SOURCES OF REPRODUCTIVE CHEMOSIGNALS IN FEMALE WHITE-TAILED DEER

To assess the attraction of adult, male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to urinary and vaginal chemosignals during the reproducti ve season, we analyzed the behavioral responses of three males to ovar iectomized females anointed with midcycle or estrus urine or with estr ous vaginal secretions. Seventy-four trials were conducted during a 2- year period in captive deer. During each trial, one ovariectomized fem ale was assigned randomly a treatment, and another received the contro l. Association time, number of chases, and number of courtship approac hes by sexually experienced males were recorded. For all males, behavi oral responses were significantly greater toward females treated with estrous vaginal secretions. Differences also were detected for one mal e for all response variables to females treated with voided urine from estrous females. No differences were detected in trials comparing res ponses to urine from midcycle and the water control. Our data provide additional evidence that the female reproductive tract is the primary source of a reproductive chemical signal(s) in white-tailed deer. Howe ver, some males may have the ability to determine estrous status from voided urine.