Q: I have many deer around my property, what general information do I need to know?
A: Adult, white-tailed deer weigh up to 300 pounds, and are well known to New Jersey residents. In summer, they are reddish-brown and in winter they are grayish-brown. Males have antlers from April to August, the antler size depending on age, nutrition, and genetics.
Deer are active in New Jersey year round. Breeding occurs from October to December. Fawns are born in May and June, weighing about 8 pounds at birth and increasing in weight over the next 6 to 7 years. Peak activity occurs in early morning and late evening, thus deer damage the garden without being seen. Damage by deer in New Jersey is increasing as residential development forces the deer into smaller and smaller habitats and wild food sources decrease. To determine the presence of deer, look for their hoof prints. Deer hooves are split, about 2 to 3 inches long, and pointed at the front. Deer have a very large home-range area. In winter, they gather in areas with dense cover such as woods and thickets. Deer move long distances from winter cover to their summer range.
Note: Information attained from RCE fact sheet FS093, Deer in the Vegetable Garden, Butler and Ghidiu.