We present an analysis of some blood characters in 31 newborn fawns and 79 older white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from free-ranging populations in southern Texas. In the newborn fawns, averages were: Erythrocytes 6.95 1068/mm3, leucocytes 3.6 l03/mm8, hemoglobin 10.1 g/100 ml, sedimentation rate 2.2 mm/hr and hematocrit 29.1%. In the older fawns and adults averages were: Hematocrit 49.5%, serum calcium 5.2 mEq/L, serum sodium 157.6 mEq/L, serum potassium 6.8 mEq/L, BUN 14.4 mg%, total serum protein 6.4 g/100 ml, albumin 3.8 g/100 ml, globulins 2.6 g/100 ml, and albumin/globulin ratio 1.5. These values for fawns and older deer generally fell within the ranges reported in other studies. More data are needed, particularly from free-ranging populations, in order to determine which blood composition characters can be used efficiently to indicate subtle differences in health and condition of deer.
