This is the first installment of a new weekly blog here at deeranddeerhunting.com by photographer Charles J. Alsheimer, Deer & Deer Hunting’s behavior expert. Charlie has been contributing to D&DH for all but two years of its existence. His first article appeared in the magazine in Summer 1979. He is widely considered to be one of North America’s foremost experts on whitetail behavior, having studied the animals through his intense photography for more than 40 years. His insights have been cited throughout modern literature, and his whitetail rut predictions are considered to be among the most accurate in the country. Charlie will have new blog installments with photos every Thursday on this website. They are only available here at deeranddeerhunting.com.
A lot of Deer & Deer Hunting fans have been reporting fawn births across the country. It seems as though things are really picking up here in the past few days, which means our rut predictions from last year appear to be holding up — at least in the Northern states.
I started getting word of fawns being born on May 18. Since then more and more sightings have been reported here in western New York.
Based on the lunar research Wayne Laroche and I are doing for Deer and Deer Hunting Magazine, I knew birthing would probably kick off around the last two weeks in May. It is clear from observations that birthing is now at peak.
I took the accompanying photo (above) on Sunday, May 26, of the first fawn birth in our research facility this year. This doe was bred on Nov. 1, 2012. The length of time from breeding date to birthing date was 207 days.
For more on this fascinating topic, I sat down with Brad Rucks last year to discuss the nuances of fawn births during a video session for Deer & Deer Hunting TV, which aired last fall on NBC Sports:
Well, that is it for this week. Next week I’ll see if I can provide you all with a photo of the antler growth that’s going on here with the deer I follow on a daily basis. The adult bucks are already showing the signs of what should be a fantastic growing season. Stay tuned!
— Charlie
When will bucks go wild this year? Get Alsheimer’s exclusive rut predictions in our new digital Whitetail Rut Calendar. Find out specific days when deer will be in the seeking, chasing and tending phases. It will give you a big leg up on planning your vacation days this fall.
Also included are predictions for Southern deer hunters!