Life Sciences Commons^™

Frequency Distribution Of Conception Dates In A White-Tailed Deer Herd, James M. Novak, Olin E. Rhodes, Michael H. Smith, Paul E. Johns

Faculty Research & Creative Activity

Conception dates of white-tailed deer, Odocoi/eus virginia1111s (Zinunennann, 1780) were estimated for the breeding periods of 1974 - 76 and 1984 using fall and winter- spring fetal data. Conception dates estimated from data collected in the fall were biased. This bias resulted in an earlier mean conception date than that based on information which included data from later breeding females. Mean breeding dates differed significantly between female age classes due to delayed conception in fawns which also resulted in a skewed frequency distribution of conception dates. The frequency distribution of conception dates was leptokurtotic, suggesting that the distribution is constrnincd …