An easy way to spot deer in the woods is to look for deer droppings. It's not difficult for a novice hunter to find a fresh pile of deer pellets, which are a clear indication of the presence of an animal. In the woods, we encounter a lot of deer poop, but few hunters stop to consider what the deer scat tells us about the animal. This season, it can be a huge difference maker for your success or failure to watch for these small pellets that can be subtle clues to deer movements.

They can also be a great source of information for non-biologists as well. If you learn more about how deer defecate, you'll learn a lot about their habits and how they behave. Analyzing their poop in this way may seem disgusting at first, but when you examine it, it's quite fascinating.

This article will cover everything you need to know about deer dung. Besides how to identify their droppings, we'll also explain why they shape and color the way they do. We'll debunk a few myths about droppings that deer hunters have propagated for years. Our deer hunting guide explains how to use excrement clues to enhance your chances of spotting that big buck.

What Does Deer Poop Look Like?

Although these animals are large, their feces are not long or tubular like you might expect. The pellets produced by deer are small and oval-shaped. It is typical for these pellets to be dark brown to dark black when they are fresh. Furthermore, they have a very smooth surface. There will sometimes be a slight taper at one end. Pellets are produced this way by deer because their sphincter acts rhythmically, opening and closing repeatedly.

Ruminants, including deer, are ungulates. Their stomachs have four parts, which means that part of the digestive process involves returning a portion of food to their mouth to be chewed again. The most common term for this is cud chewing. Plant material is finely ground down in the animal's stomach by bacteria, which aids digestion.

Can You Tell Buck and Doe Droppings Apart?

In the past, someone claimed you could determine the sex of a deer by examining its droppings. Whether this one originated in old-school hunting days or not, we're guessing it was some old-school hunter during American frontier days who came up with it. It seems that most biologists today disagree with that statement. The main reason is that the idea that doe droppings are different or smaller than buck droppings is incorrect.

According to Buckmasters, most hunters in Georgia cannot distinguish deer sex based on these characteristics. The amount of droppings produced by bucks is far greater than that produced by does, according to other scientific studies. It has been estimated that white-tailed deer poop piles contain an average of 70-75 pellets. Count them with a stick if you want to know for sure! It's probably a good place to set up a tree stand if you find large piles with more than that.

How Often Do Deer Poop?

The last few minutes before a deer died, most field-dressed deer were quite "full." Although plenty of hunters have likely shot deer before they had to go, it's usually not a coincidence. Many hunters do not realize how frequently these animals need to defecate.

There are scientific studies that indicate they may defecate 12 to 15 times a day! Food is readily available during summer, so they may eat twice as much each day. It makes sense that some deer keep eating while they're doing their business; otherwise, they wouldn't have time!

Other Things Hunters Should Know About Deer Poop

Whenever you see a pile of wet, shiny deer poop in the forest, take note. The deer is likely very close to you. That's why it's important to always look for fresh droppings. It doesn't make sense to set up in a place where everything is old, dry, and cracked. It is common for deer to shift they are hanging out areas at a moment's notice, but they usually cannot hide where they have been.

Exceptions to this rule are fawns. When a doe has her offspring stashed away, she usually ensures they are defecating far away. That's to keep predators away from being attracted by the smell of the droppings, which is for the protection of the young deer. In addition, it has been reported that does eat the droppings of their fawns to aid in this process.

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