White-tailed deer are the only native deer species in Georgia, thriving across the state’s diverse landscapes. Understanding the timing of their reproductive cycle is important for wildlife managers, drivers, and the general public. The period when fawns are born follows the breeding season, which varies significantly depending on the deer’s location within the state. This means that the spring and summer months across Georgia are marked by the presence of vulnerable, newborn deer.
The White-Tailed Deer Reproductive Timeline
The appearance of fawns in the spring is a direct result of the breeding season, known as the “rut,” which occurs in the fall and winter months. The rut’s timing is triggered by the photoperiod, or the amount of daylight each day, though local factors can influence its peak. Does are receptive to breeding for a short window, and the majority of successful mating occurs during this time.
The gestation period for a white-tailed deer lasts approximately 200 days. This fixed biological clock links the seasonal rut to the fawning period. For example, a doe bred during the peak of the rut in mid-November will give birth around late May or early June. Since the rut can extend from October through January, this dictates a long, staggered fawning season across the state.
Peak Fawning Season and Regional Variation
Unlike northern states where the breeding season is short and intense, Georgia exhibits a wide, variable fawning window that is regionally specific. This variation is a result of the staggered timing of the rut across different regions of the state. Researchers from the University of Georgia and the Georgia Department of Natural Resources (DNR) have mapped these differences by analyzing data like deer-vehicle collisions, which increase during peak rut activity.
The earliest fawns are typically seen in the Coastal Plain and Southeast Georgia, where the rut peaks as early as mid-October in some counties. A mid-October breeding date results in fawns being born in late April or early May, making these the earliest newborns in the state. In the central part of Georgia, encompassing the Piedmont region, the rut generally peaks later, around the first two weeks of November. This mid-November breeding corresponds to a peak fawning season of late May and early June.
In the mountainous areas of North Georgia and sections of Southwest Georgia, the rut is often delayed, extending into early December. Fawns born in these areas generally arrive later in the summer, with the peak fawning period occurring from late June through early July. Overall, the majority of fawns are born across the state between May and August, but the specific peak depends on the local breeding history of the deer population.
Fawn Behavior and Early Development
A newborn fawn typically weighs between 4 and 8 pounds at birth and possesses a dense coat covered in white spots. This spotted coat provides effective camouflage, helping the fawn blend into the dappled sunlight and shadows of the forest floor. This disguise is coupled with a survival strategy of lying motionless when a potential threat approaches.
For the first few weeks of life, a fawn’s primary defense is to hide and remain still in dense cover. The doe intentionally spends very little time directly with the fawn to avoid leading predators to its location. She returns to the hidden fawn only periodically, often four or five times a day, to quickly nurse it.
The fawn has very little scent during this period, which aids its survival. Within a few weeks, the fawn begins to browse on tender vegetation, though it remains dependent on its mother’s milk for nutrients. By the time the fawn is 8 to 10 weeks old, it is strong enough to consistently follow the doe and will be completely weaned within three to four months.
Guidelines for Public Interaction
The most important advice for anyone who encounters a fawn is to leave it undisturbed. Finding a fawn alone, curled up in a yard or a field, is a normal part of its survival strategy. The doe is almost certainly nearby, foraging for food and remaining out of sight to avoid drawing attention to her offspring.
Intervention by humans, such as touching or moving the fawn, can disrupt the natural process and is often detrimental to the animal’s survival. If you discover a fawn, move away immediately and observe from a distance, allowing the mother to return when she perceives the area is safe.
It is against Georgia law to possess most wildlife without a permit, and unauthorized attempts to care for a fawn can result in a poor outcome. If a fawn appears clearly injured, is crying repeatedly, or remains in the same location for more than 24 hours, contact the Georgia DNR’s Wildlife Resources Division for guidance on how to proceed.