Can you tell the sex of a deer by whether it snorts at danger?
QUESTION: One of my hunting buddies was telling how he had a buck blowing at him repeatedly. When I asked him how big it was, he said he didn’t know because he never saw it. Then I asked how he knew it was a buck, he said because it was blowing. I’ve heard several other people say the same thing, but I don’t believe that only bucks will blow. Can you clear this up? — Greg M.
ANSWER: This is one of those common misconceptions that, despite our best attempts to enlighten, somehow gets perpetuated. The fact of the matter is, both bucks and does snort (or blow). Furthermore, it’s more likely you’ll hear a doe.
While the reason for blowing is not clearly understood, it is believed to be some type of warning. In order for this behavior to have evolved in the first place, there must be some selective advantage. In the fall, when we hear it most, bucks are solitary. If they detect danger, their best course of action is to leave without drawing attention to themselves. Does, on the other hand, are social, and adults often have young with them. If they detect danger it could be advantageous to warn others in their company, particularly their offspring. That’s why rather than simply fleeing, they may stand their ground and blow.
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