Reproductive Characteristics of Female White-tailed Deer in Missouri
We measured reproductive parameters of 2,833 female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) collected from 1978 to 1986 and 1989 to 1993 in 3 geographical regions of Missouri. Fawn pregnancy and fetal rates were lower (P < 0.001) than those of yearling and older does. Ozark region fawns had lower fetal rates than fawns from the Glaciated Plains region; no other regional differences were found. Fetal sex ratios approached 1:1 and were not influenced by year of collection, litter size, region, or age of doe. However, yearling and older does that conceived late in the annual breeding...
