Does anybody know what report this is quote is sited from in the Alabama Deer Book?
Data collected over a 15-year period at Auburn University�s deer
research facility suggests no relationship between herd structure and
reproductive patterns. Captive deer maintained at a 1:1 adult sex ratio
did not show any shift in mean conception dates. Mean conception dates
for these deer were in early to mid-February (Carroll and Causey 1995).
Dr D? Anyone? Chris Cook seemed to leave this out in his "LITERATURE CITED" section...
Carroll, D. J., and M. K. Causey. 1995. Effects of early weaning on survival and growth of captive white-tailed deer. Abstracts of the Annual Meeting of the Southeast Deer Study Group. Volume 18, Pages 31-32.
I have not read the abstract, so can not comment on the data. Also, this research was conducted before I arrived at Auburn.
But, as Gobbler indicated, data collected in pens that do not simulate free-ranging behavior may be far different than what one might see on free-ranging settings or in enclosures where natural behaviors can be simulated.
