But it is the does which dominate and lead. In the rutting season, the bucks live in a state of high tension. They must compete by intimidation. The does continue to live quietly, and once covered, remain in the group - sister power. The does not impregnated come into season again 10 to 14 days later.
Gestation is eight months.
For the first year all the young are fawns, having no horns. They are 'does' when they breed in their second year, calving around their second birthday. The rut begins in early October, apparently initiated by change in the length of the day. The Master is then constantly on the move among perhaps thirty females, patrolling, rushing rivals, barking constantly, covering receptive females, fighting when he has to. In a little more than a month he will lose one quarter to one third of his body weight.