Deer Facts By Gary Howey
No matter what state you’re in, more than likely you’ll see deer, especially during the Rut when they’re mating which in our area is around the middle of November or this time of the year when deer herds yard up where they congregate near their feed source. 
Because of the huge deer population, there are several seasons, giving hunters numerous opportunities to tag a deer, which helps to control the excess deer numbers.
In Nebraska, those hunters with the Landowner Youth or Season Choice deer seasons will have the opportunity to hunt until January 15.
In South Dakota, East and West River hunters who didn’t fill their “any deer” and “any whitetail antlerless tag as well as all unsold tags will be changed to antlerless tags. This season will re-open running from Dec 26 – Jan 3, 2010.
Other South Dakota deer seasons that will remain open through January 31st include: the Archery, Muzzleloader and the Youth season.
Here’s some information on deer that you might find interesting and if you ever get on the TV game show JEOPORDY, it might make you a few” bucks.”
Deer have existed for 20 million years and have changed very little over the last million years.
In 1832 deer were given their scientific name “Odocoileus Virginianus, Odocoileus is the Greek word meaning hollow tooth with the later part of the name, Virginianus coming from the fact that it was named in the state of Virginia.
They are amazing creatures and very adaptable, they are native to Canada, Mexico and forty-nine of our fifty states. There are no deer native to the state of Hawaii. The deer found on the Hawaiian Islands were introduced into that area.
There are 30 sub species of deer in North America and an additional 10 sub species found in South America.
In 1900 the estimated total number of deer in North America was 500,000 animals the estimated population today is 20 to 30 million.
They have the ability to run in excess of 35 miles per hour; can leap over fences eight feet tall and can cover up to 30 feet in a horizontal leap.
In the wild, deer can live as long as eleven years with deer in captivity living as long as 20 years.
Deer are strong swimmers as the layer of hollow hair acts as a life preserver keeping the buoyant. The hollow hair actually serves several purposes with the most important being, providing insulation during the winter months.
Just like humans, deer have a set of “baby teeth” that fall out and are replaced by permanent teeth with their permanent teeth in place by the time the deer is 2-1/2 years old.
There are several myths about deer, including that a bucks age can be determined by the number of points in it’s rack when in fact, the way biologists determine the age of the deer is by examining the deer’s teeth.
Another is that deer use their antlers during the winter to dig for food under the snow, which is false as bucks shed their racks in January. They use them as a weapon when dueling with other males during the mating season.
Rack size depends on several factors, including age, nutrition and genetics. Generally, the larger more massive racks are found on middle age deer (4-6years old) and will reduce in size as deer get old age.
When deer grow their antlers or rack, they are covered with “velvet,” a soft, fuzzy tissue. This velvet is the only regenerating skin found in mammals. It’s the fastest growing tissue in mammals with some antler growth being measured at one inch of growth during a 24-hour period.
Deer, elk, caribou and moose are all members of the Cervidae family, they, like cows are ruminants, swallowing food that is later brought back up to chew, which releases more nutrients.
Deer can eat almost any type of vegetation and are not affected by eating some pretty tough and nasty stuff including poison ivy.
Under good conditions an average adult deer can consume as much as 5 to 9 pounds.
A deer’s senses are uncanny as they have extraordinary sight, hearing and smell.
Does will normally have one fawn the first year they breed and after that twins are the norm.
The spots on a fawn are a form of camouflage, this along with the ability to lie motionless, not moving help them to avoid detection from predators.
For those of us still willing to brave the cold and often time 6-foot snowdrifts to pursue deer, we still have a little time to fill the tag and our freezers.
For those of you who’d rather not go out, get caught up on those honey does so when it comes time to get out and hunt spring goose or turkey or to hit the water in pursuit of you favorite fish you’ll be way ahead so that you’ll have all the time you need to enjoy the great outdoors.
Have a Great New Year!