Oregon Mule Deer Initiative
Fast facts about Oregon’s mule deer
- The estimated 2009 Oregon mule deer population of 216,154 is below the statewide management objective of 344,900 animals.
- Mule deer (found east of the Cascades) and black-tailed deer (west of the Cascades) are the same species but different sub-species of deer.
- Deer have a smaller digestive track than elk or cattle, so their forage needs to be of higher nutritional quality.
- Mule deer breed once per year, in late fall, and does generally produce two fawns.
- In 2008, about 70,000 people went deer hunting in eastern Oregon, generating almost $22 million for the economy.
Ranches, farms and other private lands provide winter range and other important habitat for mule deer.
hi i was woundering if you could answer some questions to help me with a scieance prodject about deer genetic, first what are the dominate genes, how do they get nontypical antlers, and how do they get mutations such as over grown hooves and does with antlers.
thank you for your time and if you could reply ASAP
sincerly bailey chambers
I am not a biologist. I do know it takes the genetics of both the buck and doe to determine antler size and configuration. Also, injuries on one side of the body will affect the antlers on the opposite side. I believe drop tines and some other unusual antler growths are caused by injuries to the velvet. If a buck is emasculated while in the velvet, he will not shed the velvet and will grow a new set of antlers each successive year from the same pedical without ever shedding the velvet. I suppose it is some kind of sex-chromosomal anomally that causes does to grow antlers and it is very rare. I know nothing about over-sized hooves. Hope this helps. Please post your question in the forum. Best wishes on your project.