Movements of female white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) in relation to timber harvests in the central Appalachians

Abstract

Deer movements in relation to timber harvests have not been studied within nonmigratory white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus) populations. We compared home range and core area size and overlap, deer movements during timber harvests, and habitat use before and after harvests for deer associated and not associated with clearcuts. We radio-monitored 83 adult female deer pre- (3 months prior to), during, and post- (3 months after) timber harvest. Change in home range and core area size and overlap did not differ between control deer (home ranges comprised entirely of mature forest during all time periods) and treatment deer (≥1 telemetry location within a harvested stand during any time period). During timber harvests, treatment deer were located outside their pre-harvest home ranges more often than control deer and generally were located closer to clearcuts than in other time periods. During both the pre- and post-timber harvest time periods, deer used clearcut habitats (stands ≤5-years-old) in greater proportion than availability. Lack of significant changes in white-tailed deer movements before, during, and after timber harvest suggests habitat management aimed at attracting deer away from problem areas (e.g., areas with low regeneration success) or toward browse supplies during severe winters would likely be unsuccessful in the central Appalachians of West Virginia.