How many fawns does the average buck produce….

[AT Hiker]

…not as many as you think, according to this research project anyways.

Very interesting article that just came out, here are a couple quotes that stand out to me;
"Most bucks and does don't do much more than replace themselves. A long-term study showed that 60% of bucks that are successful breeders – the majority of them – only produce one fawn that survives at least 6 months in their lifetimes. The maximum found for one buck was 12 fawns."

and

"The embryo samples also allow us to document that whitetails can be highly promiscuous. Most adult does produce twin fawns each year, and up to 50% of those "twins" actually have different dads."

How Many Fawns Does the Average Buck Produce? | National Deer Association

www.deerassociation.com

 

[TN Larry]

Which also brings the question is on average how many times does a doe breed each year?

I used to think that a doe would only breed one time and then done for the year. However, it has to be multiple times if different dads for a set of twins.

I have only witnessed one time a buck breeding a doe. I had seen a doe and fawn earlier in the morning that went over a point out of sight. They must have bedded right on the other side. A few hours later a 1.5yo 4pt came through just passing through and not on the doe's trail. He went over the point and must have ran right into them because just a minute after he disappeared here he came back chasing a doe with fawn in two. She ran maybe 50 yards over the point, stopped, and he bred her. I was like dang that was easy. Lol..... He dismounted and proceeded to walk off. He made it about 20 yards, stopped, turned around to look at her, put his head down, and took back off chasing her. I don't know what happened after that as they never came back through. I was then impressed and wanted to shake his hand. I just wonder if he bred her again or what happened afterwards.

 

[Omega]

I find this hard to believe, with as many bucks that get taken each year, some before they breed you would think they would be very diminished by now, but the population, specially around here, has bounced back from the EHD outbreak a few years ago.

 

[GOHUNT]

I guess that the "average" buck does a parent very many. The dominant but may breed several does in a season therefore throwing several fawns.

 

[MickThompson]

I guess that the "average" buck does a parent very many. The dominant but may breed several does in a season therefore throwing several fawns.

The notion of a dominant (breeding) buck has been largely disproven by other studies

 

[DoubleRidge]

…not as many as you think, according to this research project anyways.Very interesting article that just came out, here are a couple quotes that stand out to me;
"Most bucks and does don't do much more than replace themselves. A long-term study showed that 60% of bucks that are successful breeders – the majority of them – only produce one fawn that survives at least 6 months in their lifetimes. The maximum found for one buck was 12 fawns."and"The embryo samples also allow us to document that whitetails can be highly promiscuous. Most adult does produce twin fawns each year, and up to 50% of those "twins" actually have different dads."

How Many Fawns Does the Average Buck Produce? | National Deer Association

www.deerassociation.com

Interesting .....I had read about twin fawns many times having different father's....but didn't know a bucks success rate was so low over a lifetime?

 

[Popcorn]

The data revealed in this study is very misleading and self defeating in how it is reported. With many areas having buck to doe ratio's of 1;6 or 1;8 ? These areas have very liberal doe harvests and yet the populations continue to expand until a bad event (disease) knocks the numbers down then they recover again within a few seasons. I also think that caged or fenced herd does not accurately reflect deer in the wild. Genetic traits in any given herd cast doubt on the statements made, For example the large percentage of racks with a forked right G-2 in bucks on the northwest corner of Ft. Campbell or the habit of the left side of bucks west of there being smaller on average than the right but the bucks that dont show this trait tend to be thicker and heavier in body. Every area has these genetic markers that prove the aforementioned study incomplete if not inaccurate. For genetic markers or trends to exist in numbers that make them notable there absolutely must be more success of some breeders than the study implies. Consider that the genetics trail to a large degree goes from mother to son to daughter to grandson over time there must be a higher level of success for breeders of some lines. I dont disagree that other lines fail but success differs from specie to specie. If you will, survival of the fittest! The fittest line survives, these physical markers are how we notice them.

 

[BSK]

I remember seeing the data from this study while it was being conducted. Fascinating stuff. I think the finding that a few bucks are very successful breeders (in young produced) while most are not, is probably spot on. I'm surprised by the low success rate of females in this study. That doesn't seem to match what I've witnessed; individual does with surviving fawns every year, and does can live a long time and produce a lot of fawns. I agree with Popcorn that conducting this study inside a high-fence couldn't help but effect the results. 3,000 acres sounds like a big area enclosed. But I've worked with clubs/landowners in the 4,000 to 6,000 acre range, and they still see a considerable influx and emigration of deer even on properties that large. So 3,000 acres is still working with an "enclosed deer population," which will certainly skew results.

All that said, I do agree with the basic results of the study. Each individual deer is not as successful at producing surviving offspring as we would think. This especially true of bucks. A few bucks are very prolific, while most are not. In fact, a significant portion of the male population never produce a surviving offspring.

 

[AT Hiker]

The MSU deer lab released a study that found collard bucks had a home range of about 1,000 acres, which is often divided seasonally.
Some bucks have even ranged up to 18 miles.
Mother Nature has it figured out, we are just trying to understand it.

 

[Gobble4me757]

Shoot our bucks must be as fertile as the land of milk and honey with the deer they are producing every year despite getting shot at every age by our neighbors lol

 

[BSK]

Which also brings the question is on average how many times does a doe breed each year?

I used to think that a doe would only breed one time and then done for the year. However, it has to be multiple times if different dads for a set of twins.

When a buck "tends" a doe during the 24-48 hours she is in estrus, he usually mounts her several times. Some of the studies I've seen indicate does are bred upwards of 5-7 times during their estrus. And in theory, every one of those could be with a different buck.

 

[BigAl]

When a buck "tends" a doe during the 24-48 hours she is in estrus, he usually mounts her several times. Some of the studies I've seen indicate does are bred upwards of 5-7 times during their estrus. And in theory, every one of those could be with a different buck.

I've read this as well. It even occurs in humans.

 

[BSK]

I've read this as well. It even occurs in humans.

Ha!