Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: Roper on August 14, 2007, 08:12:15 PM

Title: Curious about mule deer...
Post by: Roper on August 14, 2007, 08:12:15 PM: I'm not a deer officianado by any means. So I have a question about the mule deer I see around our house. Several does and their fawns graze on our "yard". I've noticed the fawns still have white spots, I would have thought that would have changed by now. Are these just born later? When do they loose their spots?

The other question is some of the adult deer have mottled coats, spotty, grey areas mixed in with the brown. Is this normal? Do deer get mange?

Help an old grouse hunter understand if you will, Thanks.
Title: Re: Curious about mule deer...
Post by: Cougeyes on August 14, 2007, 09:07:11 PM: Fawns will usually keep their spots until they are weaned, and i'm not positive at what age that actually is, but i'm guessing around late August to september sometime, but that's just a guess. Their white spots break up the young's reddish/brown coat. You think of when they're born..usually around May and June, that's about the time when you start seeing new flowers, grasses, and shrubs appear. The white spots help the fawns conceal themselves when the mom is off feeding.

As for the "mange" the deer are slowly shedding their summer coats as fall slowly approaches. You will see them change from the reddish/brown color to their fall and winter coats of a darker gray color.
Title: Re: Curious about mule deer...
Post by: Roper on August 15, 2007, 05:23:09 PM: Thanks for the feedback.

I've got an old Model 94 in 30-30 that has me tempted to try and get a deer. I know it's a brush gun but even with iron sights I can get a decent grouping with it.

I'm not sure I'd like to be out when the "orange bloom" hits the timber, if you get my drift... :rolleyes:

We'll see...