4X4 Mule Deer Buck
by Renny Spencer
Title
4X4 Mule Deer Buck
Artist
Renny Spencer
Medium
Photograph - Photography
Description
A large 4X4 mule deer buck stares intently at me and the camera. Antlers are high and wide on this male deer.
https://www.nwf.org/Educational-Resources/Wildlife-Guide/Mammals/Mule-Deer
"Between November and February (depending on the locality), bucks that are evenly matched in size and strength engage in battles for the right to mate with females. They lock antlers and fight until the point of exhaustion, when one will back down and flee from the victor. These victorious bucks attract females to them and attempt to defend them against the attention of other (often younger) bucks. Sexual maturity is attained at the age of about 18 months in does, but young bucks are not allowed to participate in the rut until they are three to four years old.
The gestation period is approximately 200 to 210 days, and the fawning period extends over several weeks in the summer. The female sequesters herself and drops her fawn in a protected spot, where it remains for a period of a week or 10 days before it is strong enough to follow her. At birth, fawns are spotted and weigh approximately 5.5 pounds (2.5 kilograms). The young ones are weaned at about the age of 60 or 75 days, at which time they begin to lose their spots. Mule deer usually live 9 to 11 years in the wild."
Uploaded
September 20th, 2020
Embed
Share
