Animal Field Guide

White-tailed Deer

Odocoileus virginianus
(Cervidae)

Global Rank: G5
State Rank: S5

Agency Status
USFWS:
USFS: none
BLM: none

Coat grayish-brown in winter, reddish-brown in summer; underside of foot-long tail white; antlers consist of main beams, generally with three to five tines projecting upward; brow tines long; outside of lower hind foot has a small, teardrop-shaped scent gland; mature bucks weigh 250-275 lbs. on good range, does 160-180. Occupy small home ranges, do not migrate far; mostly nocturnal and secretive; solitary much of the time but form small groups in favored feeding areas; when alarmed or running, erect and wag their tails, causing white underside to flash.

Causes damage when browsing in winter on agricultural and nursery crops and on ornamental plants around homes. Also may inhibit forest regeneration in certain situations (Tilghman 1989). Deer-vehicle collisions (exceeding 20,000-30,000 per year in Michigan, New York, and Pennsylvania) often result when deer are attracted to sodium-rich roadsides that result from use of deicing salt.

Uses summer range, winter range in W MT - may be 8.69-15 mi. apart.

River and creek bottoms; dense vegetation at higher elevations; sometimes open bitterbush hillsides in winter (FWP). In W MT mature subclimax coniferous forest, cool sites, diversity & moist sites important in summer (Leach 1982). In winter prefer dense canopy classes, moist habitat types, uncut areas & low snow depths (Berner 1985).

Leaves, twigs, fruits, and berries of browse plants such as chokecherry, serviceberry, snowberry, and dogwood; some forbs during summer (FWP). Browse most imp. statewide - yr. round, particularly so in winter. Graminoid use increases in spring, forb use in late spring & sometimes in fall.

Diff. habit. select. reduces potential of mule deer & white-tailed deer competetion. Cattle may compete if using river bottom browse heavily (in C MT). Extensive large clearcuts reduce winter range.

Breed mid-to late November; one or two reddish but white-spotted fawns; bucks do not gather in harems; necks of rutting bucks swell (but less so than mule deer); healthy adult bucks shed antlers in December or January; does usually breed first as yearlings in Montana (16-17 months) (FWP). In W MT breeds late Nov-early Dec. First breeding produces single fawns, twins thereafter. In Swan Valley mean fetal rate/preg. does = 1.5 -1.6, ave. ann. recruitment 29%.