Antorbital and forehead secretions of black-tailed deer ( Odocoileus hemionus columbianus): Their role in age-class recognition

Abstract

Male black-tailed deer ( Odocoileus hemionus columbianus) scent mark with their forehead gland secretion and antorbital sac contents. When forehead and antorbital sections were presented on the same nylon rod on an artificial tree, male deer discriminated between male yearlings' and fawns' secretions. When the secretions were presented separately, male deer discriminated between yearlings' forehead and antorbital secretions and blank controls. Discrimination was indicated by differential rates of sniffing and licking. In addition, the frequency of forehead rubbing of the scent marks appeared to be dependent on the dominance relationships of the male deer. Chemical evidence is presented which suggests that male yearlings' and fawns' antorbital secretions differ quantitatively. Females did not respond preferentially to these secretions and, with the exception of sniffing, responded significantly less than males.