the first estrous period, she will be receptive again 28 days later. This explains the high breeding success in white-tailed deer, even when bucks are scarce. It was recorded in one Texas study, that on average, 92 of every 100 does sampled were pregnant.

White-tailed deer are known for producing twins. In the previously mentioned study, over half of the does examined had twins. Triplets, however, were not common, and the occurrence of triplets was less than two percent. Quadruplets didn’t show up at all in the study. There were more male fetuses than female fetuses. Males represented 56 percent of the unborn fawns over the three years of the study.

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Photos of a Mature Albino Buck

Here are some photos of an albino white-tailed deer that I came across recently. The really odd thing is not only is being an albino mammal rare, but the fact that this is actually a mature buck is a miracle! Natural predators and hunters alike will hone in on oddly colored deer, even in areas where deer management and controlled harvests take place.

This whitetail buck can be identified as an albino deer — and not a piebald deer — by examining both his eyes and nose. Take a good look and you can see exactly what I am talking about.

Albino white-tailed buck deer

The pink eye and the pink nose are textbook signs that this deer is an albino. At first glance, I noticed the brown on his head and near the base of the antlers and thought that maybe this buck was not an albino, but then I realized that the brown color comes from the buck rubbing his antlers on trees as a result of a rising testerone level, which triggers increased aggression as the breeding season begins .

Bucks will commonly rub their antlers once annual antler growth stops to rid themselves of decaying velvet. In addition, this activity helps strengthen their neck and shoulders prior to the breeding season.

Albino Buck Pics

Albino white-tailed buck deer

Albino white-tailed buck deer

Mature Albino Buck

Often times, I will see or be sent photos that feature albino deer, but it is a rare occasion to actually see a mature albino animal, especially a buck! The main reason albinos rarely get old (in the wild) is because a white coloration is not always favorable to animals living in North America, as very few places have snow on the ground throughout the year.

White colored deer really stick out during the spring and summer, although they blend in much better during the winter in the snow-covered areas of the country. However, much of the whitetail’s range is devoid of snow, even during the fall and winter.