Biology And Management Of White-tailed Deer In Alabama

determining exactly how many individuals are in the population.
EFFECTS OF ADULT SEX RATIO AND BUCK AGE
STRUCTURE
Research literature on the effects of adult sex ratio and buck
age structure on deer populations is extensive. Among biologists, it is
commonly accepted that both of these population factors have significant
influences with regard to reproductive considerations, such as
timing and duration of the breeding season. For the deer manager,
manipulating these population characteristics through selective harvest
management is of great importance.
ADULT SEX RATIO
As previously stated, an unhunted or properly managed deer
herd will have a substantial proportion of mature males. Adult sex
ratios in these populations will be relatively tight at approximately 1.0
male for every 1.5 to 3.0 females. Adult sex ratio is important for several
reasons. In an unbalanced, female-heavy population, there are too
many does for the available bucks to breed. Consequently, some adult
does are not bred and will not be a productive part of the herd. Some of
the does that are bred may have conceived on a later estrous cycle due
to an insufficient number of bucks in the herd to breed them on the first
estrous cycle. The result is a long, drawn-out breeding period.
The fawning period also is extended under these conditions.
Instead of all fawns being born in a relatively compressed time frame,
fawning will occur over a two to three month period. Fawns of the same
age class are separated by several months in actual age. Does bred on
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