Movements Populations And Behavior Of Deer On A Western Montana Winter Range

Author : James D. Herriges (Jr.)
Publisher :
ISBN 13 :
Total Pages : 131 pages
Book Rating : 4.:/5 (13 download)

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Download or read book Population Ecology and Habitat Relationships of White-tailed Deer in Eastern Montana written by James D. Herriges (Jr.) and published by . This book was released on 1986 with total page 131 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: A study was conducted using radio telemetry to evaluate distribution, movements, activity, and habitat use by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on two areas along the lower Yellowstone River in eastern Montana during summer 1982 and 1983 and winter 1984. Deer distribution centered on river bottomlands, though some deer made daily or seasonal movements to adjacent uplands on the Intake area. Deer movements were short and restricted to riparian cover during the day, but increased and extended to agricultural fields up to 2.5 km from cover at night. Movement to and use of fields increased through summer and from summer to winter and appeared greater on the Intake than Elk Island study area. Well defined peaks in deer activity and movement occurred at sunrise and sunset; lesser peaks occurred near midnight and noon. Peak use of agricultural fields occurred from 1-2 hours after sunset until midnight. Seasonal minimum convex polygon home range sizes for individual deer varied from 0.29 km^2 to 10.0 km^2. Adult females had the smallest home ranges, averaging 0.87 km^2 in summer and 1.8 km^2 in winter. Total (24-hour) home range size varied by sex and age of the deer, season, and study area. Home ranges based only on daytime relocations averaged half as large as total home ranges in summer and 28% of the total in winter and did not differ between seasons and study areas. Among riparian cover types, deer selected for mid-to-late seral communities (mature cottonwood, shrub, green ash, and mature willow) with tall dense cover; grasslands were avoided. Among croplands, deer preferred alfalfa in summer and ungrazed alfalfa, sugar beets, and winter wheat in winter. Differences in selection and use of crops between study areas and seasons were related to availability influenced by cropping, harvest, and post-harvest grazing and field treatment practices. Overall, natural riparian cover and agricultural croplands were the two major components of deer habitat. These combined with topography and physiography of the river valley, and other land use and operational practices to influence deer distribution movements and home range size, activity, and use of specific cover types. --Abstract.