interesting deer observation

[smbassman]

This morning I had an unusual sight. Three does (two adults, one ~70# yearling) stepped out of a bedding thicket into a wooded area about 1-2 acres in size. They crossed diagonally to a corner where one of the adults stayed and the other two turned and went to another corner. After standing there for 10mins or so, the young doe (which was unusually thin for this time of year) started running and bounding towards the other deer, stopped and ran back. The yearling continued running in circles and sprinting back in forth for 30-40mins through this area that the adult does were watching over. Not so much in a playful mood like you typically see in Sept. and Oct. but it appeared that the young skinny deer was trying to stay warm???? After this show, the deer followed the same path back into the thicket and bedded down.

It was ~15degrees this morning with the clear skies, fresh snow and light breeze - so it was probably colder than that at sunrise.

Has anyone else witnessed stuff like this in the winter? Whatever the reason, it was interesting to watch and a little humorous.

[FixedBlade]

Trying to stay warm? I doubt it. Happy to be alive and tring to get the others into a game of chase. Yea.

[jimmyboy]

:yeahthat: Young deer are quite playful regardless of the weather.

[Backwoods-Savage]

Sounds to me like she may have been just starting to come into heat. That is a very common sight. I had one doing it the next to last day of season. She was holding her tail straight out in the classical way. Next morning I saw her with a buck too. If I were you, I'd make sure I hunt that same area tomorrow.

[Erik]

Another idea, given the fact that firearm season just got over, it's possible it may have been orphaned recently.
I've watched orphaned fawns act pretty weird. If they don't have a mother to reinforce their status within the herd they become the lowest member in the pecking order. The young fawn has to learn a whole new set of rules. Sometimes what we perceive as looking playful is really something quite the opposite. Did the other deer lay their ears back when she got close to them?