| |
PICTURE |
Hunting
is not a passion its an obession.
White tail Deer-
As the most sought after game animal in North America, the Whitetail
Deer has always intrigued both hunters and non hunters alike. Today,
the whitetail, is the most widespread deer in the world. Scientists
recognize 30 whitetail subspecies in North and Central America, and
another 8 in South America. North America's whitetail population is
estimated at 20-25 million animals. The whitetail is by far the most
popular game in the U.S., chased by some 11 million hunters each fall.
Deer usually inhabit a relatively small home
range, until harsh weather conditions force them to temporarily move
elsewhere. Thus, deer in northern states have larger home ranges, since
the winters are often long and brutal. Some northern deer travel 50
miles or more to suitable winter ranger. Weather is not the only factor
that impacts on a herd's home range. For example, most whitetail deer
in Colorado or Kansas have larger home ranges than deer in Virginia
or Alabama. Out West, the habitat is more sprawling and open and the
doe densities are not as high as in the Southeastern states. Thus, western
deer are forced to move longer distances to feed, bed and breed.
The lifespan of a whitetail is 11 to 12 years
(17 to 20 years in captivity). But most free-roaming deer never live
that long; they are hit by cars, succumb to disease, killed by predators
or shot by hunters. In heavily hunted areas, many bucks live only 1½
or 2 ½ years. Deer grow to about 6 feet long and stand 3 to 4
feet high. They are reddish or grayish in color, depending on their
habitat and the time of year. The weight of whitetails varies, from
100 to more than 300 pounds.
|