Deer Range Appraisal for the Missouri Ozarks

Abstract

The reduced carrying capacity which results in overbrowsed deer ranges has been well documented in many areas, and the general way in which deer herds overbrowse their food supply is now well understood (Leopold, et al., 1947). But balancing deer herds with their food supply is still a new task in the oak forests of the Ozark region; recognizing overstocked deer ranges here presents some difficulties not generally encountered in northern and western states. In the Ozark region, the growing season is long, frost-free periods average 180 days, and green herbs are available to deer throughout the year. There are no critical winter deer concentration areas like those encountered in northern deer yards or on the winter range of migratory deer. The problem in the Ozarks is to recognize incipient over-populations of deer in the absence of key areas where browse damage is concentrated and striking, and the objective of this investigation was to study deer food habits in order to discover plants which would be sensitive indicators of incipient over-populations. Atwood and Steyermark (1937) made preliminary observations on deer food habits in the Ozark region. Dalke (1941) tallied woody plants commonly browsed in Missouri refuges during winter and suggested six woody species which might be important to winter carrying capacity. Dalke and Spencer (1944) reported on destructive overbrowsing where deer were confined in a private game preserve in southern Taney County, Missouri. Recently, Donaldson, et al. (1951) listed deer food preferences observed on study plots and recorded differences in pounds of herbage produced inside and outside deer exclosures on the Ozark National Forest in Arkansas; Lindzey (1952) reported on food plants browsed on study plots in southeastern Oklahoma; and Korschgen (1952) analyzed the contents of 270 deer stomachs collected in Missouri. These investigators have listed a total of 256 plant species utilized by deer and reported that green herbaceous vegetation was eaten throughout the year. Korschgen found o k mast to be the single most important deer food in Missouri, and the other investigators cited above reported the importance of acorns. This contribution of the acorn to deer diet has also been recognized by investigators in southern states (Ruggles, 1938; Ruff, 1938; Pearson, 1943). None of the nvestigators in the Ozarks, however, suggested deer food plants which could be used as early indicators of overbrowsing.