Adult white‐tailed deer survival in hunted populations on public and private lands

Abstract

AbstractEstimates of sex‐ and age‐specific survival are important for guiding population management decisions for white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus). However, differences in deer survival between public and private lands can exist and, if unaccounted for, may affect wildlife agencies' ability to effectively manage statewide and local deer populations. From 2014 to 2016, we radiocollared and monitored survival of 79 adult white‐tailed deer (141 deer‐years; 62 male, 79 female) on 2 public and 2 private properties in Alabama, USA. We assessed the effects of sex, age, and landownership type (i.e., public or private) on adult white‐tailed deer harvest and survival patterns using an information‐theoretic approach. Hunter harvest accounted for 77% of observed mortalities (n = 23/30), but harvest and survival rates varied by sex and age. Harvest and survival were similar between public and private property despite more restrictive hunting regulations for antlered deer on public areas. Similar harvest rates were likely due to self‐imposed, quality deer management (QDM) harvest strategies on private land that emulated the effects of a state‐mandated antler point restriction (APR) on public land. Our findings indicate survival rates of adult white‐tailed deer may be applicable across landownership types where state‐mandated harvest regulations with respect to males are more restrictive on public than private property, due to the popularity of QDM by private‐land deer hunters. However, where regulations are similar across landownership types (e.g., no state‐mandated APR), differences in harvest and survival rates may exist.