Biology And Management Of White-tailed Deer In Alabama

LACTATION
Checking a doe for the presence of milk (lactation) may be one
of the most important aspects of data collection. Unfortunately, it also
is one of the most overlooked. Checking for milk may seem less respectable
than measuring the rack on old “Mossy Horns”, but it is probably
more important. By recording lactation information, managers are able
to estimate the percentage of does that produced a fawn during the
previous year. A high lactation rate should be viewed in a positive
light—high fawn production means high buck production. Looking at
lactation in this way should make its importance more obvious.
OBSERVATIONAL DATA
Although it is not included in many management programs,
observational data can prove very helpful when trying to evaluate the
condition of your deer herd. For observational data to be accurate, hunters
need to record their observations as soon as they return from the
field. The longer the
delay in recording
this information, the
more likely some mistakes
will be made.
All
observations
should be recorded on
an observation log
(see APPENDIX 7,
page 155). This ob-
Hunter field observation data gives a more
complete picture of a herd’s health than using
deer harvest data alone.
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