White-tailed Deer

White-tailed Deer is one
of two species of deer
found in Nebraska.

Physical characteristics:
Reddish brown in the summer
and gray in the winter. Average
White-tailed Deer weighs up to
300 pounds and stands 31/2 feet
at shoulder. When they run, they
lift their tail straight up like white
flags.

Habitat: White-tailed Deer
are found in farm areas in
eastern Nebraska, and can
also be found along rivers
and streams in western
Nebraska. The deer are
attracted to river and creek
areas. They also like to be
near timber areas and
shelterbelts.

Food:

The White-tail Deer
eat corn, apples,
grass, roots, leaves,
bark, twigs, moss,
lichens, mushrooms,
tree sprouts, and
hay.

They like to drink
water.

Interesting facts: The most
significant infectious disease
among white-tailed deer is
called hemorrhagic disease. It
is the only disease that can
greatly affect the deer
population.

From 1988--1995, 932
people were injured in
accidents involving deer.
There are more deer-vehicle
collisions where population
and heavy traffic adjoin areas
of high deer population and
good deer habitat. June and
November are peak months
for deer-vehicle accidents.

Current status of
White-tailed Deer:
White-tailed deer
populations have increased
significantly in recent
years, and that species now
makes up 75 percent of the
state's deer
population.Mule deer
populations have declined
slightly.

Our ideas on how to
protect White-tailed
Deer :

(1) Firearm hunting
permits should still be
issued separately to the 17
firearm deer management
areas of Nebraska. This
helps to control the
number of deer killed by
hunters.

(2) Marking land, as a
refuge, will limit where
deer can be hunted.

(3) The planting of more
trees and ground cover
will help camouflage the
deer.

Geil Students