Hunting Washington Forum

Big Game Hunting => Deer Hunting => Topic started by: nwwanderer on August 03, 2023, 07:05:21 AM

Title: Whitetail out of synch
Post by: nwwanderer on August 03, 2023, 07:05:21 AM: With harvest going have had a chance to see several more fawns, from tiny, normal and spotless. Not a good sign. Spread out fawning is a predator dream, a constant supply of easy to catch meals. An older skinny necked doe lost her fawn to coyotes near my yard about a month ago and she was showing signs of cycling today. February fawns do not do will. Impossible some might say but a deer manager from my past taught that WT can cycle in month of the year but survival is best with late spring births in great numbers. This is likely the buck that was with the doe this morning and he was very interested. Big predator numbers, EHD and some tough late winter conditions have spread out fawning and all of the does I am seeing without fawns are the proof. It is a tough cycle that will take time and some understanding management to work through. Certainly not the cased everywhere but showing in my neck of the woods.
Title: Re: Whitetail out of synch
Post by: Jonathan_S on August 03, 2023, 08:14:02 AM: On the flip side, maybe this is a sign that where you live, life is easier for them. In the South this is normal as there is a much vaguer selection process. That's the optimism anyway.
Title: Re: Whitetail out of synch
Post by: andrew_in_idaho on August 03, 2023, 05:33:31 PM: I’ve seen several very small, very spotted fawns lately throughout the region. Seems very late in the year

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Title: Re: Whitetail out of synch
Post by: hunter399 on August 03, 2023, 05:46:03 PM: Quote from: nwwanderer on August 03, 2023, 07:05:21 AM
With harvest going have had a chance to see several more fawns, from tiny, normal and spotless. Not a good sign. Spread out fawning is a predator dream, a constant supply of easy to catch meals. An older skinny necked doe lost her fawn to coyotes near my yard about a month ago and she was showing signs of cycling today. February fawns do not do will. Impossible some might say but a deer manager from my past taught that WT can cycle in month of the year but survival is best with late spring births in great numbers. This is likely the buck that was with the doe this morning and he was very interested. Big predator numbers, EHD and some tough late winter conditions have spread out fawning and all of the does I am seeing without fawns are the proof. It is a tough cycle that will take time and some understanding management to work through. Certainly not the cased everywhere but showing in my neck of the woods.
Your assessment is spot on
I agree totally with ya.

This year alone I've had the least amount of fawns in ten years I've been running trail cams.
Also the fawns seem to be dropping later and later and spratic as you described.
I have a few guesses as to why.
But I'm no biologist, and cant really say on the forum.
Not sure what can be done about it though.
Title: Re: Whitetail out of synch
Post by: huntnnw on August 03, 2023, 06:00:11 PM: No change where I’m hunting at all. 90% were born that first week of June.
Title: Re: Whitetail out of synch
Post by: hunter399 on August 03, 2023, 06:37:46 PM: Quote from: huntnnw on August 03, 2023, 06:00:11 PM
No change where I’m hunting at all. 90% were born that first week of June.
Your spots are always good.
I'm not being a jack wagon.
I truly mean it,your honey holes are some of the best I've seen.
I seen your trail cam pics,and live through your hard work.
Thanks for sharing,and contributing to HW .
Hope you smoke a good one this year.

Back on topic here...
The fawns who knows, different predator,hunting pressure,buck to doe ratio, disease,and probably ten more factors that I can't predict.