Biology And Management Of White-tailed Deer In Alabama

check their scrapes regularly
to detect whether a receptive
doe has visited the site and
deposited urine as well. If so,
the buck will use his sense of
smell to trail the doe and attempt
to breed her.
Does remain in heat
or estrous and are receptive
to breeding for about 24
hours. During that time, a
courting buck will stay close
to an estrous doe—even feeding
and bedding with her.
Large rubs are not an uncommon sight
before and during the breeding season,
particularly in areas managed for
mature bucks.
During her period of estrous, the buck may mate with her several times.
If a doe is not bred during this period of receptiveness, she will come
into estrous again about every 28 days until she is bred or until the
breeding season is over. In some herds, does may be bred on second,
third, or even fourth estrous cycles. This is not desirable and leads to a
long and protracted fawning period—a problem associated with deer
herds having sex ratios/age structures heavily skewed in favor of adult
females and immature bucks.
Yearling does (1-1/2 years old) are sexually mature and capable
of breeding. Research in Alabama has documented pregnancy rates for
yearling does as high as 100 percent in healthy herds. State researchers
have documented doe fawns that were bred and had conceived.
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