Full of never-before-published facts, observations, and intricate details for hunters, environmentalists, and photographers, here is a truly the indispensable guide for understanding, respecting, and preserving the future of this majestic species.

Although the whitetail population is at an all-time high, the lives of North America’s most abundant and controversial deer are still shrouded in mystery. So few whitetail activities are ever witnessed that many unique traits, social habits, and day-to-day experiences have gone undocumented—until now.

Here, renowned wildlife author–photographer Dr. Leonard Lee Rue III shares his lifelong research. Blending unrivaled knowledge, the latest scientific research, and personal anecdotes and observations with over 250 astounding photographs, Rue brings to life the secret world of the whitetails.

From the classifications of the Cervidae family to field dressing a deer, from the science behind tree rubs to the number of spots on a fawn’s coat, Rue explains every conceivable aspect of these popular and spirited large mammals. This book is a must for anyone interested in whitetails: nature buffs, deer lovers, deer haters, wildlife managers, homeowners, photographers, highway troopers, and—not least—deer hunters.