Comparison is made of values obtained from blood samples collected from six captive white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawns when physically restrained and immobilized with simultaneous intramuscular injection of etorphine HC1 and xylazine. Significant decrease (P < 0.001) was found in erythrocyte count, packed cell volume and hemoglobin concentration of fawns approximately 39 minutes after injection. Slight decrease in serum total protein concentration and aspartate aminotransferase (GOT) levels were noted; Wintrobe indexes, leukocyte count, and serum iron and total iron binding capacity were unchanged.

Blood gas analyses of blood collected from 8 deer indicated that PO₂, PCO₂ and HCO₃ values remained constant during the period of immobilization.