White-Tailed Deer (0docoileus virginianus)White-tailed deer are present in all 67 counties of the state. The Alabama Game and Fish Division estimates that the state's population now exceeds one million. In addition, there is a small herd of imported fallow deer mostly in Wilcox and Dallas counties. This small herd furnishes little hunting. Whitetails vary from one area of the state to another in such things as height, weight, antler size, food habits, and even color. Yet, they are all white-tailed deer. Life History Both bucks and does normally breed for the first time during their second winter. Breeding season is usually from November to March. A dominant buck may breed with seven or more does during breeding season. Gestation period is 190 to 200 days. Most of the fawns are born in June, July, and August, but a few are born as late as November. Many does have two fawns, but does rearing young for the first time usually have only one. Occasionally three are born, and there are a few records of four. In good habitat, the average is about one and one-half fawns per breeding doe each year. The young are weaned at 3 to 4 months of age, but they remain with their mother until the following year. They leave her a few weeks before she drops fawn again. Young bucks start growing antlers during their first spring when they are 5 to 7 months old. They grow a new set of antlers every spring thereafter. Antler development is usually best when bucks are 5 to 8 years of age. In late winter or early spring, cells at the base of the antlers die, and the antlers fall off. Rodents and other animals, including deer, soon eat the antlers- -probably for their calcium content. Contrary to popular belief, a buck's age cannot be determined by the number of points on his antlers. The best known way of aging deer is by checking their teeth-about the same as a veterinarian ages a horse. Potential life span of a white-tailed deer is about twenty years, but few live to be more than six years old. Place in Planning Suitable habitat can be retained, created, or maintained on cropland, hay land, pasture land, forest land, or wildlife land. Lands that are managed for deer should be protected from erosion and made to produce high quality food and cover. In many instances, deer can provide supplementary income from the lease of bunting rights or the sale of daily permits to hunt. Habitat Needs Food. Deer require a varied diet. At one time, they were thought to feed almost entirely on browse or the leaves and twigs of woody plants. Recent studies show, however, that many grasses, weeds, fruits, mushrooms and other fungi, agricultural crops, flowers, and other foods are also important in their diet. Apparently, deer select foods because of their palatability, succulence, availability, and nutritional value. During spring, summer, and early fall, deer eat succulent grasses, legumes, weeds, fruits, various agricultural crops, and the tender growth of shrubs, trees, and vines. During late fall and winter, they feed on acorns; grasses; evergreen leaves; fruits; forage in improved pastures; various agricultural crops; green stems of dogwood, greenbrier, blueberry, and sassafras; and even on dried leaves. Acorns are especially important; they help condition deer for the relatively ]can winter months. The Appendix contains more information on the value of acorns to deer and other wildlife. Deer use salt when it is available, especially during spring and early summer. However, supplemental salt is not considered a necessity on most areas in Alabama. Fortified salt may be better for deer than the standard, unfortified salt blocks used by many cattle producers. Cover. Ideal cover consists of about equal parts of mature hardwood forest, cropland, brush land, and pasture land. The best woodland cover is a mixed forest stand, especially bottom land hardwoods with scattered openings and an abundance of tender growth within 4.5 feet of the ground. Water. Deer require free water for drinking, especially during warm weather. It should be well -distributed throughout the area. An important decision must be made in deer management. That decision is whether to: (1) Control the herd so that the number of deer will not exceed carrying capacity; or (2) increase carrying capacity so that more deer can be supported. The first of these is by far the better choice in most areas of Alabama. Herd Management Throughout most of the state and during most of the hunting season, it is legal to hunt only bucks with antlers visible above the hairline. When only bucks are harvested, less than 10 percent of the fall population can be taken each year. Such low harvest is satisfactory on areas with good habitat and few deer, but it can be disastrous where deer populations are about to reach carrying capacity or have already done so. On the latter areas, about one-third of the fall population, including about equal numbers of both sexes, should be harvested each year. If not, deer frequently become overpopulated. They become overpopulated because today there are few large predators such as the mountain lion to help keep deer herds in Alabama under control. An overpopulated area has the following undesirable characteristics:
Harvesting One-Third of the Fall Population The best known way of harvesting one-third of a deer herd every year and thus preventing overpopulation or a higher degree of overpopulation is to have a well regulated either-sex or hunter's choice hunting season. Alabama law now permits such seasons in most of the state. Why harvest one-third of the fall population? Because research has shown that slightly more than one-third of the fall population can be harvested each year with no apparent effect on the next year's population. How does a landowner know that he is harvesting one-third of his herd every year? He can be reasonably sure that he is harvesting that many, but it is not an easy task because there is no known way of making an accurate count of deer on a tract of forest land, especially on a tract of dense forest land such as is found in many parts of Alabama. A landowner can count his cattle by herding them into a small area and counting them one at a time, but he cannot herd his deer into a small area and make an accurate count of them. Therefore, he has to estimate the population. Fortunately, trained people are available who can help make the estimate. Biologists who work with federal and state agencies and with industry can be of real help in making the estimate, especially those who work in the local area. Some of these biologists have a good bit of experience in estimating wildlife populations. In most instances, they should be asked to help make the estimate. After the size of the deer herd has been estimated, one-third of the estimated fall population should be harvested every year for three years. Harvesting should be by sport hunting during legal hunting seasons, of course. About equal numbers of both sexes should be harvested. Weigh all deer killed during the three-year period. Determine their ages by checking the development, replacement, and wear of teeth in the lower jaw. Instructions for aging deer by that method are contained in The White-Tailed Deer in Alabama, a publication of the Alabama Game and Fish Division, 64 North Union Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36130. Biologists employed by state and federal agencies, especially those working in the local area, can provide detailed instructions for aging deer by checking teeth in their lower jaw. Accurate records of live weights (nothing removed from body cavity) must be kept. Convert field-dressed weight (body cavity completely empty) to live weight by using the chart at the end of this section on deer. During the three years, average live weights of both sexes in the various age classes (1.5 years, 2.5 years, 3.5 years, and so forth) will either remain the same, increase, or decrease. If they have increased, continue harvesting the same number of deer each year for the next three to five years. Again harvest about equal numbers of both sexes. If the average live weights of both sexes in various age classes has either remained the same or decreased, increase yearly harvest by 10 percent for the next three to five years. Again, keep accurate records of ages and live weights of both sexes as was done during the initial three-year period. If average live weight in the various age classes increases during the three to five years, continue harvesting the same number of both sexes every year for the next three to five years. If average live weights have remained the same or have decreased, increase the yearly harvest of both sexes by 10 percent for the next three to five years. Continue this process until the average live weight of 1.5 year old bucks is 115 to 135 pounds and that of 1.5 year old does is 95 to 110 pounds. Harvesting one-third of the herd every year by sport hunting is the best use of the deer resource. It ensures maximum harvest of desirable deer for the greatest number of hunters and prevents the devastations of overpopulation. The Appendix contains more information on harvesting deer and other wildlife. Producing Trophy Bucks Every year, more and more landowners and hunters in Alabama are becoming interested in producing trophy bucks--large animals with massive antlers. According to some information that is available, here is how to do it. Severely restrict both the total deer population and various segments and age classes within the population. In most of Alabama, that means harvesting far more than one-third of the fall population--maybe up to 50 percent or more of the herd every year. Such heavy harvesting allows maximum physical development of individual deer that remain in the herd. In order to produce trophy bucks, at least three things must happen: (1) Many does must be harvested; (2) many spike bucks must be harvested; and (3) many prong-antlered bucks must be harvested. The few prong-antlered bucks that survive will develop into trophy animals. As stated earlier, a buck's antlers are usually best when he is five to eight years old. As a rule, his antlers get bigger and frequently contain more points every year until he is four to five years old. So, he has to survive at least four or five years before he becomes a trophy buck. A few will survive that long. Alabama's Deer Management Program The Alabama Game and Fish Division provides technical assistance to landowners and hunting clubs who request assistance in managing their deer herds. The division provides that assistance through the Alabama Cooperative Deer Management Program, or deer management program as it's commonly called. Landowners and hunting clubs who participate in the program are required to keep accurate harvest records and to collect a lower jawbone from each deer harvested during hunting season. The harvest records contain information such as date harvested, antler development, weight (with nothing removed), and sex of each deer harvested. Both the harvest records and the lower jawbones are numbered consecutively (1, 2, 3, and so forth). The number placed on a jawbone must be the same as the number on the harvest record of the deer from which the jawbone was taken. For example, the jawbone from the deer described in the harvest record number 18 must also be numbered 18, and so forth. Landowners and members of hunting clubs must remember that a jawbone without a corresponding accurate harvest record is of little value. Likewise, a harvest record without a lower jawbone is of even less value. After hunting season, the Game and Fish Division determines the age of each deer by examining the jawbones. The age of each deer is then recorded on the harvest record for that particular deer. Harvest records of deer in the various age classes (1.5, 2.5, 3.5, and so forth) are then analyzed. Bucks are analyzed separately from does, of course. After analyzing the harvest records in the various age classes, the division makes specific recommendations to the landowners and hunting clubs regarding management of deer herds on their particular lands. The division's recommendations are based on specific objectives of the individual landowner or hunting club. For example, a landowner who wants to produce trophy bucks gets an entirely different set of recommendations from a landowner who merely wants to prevent his land from becoming overpopulated with deer. He gets a different set of recommendations, even though deer densities and habitat conditions on the two tracts of land may be almost identical. The state's deer management program has been in operation for several years, and it is getting more popular every year. It is getting more popular because it is providing a valuable service to people who are sincerely interested in managing their deer herds to achieve specific objectives. Landowners and hunting clubs who are interested in proper management of their deer herds should consider cooperating with the program. More information on the program is available from the Alabama Game and Fish Division, 64 North Union Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36130. Habitat Management Habitat management consists mostly of retaining, creating, and maintaining suitable food, cover, and water. Retaining Habitat From a practical standpoint, the most that can be done on many Alabama areas is to retain the excellent habitat that is already present--merely retain it in its present condition. Cover. Retain forest land, especially forest land with an abundance of tender undergrowth within 4.5 feet of the ground. Food. Retain trees (mostly hardwoods), vines, grasses, legumes, and weeds. On each acre of woodland, retain five or more mast-bearing oaks, preferably with diameters of 16 inches or more. Retain trees on hardwood sites if possible. Retain several different species of oaks from both the white oak and the red oak groups. If one species fails to produce mast, others are likely to succeed. Creating Habitat Creating natural foods on forest land. Open up the tree canopy and allow sunshine to hit the forest floor. Any forestry practice, including prescribed burning, which opens up the tree canopy and either creates or maintains desirable undergrowth within 4.5 feet of the ground is satisfactory. Creating openings on forest land. Create openings by cutting trees from the site and marketing them. Openings should be 1 to 5 acres in size and at least 200 feet wide. They should be well-distributed. One opening for every 25 acres of woodland is usually enough for high deer populations. Planting food plots. On most areas in Alabama, food plots appear to have little value in increasing carrying capacity for deer. Maybe it is because landowners, as a rule, do not plant enough acreage in food plots. Maybe it is because winter food does not limit deer populations in most areas of Alabama. Frankly, we do not know why. However, in a study in another state, it was found that 4 to 5 percent of a forest land area had to be planted in winter forage crops before carrying capacity for deer could be increased. That is 4 to 5 acres in winter forage for every 100 acres of forest land. As a rule, landowners in Alabama do not plant that many acres in food plots. Food plots do, however, aid in harvesting deer, especially in areas where still hunting is practiced--where hunters merely take a stand or enter a blind near a food plot and wait for deer to appear. On the other hand, food plots seem to be of little aid in harvesting deer when dogs are used in hunting. Plant food plots in American jointvetch, barley, clovers (arrowleaf, ball, bur, crimson, subterranean, white), corn, Japanese honeysuckle, oats, rescuegrass, rye, ryegrass, vetch, wheat, or fescue (fungus-free). Several Appendices at the end of this booklet contain instructions for planting and managing food plots for deer. Plots should be at least one acre in size. Whenever possible, plant on sites that are either level or more nearly level. That reduces the likelihood of soil erosion. When planting oats, select a variety that is winter hardy. Fescue is not a choice food of deer, but it is a perennial. Therefore, it does not require replanting every year. It should be planted on steep slopes and on other areas where choice foods would likely be overgrazed, thereby allowing serious erosion. Plots should be well-distributed and located on or near forest land. They should be large enough that deer will not overgraze them. One food plot for every 25 acres usually provides enough supplementary food for deer. Leaving farm crops unharvested. Leave one acre or more of such crops as corn, grain sorghum, and soybeans. Leave these crops unharvested and located near forest land. One acre or more of such crops for every 25 acres of forest land usually supports high deer populations. Feeding hay or grain during cold weather is not recommended. Plant outlying fields in winter forage. Plant outlying agricultural fields in the same crops as recommended for food plots. The production of deer food is not the primary reason for such planting, of course, but the fields provide a good bit of deer food without interfering with the normal farming operation. Water. Construct well-distributed water holes if water is scarce or absent. Deer should have to travel no farther than one-half mile for water. Maintaining Habitat Keep free-ranging dogs from the area, especially during spring, summer, and early fall. Cover. Protect from wildfire and overgrazing by livestock. Food. Manage forest land in such a way that an uneven-aged stand of many kinds of trees are present, including five or more mast-bearing oaks per acre. An abundance of tender undergrowth over at least half of the forest land is desirable. Maintain low-growing vegetation in forest land openings by mowing, disking, burning, or by other means. Protect food plots from heavy grazing by livestock. Mow fescue plots every fall and apply nitrogen fertilizer. Replant food plots as needed. Carrying Capacity The number of deer that an area can support is usually determined by the quality and quantity of winter food available within 4.5 feet of the ground. In general, upland areas may support one deer on every 25 acres during winter, the least favorable season. Lowlands may support one on every eight to twelve acres. It appears that these numbers can be supported year after year without damaging deer habitat. Deer populations should be maintained at densities somewhat below carrying capacity. The best known way of doing that is to have a well-regulated either-sex hunting season. Such a season results in high sustained annual yields of desirable deer for both recreation and food, and it prevents overpopulation. Two Appendices at the end of this booklet contain more information on proper harvesting of deer in Alabama. More Information More information is available in The White-Tailed Deer in Alabama, a publication of the Alabama Game and Fish Division, 64 North Union Street, Montgomery, Alabama 36130.
If either the live weight (nothing removed) or the field-dressed weight (body cavity completely empty) of a deer is known, the other can be determined from the above chart. Find the dressed weight at the bottom of the chart. Then, follow upward to
the diagonal line. From the intersection, follow direct line to the scale at
left and read live weight. Reverse the procedure to find dressed weight when
live weight is known.
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