Seasonal changes in Flehmen to constant urine stimuli

Male black-tailed deer were exposed to conspecific urine samples monthly for one year. The urine samples tested were from adult male, nonestrous female, estrous female, male fawn, and female fawn. The urine was offered with and without a wire screen cover; Flehmen occurred only when direct mouth and/or tongue contact with the urine was possible. The frequency of Flehmen varied seasonally, and urine from adults released more Flehmen than urine from fawns. But there was no difference in Flehmen frequency in response to urine from adult males or estrous or nonestrous females, when presented out of context, although in a natural situation males respond more to urinating females than males.