yea, what the heck. gmmat started the hole fawn doe debate and got everyone confused

I've been seeing a larger than normal number of fawns sans their mothers this season. One is a bigger than average button buck that I saw on opening morning and several times since. He's never had a doe with him. I saw a couple youngsters (BB and doe fawn) that came by about 30 minutes before their mother. When I saw her, I originally thought she was a buck - especially when she grunted. However, her grunt caused both little ones to run over to her and they even tried to nurse her. The next morning, I saw them by themselves again.

Can't say what's causing it, but apparently it's common in MD this year.

2 of the 5 were BB's. Its not unusual for me to see fawns by themselves, even fawn Does, I see it every year. I just dont see so many fawns by themselves this early without seeing any adultDoes around. I watched the fawns come out of a thick bedding area and move into hardwoods feeding on Oaks. Not 1 Doe was behind them after 3 hours. I havent been seeing many deer compared to the past 10 years. Im thinking about putting a camera and corn back out just to see whats going on.

Its that time of the year when the does start pushing out their young ones to get into other groups or herds for genetic reasons. I have witnessed on several occouracnces int he past a doe that will litterly be loving and caring to its young one minute and turn around and push him right away by hoofing him. Does normally do this to their buttonbuck offspring. This is natural. The button buck will then leave mommas side and venture out on his own and find another buck usually 1 1/2 years of age and kinda shadow him through out most of the fall. The button buck could travel as far as50-100 miles away from its normal home range. I read this all in a book I just read the other day

Does will leave their fawns during their breeding phase temporarily. But I'd have a hard time believing it is happeningnow.

I have had fawns come in 30 minutes before the doe showed up to feed...I think they just fed on their own for a while...Remember, deer can't get "lost" there is no reason for the fawns to stay right with momma, if they get seperated their nose is good enough that they can find her....

Not to get off topic, Rob. but if this is true and I agree it is. Why dont they recommend using estrous scents this early?

Some of the does could be victims of EHD disease.

I would think that because it's an unnatural scent in the woods right now... And a doe-in-heat smell will raise the alarm on another doe no matter what time of year it is; the last place they want to be is in the company of a hot doe that's gonna have every buck in the county bothering them.

Watch your trail cams...Last year I had a doe with black hocks on cam in September, now this is in NC...If a buck is in your area grunting, I bet that he has smelled a hot doe...

The does are what actually key the rut...I don't remember exactly how many days but its about 5 to 5 1/2 months after she drops her fawns that she will come into heat the first time...In eastern NC the weather is milder in the spring and does down there come in about 30 days before they do here in the Piedmont of NC, and the bucks start looking for does earlier as well...

As the days get shorter a bucks testosterone level goes up and that's when he loses his velvet and is able to breed at that time...So you can actually start using esterous at this time...It will scare other does as they don't want to be around a hot doe if they aren't ready....