White-tailed deer have coats of reddish brown in summer which thicken and turn grayish in winter. Both males and females have long 12 inch tails which are raised when the animal is alarmed, revealing the white fur beneath. Deer are browsers and members of the ungulate family (hoofed mammals.) They feed on leaves, twigs, grasses, acorns and fruits.
photo by Tim Burke


Bucks can reach 3 feet at the shoulder and can weigh up to 250 pounds. A doe is much smaller. The antlers of male deer are solid bony growths from the skull. They begin to grow in spring under a layer of living skin called the velvet, which later peels off. Antlers grow into magnificent curved racks which spread forward from the back of the skull, and are used for defense or during mating battles. Antlers are shed each year.

Deer gather in "herds" during the winter.
photo by Jerry Kumery


Fawns are born in late spring and remain camouflaged with white spots for 4 to 5 months.
photo by Jerry Kumery