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The Whitetail deer is a beautiful animal and native to North Carolina . These beautiful creatures can be seen running through neighborhoods in brood daylight, lingering in fields at dusk or romping and playing in a meadow at dawn. Going deer hunting on Thanksgiving day is a tradition for many a mountain boy raised in Western North Carolina. They are a member of the Cervidae family order Artiodactyla. Males are called bucks. Females are called does. Young deer that are not weaned are called fawns. Whitetail deer are hunted for their meat, hides and antlers which make trophies. The meat is called Venison.
Characteristics The Whitetail deer Size of the head and body length is 4-6 ft, tail length is 7-11 inches, shoulder height is 2 1/4 - 3 1/2 ft. A deer can weigh over 400 lbs. The underside of the tail is white and raised when the deer is alarmed. Males have antlers that have several prongs. They will start to grow antlers several months after birth. Antlers are shed every winter and begin to grow them again in the spring. The age of a deer cannot be determined by the size of its antlers. Its fur is reddish in summer and grayish brown in winter. Habitat The deer lives in forests, woodlands, mountains, brushy areas, urban areas and swamps. The White-tail deer is found from Canada to South America. It generally lives alone or in small groups. Dusk and early morning is usually when deer are active. Most other times, they rest. Food The deer is herbivorous animals. They feed on bark, twigs, fruit, nuts and grass. Those deer living near farms will often eat corn or other vegetables grown there. Breeding Females generally have 1-2 young. Gestation period is usually 5 months.
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