Social Behavior in a White-Tailed Deer Herd Containing Hypogonadal Males

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Abstract
During a 14-month period weekly observations were made of the social behavior of a deer herd containing 10% male deer suffering from hypogonadism. Social relationships were divided into two categories: those relationships affected by sexual activities of normal deer and those not so affected. Definite social hierarchy was evident on feeding grounds and was based on frequent aggressive-submissive interactions. Aggression was much more pronounced during the period of sexual activity which coincided with the period of maximum food shortage. Normal males used a sequential pattern of aggressive threats which included the “ear-drop,” the “hard look,” the “sidle,” the “head threat” and the “rush.” Females also used a sequential pattern of threat postures and action similar to that of males, except that a “strike” and “flailing” with the front feet replaced the threats with antlers employed by males. “Velvet-horns” or hypogona-dals were inferior in the “peck order” to all normal deer. Normal males, especially during rut, were more aggressive toward “velvet-horns” than toward any other deer. Normal deer used a sequential pattern of alarm behavior: “stamping” with the front feet, “snorting,” “whistling” and flight with erection of the tail. “Velvet-horns” did not employ any of these alarm actions but merely fled from danger.

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