Thread: Northland deer (again)

Originally Posted by Waitati Hunter

One offspring per year, no non-human predators and sexual maturity after a year or two is pretty rapid.

One off spring per year is no "more rapidly" than any other deer herd in NZ, hinds only cycle once a year, thats when we have the roar/rut. And sometimes, but not often, they will cycle again after the shortest day if they didnt get pregnant during the roar. And most deer mature for breeding when they are about 16 months old, or thereabouts. Theres nothing "more rapidly" about it, otherwise the roar would get earlier and earlier every year. However with more and better feed, more hinds may become pregnant when they cycle than in a lean year, and the population increase may be slightly more than other years. But then it may be lower in lean years to.