Movements of female white-tailed deer to bait sites in West Virginia, USA

Abstract

We present a comparison of movements of adult female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in response to seasonal bait sites in the central Appalachians of West Virginia, USA. Our objectives were to compare bait-site use among seasons, evaluate home-range and core-area sizes between baiting and non-baiting periods, and compare distance from the geographic centres of activity to nearest bait site between baiting and non-baiting periods. From June 2000 to May 2001, we radio-monitored 52 deer and determined their use of 29 seasonal bait sites with automated camera systems. We collected 6461 locations and 1333 photographic observations of radio-collared deer. Bait-site use did not differ among four seasonal baiting periods. Additionally, home-range and core-area sizes did not differ between baiting and non-baiting periods. However, deer shifted their centres of activity closer to bait sites during baiting periods. High variability in deer behaviour should be considered when implementing deer-management activities that require all deer to use bait sites, such as infrared-triggered camera surveys.