Consequently, when some bucks are coming into rut, others are going out or are in a non-breeding condition, with no antlers and with their testes quiescent. Likewise, females experience estrous cycles throughout the year with each cycle lasting about 3 weeks. The bucks make no attempt to collect or retain harems of does, but instead they seek out and service the does in each herd as they become receptive. Normally, only one fawn is produced per pregnancy after a gestation period of 210-238 days. Following parturition, females again mate during the subsequent breeding period, so that adult females tend to produce one fawn each year.
Twins are rare.
Fawns begin eating green forage by 5 weeks of age, but weaning is delayed until 4-6 months. Possibly, does may breed in the breeding season following birth, but most do not breed until the following season, when 14-17 months of age. Martin T. Fulfer, courtesy of Texas Parks and Wildlife. This page is copyrighted 1994 by Texas Parks and Wildlife, Nongame and Urban Program. All rights reserved.