A Preliminary Report On White-Tailed And Black-Tailed Deer Crossbreeding Studies In Tennessee

Hybridization of white-tailed and black-tailed deer was investigated over a three year period in Tennessee. White-tailed deer were placed in pens with black-tailed deer of the opposite sex, and hybrid deer were readily obtained. Hybrids were placed in pens with fertile, purebred white-tailed and black-tailed deer of the opposite sex. None of the hybrids produced young during their first year of life. During their second year of life, 50 percent of the hybrids produced young of which 66 percent were stillborn. Previous to this, all white-tailed, black-tailed hybrids were reported to be sterile. Hybrids could not be distinguished from blacktails, and white-tailed characteristics were lost.