Is it possible to tell if a young deer is male or female from its skeleton?

Question

I found a skeleton of a fawn (white-tailed deer) in the forest by my cottage. As I want to be some sort of paleontologist or osteoarchaeologist, I'm curious if you can tell the s*x of a fawn from its bones. Thanks!

Answer 1

Small humps can be detected at the antler sites on males between 2-4 months.

You can estimate the age at death based on the teeth:

"One can estimate the age of whitetails by examination of the teeth. At 9 months of age the fawn will be acquiring the middle pair of permanent incisors while the remainder of the incisors as well as the premolars will be milk teeth. At this age one molar on either side of each jaw is well developed while the second is barely breaking through the gum. At the age of 1½ years all milk incisors have been replaced by permanent teeth. At least two molars are fully developed while the third may be in any condition from barely emerging from the mandible to fully emerged. At the age of 2 years the full set of permanent teeth is acquired. Beyond 2 years age determination is somewhat uncertain but can be roughly estimated by the wearing of the teeth. Wear of the teeth is gradual until at 5 years the ridges of enamel are no longer sharp, but rise slightly and gradually above the dentine. At still later ages the crowns of the premolars and molars rise only a short distance above the gums, and the grinding surfaces are worn practically smooth."

http://www.nsrl.ttu.edu/tmot1/odocvirg.h...

If the teeth indicate over 4 months old, and there are no horn humps, then it is female.

Answer 2

The human male and female pelvises are different to allow the female to carry babies and give birth.  I assume that it is the same for all mammals.  A vet from the local wildlife department should be able to tell you.