Fawns

[Gator]

Saw my first fawn of the year this morning. Using 200 days as the gestation period, that puts the doe being bred on or before Oct 20 and likely earlier by a week or more based on the size of the fawn. Seems to be getting earlier and earlier around me.

 

[BTaylor]

Saw a couple last Thursday up by the farm. Dates match for the start of breeding up there based on what we have observed during season and back dating first sightings.

 

[thedutchtouch]

Mmm futureburgers

 

[SNIPERBBB]

Just the front of the season, wouldn't really call it earlier breeding

 

[Allegheny Tom]

I've been noticing early May born fawns for quite a few years now.
It proves that there's a significant amount of October breeding, at least where I live in SW PA.
I assume herd numbers, age structure and buck to doe ratio has a bearing. Might be completely different in areas with more balanced numbers.
We have lots of deer, ratio is only fair at best, and the age structure of bucks stinks.

 

[Dope on a Rope]

Probably depends on geo, but it’s still a few weeks early here

 

[SNIPERBBB]

I've been noticing early May born fawns for quite a few years now.
It proves that there's a significant amount of October breeding, at least where I live in SW PA.
I assume herd numbers, age structure and buck to doe ratio has a bearing. Might be completely different in areas with more balanced numbers.
We have lots of deer, ratio is only fair at best, and the age structure of bucks stinks.

I would assume a low doe to buck ratio would lead to more early breeding. If does have to get in line to be bred that's where you see bucks hanging onto antlers well into January and February

 

[Tim0712]

I've been noticing early May born fawns for quite a few years now.
It proves that there's a significant amount of October breeding, at least where I live in SW PA.
I assume herd numbers, age structure and buck to doe ratio has a bearing. Might be completely different in areas with more balanced numbers.
We have lots of deer, ratio is only fair at best, and the age structure of bucks stinks.

I’m a hop skip and jump away from you up in Massachusetts I can count on one hand the amount of early fawns I’ve seen in the early weeks of may but our deer density is also all of if not less than half of what you have down there

 

[NATHAN]

Not seen any yet in Southern Illinois. 37.7 lattitude.

 

[Allegheny Tom]

One way of monitoring fawn drop is to keep an eye out for road kill fawns.
New born fawns stay put for a week or more.
If you see road kill fawns, you can assume they are at least a week old. Road kill fawns in mid May were most likely conceived in the middle of October.

 

[boyne bowhunter]

Haven't seen any here yet but a buddy from Wilmington, NC sent me this picture on Wed, May 1st this year.

 

[Pyronole]

Saw my first one on St Patty"s Day.....works well with our late August/early Sept rut!! I much prefer yall's cooler Oct-Nov timing though! The does from my Panhandle area wont be dropping until between mid July and Sept 1 depending if they got preggo the first go round!