Recent Ask the Biologist
Look, a You-Nee-Corn!
By Bob Humphrey
It’s no wonder deer hunters are so fascinated with antlers. QUESTION: What could cause this buck to have three antlers? ANSWER:There are several possibilities. As a body develops in the womb from a single fertilized egg, individual cells differentiat... READ MORE
What About This Guy?
By Bob Humphrey
A photo alone doesn’t always tell the story about a deer’s age. QUESTION: I would be interested to know your opinion or estimate on the age of the whitetail in the photo. – David G. ANSWER:Aging a deer on the hoof can be difficult without a clear pho... READ MORE
Not By the Book
By Bob Humphrey
There is no fixed set of rules on how whitetail breeding takes place.
QUESTION: During the Illinois shotgun season just before Thanksgiving, a hot doe brought three small bucks under my stand. The biggest was a wonky-racked 2-year-old (I guess) that... READ MORE
No Fear
By Bob Humphrey
Whitetails don’t always react when fired upon. QUESTION: During the muzzleloader season, I fired at a deer and missed, but the deer didn’t bolt like they normally do. I’ve heard of other people that had this happen. Can you explain why? ANSWER:I wish... READ MORE
They Start Young
By Bob Humphrey
Nutrition plays a key role in when does breed for the first time. QUESTION: How soon can a whitetail fawn breed? ANSWER: Most does breed as yearlings in their second fall. However, it has been observed in areas of high nutrition that some does are br... READ MORE