Pregnant doe in Sept

[Kauffy]

I shot a fairly mature doe here in eastern PA tonight. When i gutted her i found a large fetus. Anyone ever seen one this late in the year? I don't think she is a yearling bred late, dressed weight was 120lb.

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[rayporter]

in the south i have seen does with spotted fawns by their side in September. probably seen them in October, too.

i don't remember any in Ohio, however.

 

[slatty]

I'm really interested in your question. I haven't seen that myself. I guess like anything the timing of the rut probably is on a bell curve, with extreme outliers uncommon but they occasionally happen.
Assuming about 200 days gestation for your whitetail, let's just presume that fetus is being born Oct 1, that would put the breeding somewhere around mid-march for your doe.
Super weird for sure. I'll put that in the category of "stranger things have happened".
Hopefully someone smarter than me can chime in with some info.

 

[Lowg08]

It happens allot here in Western North Carolina. We have heavily spotted small fawns right now. For example I have a picture of a doe in heat on feb 16th of this year. If she was bred that day. She would have been due sept 5th. 201 days gestation.

 

[Sapcut]

Here in South Alabama there are quite a few fawns dropped in Sept. Oct.

 

[Billy Goat]

It's a possibility that with good forage and conditions some deer might become open season breeders.

Meaning they will cycle every 28 days instead of only 2-3 times.

Also assumes conditions that they don't all get bred during the normal estrous period which would cause a benefit to the open season.

 

[Bubblehide]

It's a possibility that with good forage and conditions some deer might become open season breeders.

Meaning they will cycle every 28 days instead of only 2-3 times.

Also assumes conditions that they don't all get bred during the normal estrous period which would cause a benefit to the open season.

Deer are only considered to be seasonally polyestrous. Meaning they will not continue cycling after their breading season.

 

[Billy Goat]

Deer are only considered to be seasonally polyestrous. Meaning they will not continue cycling after their breading season.

Yes, however lots of domestic animals were that way, something changed.

It happens in wild animals too, not at all frequently, but it's a trait that has a benefit it will carry on.

I don't know what the likelihood is of that being the cause, but it's one of those things that can pop up every so often.

 

[Bubblehide]

My only thought is possible from the food supply

 

[Kauffy]

I'm guessing it had something to do with the age of the doe as well, judging from the length of her face she seemed to be getting along in years. It was my 7 year olds first experience with gutting so that took some extra explanation

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[WCB]

I was sitting in the tree in mid Oct maybe 10years ago and heard a deer that sounded like it was almost underneath me. I could not see it and was only 15ft up the tree. Ground had heavy foliage cover about knee high. Finally I spot it...maybe a week old fawn by itself. I thought about shooting it as no way it would make it through winter. sure enough found it in the spring dead in the same 5 acre wood lot. its feet were smaller than a lucky rabbit foot key chain.

 

[Rusty Green]

Weird I’ve got a mature doe I’ve been watching since opening day here in ky she’s got 2 very fresh dropped fawns with her right now itty bitty little fellas bright spots everywhere.

 

[Ga-Bullet]

I Live In The Mountains Of North Georgia.. I Started Seeing Fawns In Early March And Are Still Seeing Them... Had Two Last Night In The Yard With Spots..This Has Been one Of The Best Years We've Had.. Seems The Deer Are Everwhere...Along With Tons Of Bears..

 

[SpringM1A]

Only once and the outfitter was experience enough to know so i didn't take it out.

 

[260madman]

We had a couple spotted fawns in late November during rifle season. I had to do a double take. Had some pics of them. Then my dad calls me in mid December and says there’s a spotted fawn in the field where I hunt. I told him there were 2 and keep an eye on them to see if they make it through winter. He watched them all winter and spring seeing them several times per week, they made it through. Tough little buggers.

 

[Bubblehide]

I simply think nothing of spots, some deer have them in adulthood. Years ago, I put a buddy on a spotted legal buck. He has the hide draped over a chair in his den.

 

[Cinlogdvid]

I have a camera setup that has TONS of pics of spotted fawns Right now. East Arkansas. Even have 2 sets of twins with spots.

 

[Shimmybro3]

Still seeing spotted fawns in NW Montana, tho theyre larger

 

[Erict]

Found this on one of my trailcams - September 24th date is correct. About 50 miles NE of Syracuse NY, so well "upstate". Gotta believe she's about ready to pop: