The establishment of fawning territories is thought to limit social stress and help distribute populations evenly. Territories also may prevent newborn fawns from imprinting on deer other than their mothers. Does may give birth while standing but often are bedded during delivery. The actual birthing process lasts 30 to 150 minutes with twins born 15 to 30 minutes apart. After giving birth, the doe consumes placental membranes and afterbirth-probably to reduce scent and recycle nutrients.
Mothers also consume their fawn's fecal materials for the first two to three weeks.
Fawns, which weigh from four to eight pounds at birth in Missouri, can stand as soon as 30 minutes after being born and usually begin nursing at this time. During these first hours and days, fawns imprint on their mothers or, in some cases, on another deer or animal. The first weeks of life for newborn fawns are precarious. Young fawns are vulnerable to a variety of predators, diseases, parasites and human-caused mortality. In Missouri, the major natural predators are coyotes, dogs and bobcats.