Although large numbers of deer are sometimes seen together in feeding areas or wintering areas, these associations are usually temporary and do not reflect the same strong ties as family associations between related does. The most common social group is an adult doe, her fawns and her yearling female offspring. Sometimes three or four generations of related does are present in a family group. When fawning season rolls around in late May, adult does leave the family group and remain alone to bear and rear their fawns. Once a pregnant doe leaves the family circle to bear her fawns, her yearling offspring are left on their own for the summer.
Siblings tend to remain together throughout most of summer.
Sibling groups with yearling bucks separate in September as the rut approaches. Yearling bucks tend to disperse from the mother's home range at this time. Yearling does remain in the mother's home range and generally rejoin their mother and her new fawns between September and October. During the breeding season adult and yearling bucks tend to stay alone except when in pursuit of a female approaching estrus. After the breeding season in late January, yearling and adult bucks form loose associations of small groups, usually two to four animals, which remain together throughout most of the winter and summer months.