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 reproductive season, we analyzed the behavioral responses of three males to ovariectomized females anointed with midcycle or estrus urine or with estrous vaginal secretions. Seventy-four trials were conducted during a 2-year period in captive deer. During each trial, one ovariectomized female was assigned randomly a treatment, and another received the control. Association time, number of chases, and number of courtship approaches by sexually experienced males were recorded. For all males, behavioral responses were significantly greater toward females treated with estrous vaginal secretions. Differences also were detected for one male for all response variables to females treated with voided urine from estrous females. No differences were detected in trials comparing responses 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. However, some males may have the ability to determine estrous status from voided urine.