The gender of a fawn (whether male or female) is determined by the genetic material inherited from its parents, specifically the chromosomes. Female deer (does) have two X chromosomes (XX), while male deer (bucks) have one X and one Y chromosome (XY). The key factor in determining whether a fawn is male or female is the sperm from the buck:
If the sperm that fertilizes the egg carries an X chromosome, the fawn will be female (XX).
If the sperm carries a Y chromosome, the fawn will be male (XY).
This process is random, meaning the gender of the fawn is not influenced by the doe. The buck’s sperm determines the outcome. However, other factors like environmental conditions, maternal health, and even the timing of conception might subtly influence the likelihood of one gender being born over the other, but these effects are generally minor compared to the genetic mechanism.