I was recently asked when the deer population is at its peak in Pennsylvania. During the past 50 weeks, the white-tail deer population has been declining. However, during the next two weeks the population will increase drastically.

In Pennsylvania, the peak fawning season is the last week in May and the first week in June. Starting in the second week of June, the deer population will begin to decline until the third week of May of the following year when it reaches its lowest level.

Now, this is not to say that fawns are not being born other than during these two weeks. The earliest report I ever had of a fawn being born was March 15. Wildlife biologists tell us in Pennsylvania, we have fawns born every month of the year. Of course, those born in the dead of winter do not survive.

Every year I receive calls from people that have seen bucks that are still carrying their antlers in late March. The reason for this is that there are still does coming into season. By the end of April, the bucks will have new antlers growing, with some having as much as two-inch growth.

Sometimes archery hunters report seeing small deer that are still carrying faint traces of their spotted fawn coats. These are late fawns. By the first week of October, most fawns will have lost their spotted coats, and they appear as miniature replicas of their mothers. At this time a young buck could weigh 60 to 70 pounds, while a young doe weighs slightly less.

In 1928, the Game Commission opened the entire state for does, with no antlerless doe license needed. At the same time a law was passed stating that any antlerless deer killed must weigh 50 pounds or more with the entrails removed to protect these late born fawns.

During the month of January when I was working I was able to track the growth progress of the embryos inside the females. Wildlife officers were required to check all dead female deer that they came in contact with. Most of these were does killed by vehicles.

We would also remove a lower jawbone so that the deer could be aged. The commission uses this information to help set the number of antlerless deer licenses they will issue for each area.

During January the embryo is somewhat difficult to find inside the female. But as the months go by, the fawns grow and by the middle of April, the coat has turned brown with the white spots visible. During the last part of April the nose and hoofs turn black and the embryo has increased in size.

By the middle of May, the fawns are fully developed and ready to be born.

During this fawning season we still have does that are killed by cars. However, female deer do restrict their movements just prior to and after giving birth. A fawn is born feet first, followed by the head. The entire birth could take up to an hour. If twins are born the second fawn will follow within the hour. The commission’s biologists tell us that twins might not have the same father. The mother immediately licks the fawns with her rough tongue These lickings usually continue whenever the fawns are nursing.

Fawns are one of the cutest of all wildlife babies. They can walk on wobbly legs within one hour after birth, but usually remain curled up in the underbrush for the first few days. Their spotted coats are their protection.

They cast very little or no scent and, unless they reveal themselves by movement, they are relatively safe from predators. The does are never too far from the fawns and will return at intervals to feed them. The fawn grows rapidly but will remain with the mother until the following spring.

It is during June when wildlife officers are plagued with people picking up live fawn deer. These well-meaning people find the fawn, and no doe is in sight and think it is lost or abandoned. Nothing could be further from the truth.

Actually, the female is probably watching — with terror — from a distance. Almost every person who has picked up a fawn thinks he is doing the right thing. The fawn will bleat and sometimes follow a person that is attempting to leave. However, they are not lost or abandoned. Mom is nearby. If you are concerned, call the Game Commission and allow them to decide if the fawn needs help.

You just might be saving the fawn from a life spent in captivity. You might also save yourself some money since it is illegal to pick up fawns or any young wildlife without permission.

Well, June is the time of the year to see young wildlife of all types. And all are so cute and cuddly but they belong in the wild.

Bill Bower is a retired Pennsylvania Game Commission Wildlife Officer. Read his blog and listen to his podcasts on the outdoors at www.onemaningreen.com.