When Do Deer Give Birth? What You Should Know

A deer fawn is like a colored ball of wool when they cuddle up.

It is wonderful to see them when they are just born. To watch deer as infants, you must know the time when deers give birth.

You can be lucky to witness females give birth to their young ones in the summer and spring seasons. Females can produce multiple fawns. Singles, twins or triplets are all possible, but most common are twins. Female deer give birth anywhere between April to June. The birth cycle is complete before August, even if it is triplets.

Whitetail deer fawns are born in the months between April to June, though most of them are born in the month of June when gestation is over. A first-year doe will commonly have one fawn for the first time. There will be twins and triplets in the following years.

The young fawn is accompanied by his or her mother only when they get strong enough to keep up with their mothers. Till then, the mother deer makes sure she is away from the young ones when she goes out for feeding.

This will help prevent hunting or falling prey to predators. Female deer return to feed their fawns at dawn and dusk.

Fawns are left alone in tall grass or bushes. Older deer are usually close by, wandering for feeding. So, if you do see a fawn alone, do not begin to take it to a shelter. This may lead to the kidnapping of the fawn.

You will not help it, instead, you will take it away from its mother. Leave it alone. The mother deer or buck will be around. They will search for the fawn.

If you enjoy this article, why not also read about when do raccoons have babies or when do squirrels have babies here at Kidadl?

Do different types of deer give birth at different times?

Deer is an animal known as a seasonal breeder. So, they have babies at almost the same time each year. Female deer give birth in the summer and spring seasons, before July or August.

There are nearly 90 different species of deer. They are called the Cervidae family. The local deer population of every region may vary. All tailed deer have the same mating season and similar breeding patterns. The gestation period is also the same. So, in the summer and spring, you can see fawns born in various regions.

Most of the deer have the same mating season and reproductive cycles. The weather and seasons influence their breeding. When it is towards the end of the summer season a buck loses its antlers while a doe begins to grow estrus.

The birth of fawns in spring gives them the best chance of survival. This is a time when they can hide easily from predators in tall grass and bushes. There is an abundance of food for them and female deers.

Where do deer go to give birth?

Female deer give birth to their young ones in the summer and spring.

Pregnant females give birth in a quiet place. They prefer to look for a place in the meadows. The tall grass helps them hide from predators. Pregnant deer lie down on their side for giving birth. When two-thirds of a baby fawn is exposed, a deer stands up so that the fawn can slide down by its own weight.

Fawns are generally born in pairs. When they are born the mother cleans them. In a few hours, the fawns become stronger. Then, the mother shall lead the newborn deeper into the meadows at a separate location. Then, she shall leave them alone for a while to go out and eat herself.

This is the natural way of the whitetail mother to protect her young one in the wild. The tall grass is their habitat. Fawns are fed 2-3 times a day. A mother deer also massages her newborn with her tongue to stimulate bowel movement.

By the second day, they are encouraged to stand up and feed. When the mother is out to eat, whitetail fawns lay still for hours. The mother is always on the lookout for predatory animals. Fawns do not have any scent on them, so they can go undetected by the other animals. Fawns become strong by winter.

What month do whitetail deer give birth?

The fawning of most deer occurs in the summer season, beginning late spring.

The whitetail deer gives birth in the month of June. It is interesting to know the mating starts even before there has been physical contact.

In the mating season, the males try to show supremacy. The male animals fight each other. They may tangle their antlers in this process to establish their dominance in the region and win a mate for the season.

So, breeding starts with the bucks fighting. The whole process of mating is finished before December. Very few species of deer mate in December. The whole gestation period is about seven months. The whitetail deer has it for 200 days, while for mule deer it is around seven months.

A doe is polyestrous but they mate only for specific seasons only. The chance mating only lasts for a couple of days. The estrus behavior begins as the days start getting shorter in the month of November. Whitetail deer are common in North America.

The red deer is found in North America as well as Europe and Asia. They do not fight with antlers, rather they fight in roars for the female.

What time of year do deer give birth?

Deer give birth in the spring season and summer. This time may vary for species staying in different habitats according to the season variations.

If you see a fawn alone at this time do not go close to it. You will not provide a helping hand. You may rather harm it by taking it away from its mother. Their mother is the best caregiver for them. They need their mother's milk for survival for weeks. Fawns become strong by winter.

The exact time for fawning may vary depending on the place where they stay and the temperatures. The summer season or late spring is their fawning time. So, this season can change for different countries. Thus, different breeds can have a slightly different time to give birth but it is usually within a week's time.

Do deer give birth in one place?

The fawning season is in spring and summer. The season and breed can result in differences, though are all the same in most matters.

This is the time when there is greenery all around. The meadows are full of tall green grass. Deer do not give birth at the same place but the location may be similar. They look for a place to lie down and give birth.

Generally, there are two or more fawns born. Mother gives birth to both at the same place. This should not be mistaken as her spot for delivery each year. The bucks have no role in the birth. Pregnant deer stay alone and away from others. All they need is a quiet place to give birth.

Here at Kidadl, we have carefully created lots of interesting family-friendly facts for everyone to enjoy! If you liked our suggestions for 'When do deer give birth?', then why not take a look at 'When do elk shed their antlers?' or 'Fallow deer facts'?