Fawns being driven off?

[kroppe]

Was thinking tonight the fawns might be starting to be driven off by the does. Driving home tonight in Monroe and Washtenaw Counties, in several different fields I saw forlorn looking fawns in broad daylight (about 6pm). No mature deer to be seen.

On a semi-related note, there was a 9pt buck killed on the side of southbound US-23 in Monroe County this morning, and there has been a noticeable increase in the past week of fresh roadkill on US-23 between I-94 and the Ohio state line.

Seems like deer activity is picking up.

[jimmyboy]

Does drive off the 1 1/2 yr old bucks this time of year,not their fawns.Purpose:prevent in-breeding.

[One Eye]

The fawns you saw most likely have been orphaned. The female fawns only get pushed out temporarily in the Spring durin fawning. The buck fawns get driven out before they reach sexual maturity. As mentioned above, this is to prevent in-breeding. Many deer managers advocate shooting does that are rearing buck fawns so the buck fawns stay in that home territory. this is very controversial in some circles though.

Dan

[farmlegend]

Probably orphaned fawns. There is some "separation" between does and their fawns at the time that does are in breeding mode, but that is a very brief window, typically a few days in mid-November.