Biology And Management Of White-tailed Deer In Alabama

natural breeding behaviors.
Studies in
the Southeast have
shown the abundance
of rubs and scrapes is
directly proportional
to the abundance of
mature males in the
herd. In areas where
buck age structure is
poor due to heavy
harvest of immature
Protracted breeding periods result in fawns of
the same age class being separated by several
months in actual age. Photo by Joe Hamilton.
males, rub densities may range from 500 to 1,500 per square mile (Miller
et al. 1987). In areas managed to produce a good proportion of mature
males, rub densities of more than 6,000 per square mile have been reported
(Woods 1997).
These signposts (rubs and scrapes) are important in that they
play an important role in the natural reproductive cycle of deer. Many
researchers believe signposts left by mature bucks have a priming effect
on the estrous cycle of does. Mature buck sign is thought to possibly
bring does into estrous earlier and to synchronize estrous cycles. As a
result, does are bred earlier and in a more compressed time frame. Subsequently,
fawning also will occur during an earlier period when habitat
conditions are better. Further, fawning will occur over a much shorter
time period, ensuring all fawns begin life under relatively uniform conditions.
Competition among males for breeding opportunities often be-
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