Habitat Quality For Deer Research Articles

Effects of Site Characteristics, Pinyon-Juniper Management, and Precipitation on Habitat Quality for Mule Deer in New Mexico

Wildlife enterprises are increasingly important to ranch income in the western United States. Habitat management practices that facilitate wildlife are needed for optimal management of multiple-use ranches, particularly for economically important species, such as mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), that are declining throughout much of their range. We tested the effects of vegetation cover type, site characteristics, pinyon-juniper management treatments, and precipitation on body condition and size of spring-summer-autumn (SSA) home ranges of mule deer to assess habitat quality on the Corona Range and Livestock Research Center (CRLRC), a multiple-use research ranch in eastcentral New Mexico. Accrual of lean tissue and body fat reserves in does was positively associated with use of mechanically cleared juniper, pinyon-juniper woodland, and savannah and increased annual and spring (April to June) precipitation. Size of SSA home ranges of does was negatively associated with use of pinyon-juniper woodland and savannah and mechanically cleared pinyon-juniper stands, indicating that habitat quality was positively associated with use of these types. Conversely, size of SSA home ranges was positively related to use of short grass prairie (does), proportion of short grass prairie in SSA ranges (bucks), and areas of low forage production classes (does, bucks). Overall, habitat quality for deer on CRLRC was most positively associated with a mix of thinned and unmanaged pinyon-juniper habitat. Conversely, habitat quality was negatively associated with use of short grass prairie, which is the most common (77%) vegetation cover type on CRLRC. Management for deer habitat should focus on increasing forage, particularly shrub communities, by opening pinyon-juniper communities while maintaining sufficient area in unmanaged woodland for cover. Deer responses are likely to be greater if management focuses on sites of higher forage production potential within 200 m of unmanaged pinyon- juniper stands.

Effects of Root Plowing on White-Tailed Deer Condition, Population Status, and Diet

Determining the effects of plant community changes on animal populations is an important area of ecological research. We compared condition, population characteristics, and diet composition of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) from 2 root-plowed (low brush diversity) and 2 untreated (high brush diversity) sites in the eastern Rio Grande Plains of Texas to test the hypothesis that root plowing, which decreases woody species diversity-, reduced deer habitat quality. We collected 8 adult female white-tailed deer from each site every 3 months for 6 sampling periods. We assessed condition from several physiological, reproductive, and digestive indices and determined food habits by microhistological analysis of rumen samples. We estimated population size from helicopter surveys

White-Tailed Deer Habitat and Cottage Development in Central Ontario

Winter habitat used by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in central Ontario during winters 1978 and 1979 was quantified for 4 functional habitat types: travel lanes, night-bedding areas, daybedding areas, and feeding sites. These functional habitat types were separated on the basis of canopy closure, coniferous and deciduous browse units, vegetation volume, and numbers of dead branches, forming the basis for a model of deer habitat quality. Cottage development in areas used by deer reduced the quality of winter habitat. J. WILDL. MANAGE. 47(3):605-612 White-tailed deer in central Ontario have recently experienced drastic population declines (King 1976, Ont. Minist. Nat. Resour. 1978). This region is also experiencing an increased demand for lakeshore cottage development and recreational activity. Many of the remaining winter concentration areas used by deer include large sections of predominantly coniferous lakeshores. Early analyses of deer wintering areas relied on the proximity of food and cover (Webb 1940) and on general forest cover type (Christensen 1962). Later, distinct feeding and sheltering areas, and joint feeding-shelter areas were distinguished (Telfer 1967, Huot 1974). Stocker and Gilbert (1977) assessed winter habitats for key habitat qualities, including climatic shelter, night and day bedding, feeding, escape cover, and mobility. Our objectives were to measure habitat parameters in terms of their usefulness to white-tailed deer and to understand how wintering habitat is affected by cottage development. We thank M. Heimberger and D. Mojzes for aid in data collection, and M. Wilton, D. Brooks, C. Douglas, and D. Atkinson for cooperation and advice. F. Gilbert, J. Green, G. Teleki, C. MacInnes, D. Voight, R. Bramwell, and 3 anonymous reviewers provided helpful comments. The Ontario Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing provided financial assistance.