Deer Farming FAQs
What should I do if I find a fawn?
Do nothing. If you find a fawn and that fawn is not crying out do not touch it and leave it where its mother left it. If the fawn is crying and no doe is answering its call, contact your local Fish & Wildlife office.
How many fawns do Whitetail deer have each year?
On an average most whitetail will have 2 fawns per year.
How big are fawns when they are born?
They are born at 5 to 7 lbs. - all legs
Does the deer industry in Alberta get orphan fawns from the wild?
No, due to the unknown health status of wild animals, no orphan fawns are brought in to the industry, as we have very strict health testing requirements.
Where did the industry get its original animals?
At the very beginning farmers were asked to trap animals out of military air bases. Because the bases have high fences, deer inside the base had minimal predators and multiplied very quickly and had become a hazard to the jets. So farmers went in and trapped them and at that point had deer and requested the Alberta government to start deer farming in Alberta. The Alberta domestic cervid farming industry began in the late 1970s when Alberta Fish and Wildlife allowed the capture of wild deer and elk, for display purposes, to be housed on farms under a zoo permit. Animals were allowed to be displayed to the general public and traded with other zoo permit holders around North America. Progressively an industry was formed which allowed harvesting of velvet antler and slaughter within Alberta. Hunt animals are still exported out of province.
Are your deer tame?
There are a few occasions were producers bottle raise their orphan fawns and they become tamer, but for the most part most farmers leave their fawns and they stay naturally elusive.
Do nothing. If you find a fawn and that fawn is not crying out do not touch it and leave it where its mother left it. If the fawn is crying and no doe is answering its call, contact your local Fish & Wildlife office.
How many fawns do Whitetail deer have each year?
On an average most whitetail will have 2 fawns per year.
How big are fawns when they are born?
They are born at 5 to 7 lbs. - all legs
Does the deer industry in Alberta get orphan fawns from the wild?
No, due to the unknown health status of wild animals, no orphan fawns are brought in to the industry, as we have very strict health testing requirements.
Where did the industry get its original animals?
At the very beginning farmers were asked to trap animals out of military air bases. Because the bases have high fences, deer inside the base had minimal predators and multiplied very quickly and had become a hazard to the jets. So farmers went in and trapped them and at that point had deer and requested the Alberta government to start deer farming in Alberta. The Alberta domestic cervid farming industry began in the late 1970s when Alberta Fish and Wildlife allowed the capture of wild deer and elk, for display purposes, to be housed on farms under a zoo permit. Animals were allowed to be displayed to the general public and traded with other zoo permit holders around North America. Progressively an industry was formed which allowed harvesting of velvet antler and slaughter within Alberta. Hunt animals are still exported out of province.
Are your deer tame?
There are a few occasions were producers bottle raise their orphan fawns and they become tamer, but for the most part most farmers leave their fawns and they stay naturally elusive.
L E A R N M O R E
Find out more about deer farming by selecting a link below:
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Alberta Whitetail & Mule Deer Association
Box 591 Eckville, AB CANADA T0M 0X0 |
Ph: 403-748-4040
Email: [email protected] |
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Updates to the website have been funded by the Government of Alberta's Community Donation Grant
Updates to the website have been funded by the Government of Alberta's Community Donation Grant
