[lonyaeger]

Just found this little whitetail outside our front door. The mom must have dropped him last night and gotten scared away. We'll leave the gate open tonight and, hopefully, mom will come back for him. Otherwise, my wife will try and bottle-feed him.

[winds-of-change]

Oh, mygod. How absolutely adorable. I'm sure the Mom will come back for him......unless she met a bad fate last night somehow.

Let us know how it goes.

[falseharmonix]

You could bottle feed it, fatten it up, and then.....ehemmm.....humanely euthanize it for a "higher calling"....

[winds-of-change]

It would be very fun to bottle feed but you also might consider a wild animal rescue group that is experienced on what to bottle feed a fawn. Not to mention it might not be so fun in the long run to have a tame deer around the house.

That being said.......I might be tempted to try to bottle feed it, too.

[hogrider]

Shoot the darn thing now. They're just long legged rats. Besides, isn't there something like veal venison.

Edited for recipe;
VENISON VEAL CUTLETS

1 pound venison steak or chops
1/2 c. onion, sliced
1/2 c. fresh herbs such as parsley, rosemary, thyme or 2 T. dried Italian seasoning
1 qt water
2-4 T. salt
1 egg, stirred
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. seasoned bread crumbs
1-2 T. olive oil

[Sniper03]

Lon

That is fantastic! If the mother is OK I am sure she is within hearing distance of the fawn. She should come back later to feed the little one. If you are like me. Even though I am an avid hunter I feed the deer, turkeys and wildlife here on my property in TN in the front yard. Therefore out of respect that is a Safe Zone. I will not hunt within a mile of the house. Since I normally like animals more than I like some people I have the utmost respect for wildlife and nature. If it stays I am sure the wife will spoil it and protect it. Certainly the biggest enemy would be dogs or coyotes since it looks like you also live in a wooded area.
Great Picture! Wishing the little one well!
Some of us do not have to always kill everything we see!

03

[lonyaeger]

I'm told by the wildlife experts here that his chances of surviving without mother's milk are slim, because it has an ingredient that can't be duplicated by humans. If we found they baby when he was a week old, his chance of survival would increase exponentially.

A few of our staff members are sure they saw the doe (mother) this morning. She probably got scared away by their vehicles and will come back. I hope.

I agree, Sniper, nature in this environment is a wonderful thing. I can hunt and shoot animals close to the house, but something like this is going to get every chance and every bit of help we can give him to survive.

[winds-of-change]

Originally Posted by lonyaeger

I'm told by the wildlife experts here that his chances of surviving without mother's milk are slim, because it has an ingredient that can't be duplicated by humans. If we found they baby when he was a week old, his chance of survival would increase exponentially.

A few of our staff members are sure they saw the doe (mother) this morning. She probably got scared away by their vehicles and will come back. I hope.

I agree, Sniper, nature in this environment is a wonderful thing. I can hunt and shoot animals close to the house, but something like this is going to get every chance and every bit of help we can give him to survive.

How old do you think the baby is? It's the colostrum the baby needs from his mother to survive. I'm betting it's at least a few days old, don't you think? I don't think he looks absolutely newborn. If so, he may have had enough colostrum to survive. If there is a farm store nearby, they make 'artificial' colostrum for calves whose mothers had died during calving. I think this one will survive if his mother doesn't return.

I must say, I am in love.

[opaww]

Man the economy really sucks when the dear are dropping off their young at the door steps of humans. Just a few more Lbs and it will be ready for the grill

[lonyaeger]

Originally Posted by winds-of-change

How old do you think the baby is? It's the colostrum the baby needs from his mother to survive. I'm betting it's at least a few days old, don't you think? I don't think he looks absolutely newborn. If so, he may have had enough colostrum to survive. If there is a farm store nearby, they make 'artificial' colostrum for calves whose mothers had died during calving. I think this one will survive if his mother doesn't return.

I must say, I am in love.

That's it! Colostrum! Couldn't remember the word.

I think he was born last night or early early this morning. And the wife is now calling a vet and a wildlife biologist. We're gonna do everything we can to help him.

If he survives, we have a dog run in the back and that's where we'll keep him until he's old enough to take care of himself. We'll keep everyone posted. Hopefully I'll be able to show you photos in several months of the little deer following the wife around the yard!