White-tailed Deer - - (Odocoilus virginianus)

Young male whitetails begin growing antlers when they are only a few months old, but the size of their antlers is ultimately determined by their nutritional status rather than their age. Deer hunting is big business in Texas, and many game managers provide supplemental feed to enhance the size of male bucks. Deer are social animals, and they communicate their position through visual, vocal and olfactory cues. Although males avoid close encounters for most of the year, early spring and summer are times for establishing dominance. If bucks have not already established their respective ranks, a fight may develp, with both bucks rising to their hind feet.