I'm a bit ignorant of the statement or concept of "fawn value as recruits". What is the concept in terms of deer herd management in an area?
Does that mean some hunters, and areas have a difficult time of fawns surviving until the next calendar years? And if so, because of what? Because of natural predation? Because of hunter and habitat efforts?
If fawns have difficulty surviving?, then what? Natural predator reduction? And any hunter decisions and actions needed?
If fawns have no difficulty in surviving and recruit themselves in areas with excellent habitat and minimal predation, then what?
Imagine a fence. Deer in your range/circumference of thier range intersects with your site.
Choose a number. Preferably near actual number ; of your fawn crop this past spring/early summer.
That is the genesis of a year class (2020). Now we follow those fawn till yearling age next year pre-hunting season. How many remain?
This is your yearling class for 2021. Manage accordingly.
My sites fawns from last fawn drop that made it to hunting season , (and mind you the number means nothing to your ,or anyone else's site. With possible exception of my immediate adjacent neighboring properties) was 2 fawns.
Those are the year class of 2020 births.
A dozen +_ hunters are awaiting the buck fawn (singular) to reach age 2 to be legal.
Maybe among those hunters 2 is too young. I've not been told anyone around me would pass , but my point is , one buck from 2020 year class is the recruit going forward.
That's what I mean when stressing that it is the annual fawn crop that matters in managing a local herd.
When I passed all deer a couple years ago it was due to wanting to see more fawn recruitment potential.
When I took a doe fawn the following year there were more fawns than usual trend. But...I did not want to take an older doe. Because of the older doe experience in raising fawns. And the better odds of twins. Though not high odds.
How much does that older experience matter?
My crude measure is the unattended by fawn yearling doe in fall pre-hunting season. And when they remain unattended through hunting season (with exception of the mixing in browsing areas) then we know those fawns the yearling(s) had are gone.
Leading to your question of where/mortality cause.
Firstly here , coyote.
A prior estimated den count next door by our trapper of fawn remains was just over a dozen.
That was the first year he started trapping.
Other mortality causes exist of course. When fawn numbers are low , the risk per individual is greater.
(Thinks plains game birthing time and numbers in large herds vs predation rate by carnivores.)
Don't take this as complaint. In terms of desired herd reduction in a C.W.D. area it's good.
(Depending on who you ask).
Herd reduction means my sightings have not been double digit in years.
Am I in "the" spot all deer are seen each hunt? No. But it is a pinch point of sorts when local deer move.
And at times an evening destination. Though not designed as such. I'd rather they left every night after dark.
Among those single digit counts are several deer.
Among them varied age does and bucks.
Among them are fawns.
Among those fawns are the future of what will be available to hunt.
Two fawns. 12 hunters. (Don't hold me to hunter number per deer estimate . A neighbor and I ran through some estimates the other day..)
How much do those 2 fawns matter?
Emptying one five round magazine would more than halve my deer sightings.
And some neighbors sightings as well.
So kill choices are based on what exists. With what may exist in the future based on fawn recruitment.
Doe and fawn moseyed by the neighbor and soon as they crossed the dirt road /boundary , bang! Fawn returned alone. Shooter sprinted to doe and was almost throwing his arms over his head gutting her.
Neighbor found the behavior odd , more so as he'd seen the U.T.V. arrive and didn't recognize it.
He eased toward his truck thinking he'd find where the guy went with the doe , and the guy took off. (That is fast..) So that doe won't contribute to next springs fawn crop/recruits.
Was her fawn one of the two I counted? Likely. As the deer trade back and forth between us.
2019 fawn crop/recruits of bucks observed during 2020 =1.
Not saying they didn't rotate in vs stayed in natal range. What matters is , what exists.
Trend of age classes , trend at legal antler average(2 year olds), trend of hunter numbers , suggests that if habitat and disease management tolerated such ;higher fawn recruitment would increase hunter success/ ratio of kills per X amount of hunters.
2020 buck recruits of fawns observed throughout season. (Again) , was 1.
He'll be gone come fawning time playing in the road or something unless his dam is gone. She'll run all deer off (she's older and dominant enough to hold her fawning area still) before she drops her fawn(s).
He can return briefly next late summer and find cold reception if she is still around.
He leaves her (and related doe) alone he can hang around.
But before doe are receptive bucks will cruise about checking more ground than natal range regardless.
"My" yearling buck becomes someone elses. I get someone elses on my site. Bucks break out of bachelor group(s) and spread out off of summer range. (Well , some will.)
Individual bucks than summered mostly solo ease towards into fall range.
Year class numbers started with fawn recruitment. A given year class does not expand after that.
(Well , yes ,deer can drift in from beyond area being counted and become local deer. Or simply pass through exploring.)
IF my estimates are accurate enough and areas beyond mine trend the same in fawn recruitment we'll see similar results/counts of yearlings.
Recent trends of my counts hint that year classes of yearlings reflect previous years fawn production and survival pretty close. Even if I'm seeing different yearlings this year than the fawns counted the prior year.
