Mule deer dominance is largely a function of size, with the largest males, which possess the largest antlers, performing most of the copulations.
A dominant male mule deer tends an estrus female until mating or displacement by another male occurs.
Dominance is largely a function of size, with the largest males, which possess the largest antlers, performing most of the copulations.
Among male mule deer, testicular mass and volume are maximal during November and minimal during April and May.
• Image | © Tony’s Takes, Some Rights Reserved (CC BY-NC-ND 2.0)
• Sources | (Anderson & Wallmo, 1984; Kucera, 1978; Misuraca, 1999)
