Interesting Wildlife Facts for Hunters

White-Tailed Deer

White-tailed deer fawns are born without scent glands, which helps them hide from predators in their first few weeks of life. They rely on crypticism to avoid detection.

During the rut, a male's neck swells significantly, sometimes increasing in circumference by over a third. This is due to increased testosterone levels in preparation for fighting other males.

Deer have four-chambered stomachs and chew their cud, much like cattle. This process allows them to efficiently digest tough plant material.

The bugle of a bull elk can be heard for miles, serving as both a challenge to rival males and a way to attract females.

Elk calves are spotted at birth, and these spots typically disappear by the time they are a few months old.

They are highly migratory, often traveling long distances between summer and winter ranges. Their movement is frequently dictated by snow depth and food availability.

Wild turkeys can see color and have excellent daytime vision, superior to that of humans.

The male turkey's beard is made of modified feathers and can continue to grow throughout its life.

Turkeys roost in trees at night to protect themselves from ground predators. They fly up to their roosting spots before sunset.

Despite their large size, black bears are excellent tree climbers, often climbing to escape danger or to find food.

They are not true hibernators but enter a state of torpor during winter. This means their body temperature doesn't drop as significantly as a true hibernator, and they can be roused more easily.

Black bears have an incredible sense of smell, estimated to be about seven times better than a bloodhound's. This helps them locate food sources from a distance.

Female cottontail rabbits can breed year-round, typically producing several litters per year.

A cottontail's diet consists mainly of grasses, clover, and other herbaceous plants in the summer, switching to bark and twigs in the winter.

Their signature zigzag running pattern is an effective strategy to evade predators.