<p> White-tailed Deer Odocoileus virginianus</p><p>Texas population: 4 million</p><p>Annual harvest: 400,000</p><p>Ruminants and chew their “cud”</p><p>Sharp eyes</p><p>Communication: snorting, stomping feet, smell raise the tail “flagging”, voice call</p><p>Top speed: 30-35 miles/ hour</p><p>Antlers: bone material</p><p>Antler development begins in April</p><p>Antlers are nourished by blood vessels called “velvet”</p><p>Velvet shed: September</p><p>Antlers shed: February</p><p>Prime antler development: 5 ½ to 6 ½ years old</p><p>Fawn: less than 1 year old</p><p>Spikes can be attributed to: genetics, nutrition, and age</p><p>Both bucks and does normally reach maturity at 15 to 20 months old</p><p>Rut: October to January</p><p>Does can have 3 estrus cycles a year</p><p>Doe is receptive to a buck about 28 hours and be back in hear 28 days later Gestation period – 200days</p><p>Weaned at about 4 month old</p><p>A buck’s home range is 2 to 4 times bigger than a doe’s</p><p>Death: usually 10 years or younger</p><p>Food: Browse or woody plants Forbs or weeds Grasses</p><p>Diet consists of 3 to 7 lbs. Of dry matter per day and 14 to 18% protein</p><p>Increased eating of grass may indicate over population, poor conditions, of too much competition.</p><p>Sometimes they eat crops such as: peanuts, corn, peas, clover, oats, ryegrass, wheat, etc… Cover: 40 to 50% of an area They need some type of woody cover</p><p>Water: ½ to 1 gallon per day Need H20 in 1 to 3 miles.</p><p>Population: Ideal 1:1 ratio A healthy herd can with stand a 30% harvest A lot of spikes indicate a management problem</p>