Thus, they often are found in different habitats than family groups of does and fawns. Some deer researchers suggest males prefer open areas so that they can keep track of their position in the social hierarchy and to keep from damaging their antlers while feeding. Others theorize that the males' nutritional requirements are lower per pound of body weight or that their large rumens allow them to consume more food and gather sufficient nutrition from poorer ranges. Activity levels in deer are proportional to their nutritional needs. Larger bucks are reported to be more active than smaller bucks during summer.
Females are more active than males.
Nonetheless, both sexes tend to have smaller home ranges during summer and use wooded cover during daytime periods and open areas at night. This fawn no longer needs to remain hidden during the day and is old enough to stay with its mother. Fawns' transition between remain-ing bedded for the majority of the day to traveling with their mothers takes place gradually between the first and third months of age. Fall and Winter Fall is a frenzied time of year for whitetails. Does and fawns continue to travel in groups, but now fawns are totally weaned and does feed aggressively to recover from the stresses associated with raising them.