Ohio Whitetail Deer Fawns

Whitetail Deer are the state mammal of Ohio meaning there's no population shortage of them, however, conservation and heard growth is still very important. Conservation of wild whitetail deer and deer on a whitetail hunting preserve are equally crucial for heard growth and educational reasons. Fawns become a spectacle once they begin to appear with their mothers. For many nonhunters, it's for the reasoning of, "Oh, look how cute!" Hunters see them as a sign of where whitetail growth is strong meaning they have good habitat and resources. Fawns on the Hidden Hollow Whitetail Hunting Ranch help us with genetics and herd reproduction, and even education. There is a lot the average person doesn't know about whitetail deer, and today we want to take a moment to share some quick facts Ohio whitetail deer fawns.

1. The average fawn has 290-310 spots. Fawns are immediately identifiable by their double row of white spots along their spine. The spots start at the base of the spine and run down to their tail. The spots might help them stand out when up and moving about, but in their first weeks of life when bedded down they are a key factor of camouflage. As they age and become more mobile, their spots begin to fade and are replaced with their reddish-brown coat.

2. Fawns are up and walking within a few hours of birth. A mother doe will nudge her fawn, or fawns to be up and moving quickly but they won't do much adventuring for a few weeks. Fawns typically stay bedded down for the first few weeks of life. When a whitetail deer fawn is bedded down their legs are tucked tightly below them with their head resting atop to stay alert to potential dangers. They only get up to stretch their legs and nurse from mother.

3. The doe will wash her fawns after birth to help hide them from predators and to deposit her own scent on to them. Her scent helps identify which fawns are hers, although is practically untraceable by other potential predators. This is especially important for a doe with fawns as she will place them some distance apart, usually somewhere between 25-75 feet apart but can be as far as 250 feet apart. She will stay out of the area where she has left her fawns to bed to avoid leaving her scent and attracting predators.

4. After roughly two weeks, fawns will be up and moving with their mother for feeding. At this point, the whitetail deer fawns are running with their mother and sibling fawns. A fawn will typically feed from their mother from about 6 times a day. Deer milk is much fatter than other milk, such as cow's milk. As fawns ween from their mother they will begin grazing on grass, crops, and other plants. Once weening, the fawn will stick around with its mother for roughly the first year and then they will separate.

Hidden Hollow Whitetail Ranch strives to educate hunters and non-hunters alike about the wildlife of Ohio. Whitetail Hunting Preserves offer more than the promise of a large deer, they help us study the habits and lifestyle of these wild animals in a more accessible environment.