Date: Tue, 22 Oct 2013 12:23:57 -0400
From: Bruce Hively
Subject: about those deer…
Now I am not an expert, but here is what I think I know about white tail deer, the species you see around here.
Typically, young deer will congregate by sex. The young bucks you see hanging out (cruising) are known as bachelor herds.
No one else wants to be around them because…well because they are adolescents and who could stand that other than other “teens”.
This behavior lasts until the start of the rut (breeding season), then it’s every son of a buck for themselves and good luck because when it comes to deer antlers, size does matter if you know what I mean.
The size of the rack and the number of points is a general indicator of maturity (age) but also indicates diet, heredity and other factors.
The number of points are counted on both sides of the rack for east coast hunters (observers).
The number of points are counted on only one rack (main beam) for folks “out west” and usually apply to all antlered beasts.
For more titillating information, you visit the NC wildlife conservation website, also “Boone and Crockett”, Field and Stream, etc.
Also, did you know that our white tails shed their racks every year?
Bear