Productivity of White-Tailed Deer on Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge

Abstract

Fertility of female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginiatzus) on Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge was determined from examination of 576 reproductive tracts obtained in January, 1966. Over 41 percent of the fawns and 97 percent of the older does +7vere pregnant. Gravid fawns showed an average of 1.00 embryos and 1.19 corpora lutea per doe7 yearlings 1.76 and 1.94, and adults 1.93 and 2.24. Ova losses were calculated at 12.9 percent for all pregnant deer, and prenatal losses through the first 6 weeks of gestation were 4.0 percent. The peak of yearling and adult breeding occurred from November 1S to December S being highest during November 22-28; most fawns bred 4-S weeks later. DEER PRODUCIIVITS: ON CRAB ORCHARD REFUGE * Roseberry and 1V1tXrrXra 23 tribUtiOn: a reVieW. J. WiXd1. Mgmt. 32(3): 597-614. ROBINETTE, W. L. O. JULANDER, J. S. GASHWILER, AND J. G. SMITH. 1952. Winter mortality of mule deer in Utah in relation to range condition. J. Wildl. Mgmt. 16(3):289-299. SEVERINGHAUS, C. W. 1947. Relationships of weather to winter mortality and population i : a reVieW. J. WiXd1. Mgmt. 32(3): . TE, . L. O. JULANDER, J. S. GASHWILER, . . S ITH. 1952. Winter mortality levels among deer in the Adirondack region of New York. Trans. ]!J. Am. Wildl. Conf. 12:212-223. SMrrH, D. R. 1954. Bighom sheep in Idaho; its status, life history, and management. Idaho Dept. of Fish and Game. Bull. 1. 154pp. Received for publication July S,, 1969. This paper reports the productivity of female white-tailed deer on Crab Orchard National Wildlife Refuge, southern Illinois, as determined from 576 reproductive tracts. Study material was obtained during a special 10-day hunt ( Roseberry et al. 1969 ) held the first three weekends in January, 19(36 on the closed portion of the Refuge. The 18,,0-acre closed area consists of about 27 percent cropland (largely corn, soybeans? red clover7 and winter wheat)> 17 percent pasture, 27 percent brushland, 27 percent deciduous woods, and 2 percent pine plantations ( Autry 1967: W5 ) . In general, these land-use types are well interspersed and afford good deer habitat; cropland acreages are managed specifically for wintering Canada geese ( Branta cuns-