Quenching Deer Thirst

September 18, 2008

Question: I have some questions about mule deer and black-tail deer. How often does a deer have to drink water? How far will they travel to get water? How far from a water source will they go? What time of year do the bucks rut in the San Diego area? Thanks for any help with this. (Ed S., San Diego)

Answer: Water demands for deer in California (or anywhere else) depend on many factors, so the answers may not be as straightforward as your question – which is usually the case when dealing with biological/management issues related to wildlife.

According to Department of Fish and Game (DFG) Deer Program Coordinator Craig Stowers, the season of year, local climate conditions and the moisture content of available forage are probably the most important factors. Deer that inhabit moist, cool regions and feed on forbs and/or other vegetation with high moisture content will require less water than those deer that inhabit desert regions and feed primarily on brushy vegetation.

The literature we’re familiar with indicates that deer inhabiting southeastern Oregon drank only about 0.8 gallons of water per day, while desert mule deer in Arizona drank on the average about 6.3 gallons of water per day. Typically, deer will drink water once or twice a day.

Stowers says more studies are available on the distance deer will travel for water. The literature indicates that between 1.5 to 3 miles is about the maximum distance most will travel for water. Water is indeed a limiting factor in the distribution of deer. Much work has been done on this in California and other western states to provide artificial water sources (guzzlers), which have helped to expand or open up otherwise unsuitable habitat, as well as to help increase local deer density.

Deer in the San Diego area are typically in rut (breeding season) during September/October, which is much earlier than in other herds located in the northern portion of the state. The peak of their rut probably occurs sometime around mid-October.