White-Tailed Deer Use of Rangeland following Browse Rejuvenation

Abstract

Mechanical top growth removal of certain shrub species stimulates sprouting and temporarily htcreases nutritional quality, availability, and yield of browse. We determined the effects of (1) roller chopping separate portions of rangeland, dominated by guajillo (Ace& berlandieri Benth.) and blackbrush acacia (A. rigid& Benth.), during consecutive years and (2) disking separate portions of rangeland, dominated by dense whitebrush (Aloysia &ciodes Cham.) thickets, during consecutive years on white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginimus Raf.) use of the treated areas. Separate, adjacent portions of guajillo and blackbrush acacia-dominated rangeland were roller chopped in a pattern of alternating treated and untreated strips each year during summer for 4 consecutive years (1985-1988) on an area in Duval County, Tex., and for 2 years (1988-1989) on areas in Duval and McMullen counties, Texas. Whitebrush-dominated rangeland was disced in a similar pattern during 2 years (1988-1989). Twenty percent of each study site was treated each year. Estimated deer density in the rollerchopped area in Duval County was higher than estimated deer density in an untreated area during 1985-1987 and in 1989. Roller chopping in study areas in Duval and McMullen counties increased deer fecal pellet-group densities (groups ha'* day") relative to untreated sites in winter, spring, and summer 1989 and when averaged over the 21-month study. Discing dense whitebrushdominated sites increased pellet-group densities rehttive to untreated sites in spring and summer 1989 and when averaged across the 21-month study period. Increased deer use of treated areas was probably a function of several factors, including increased forb availability and increased nighttime visibility for predator detection.

Effects of white‐tailed deer exclusion on the plant community composition of an upland tallgrass prairie ecosystem

“…In other ecosystems, deer often modify the relative abundances of plant species, reducing the growth of trees, shrubs, and herbs (Côté et al, 2004; Takatsuki, 2009). While deer are technically generalists, they have a tendency to forage selectively (Augustine and McNaughton, 1998; Côté et al, 2004; DiTommaso et al, 2014), often eating forbs throughout the majority of the year, except during late summer and early fall when they primarily browse woody species (Bozzo et al, 1992). Due to their preferential diets, deer herbivory can either lead to the maintenance or loss of plant species diversity in systems where deer primarily consume the dominant or rare plant species, respectively.…”

White-tailed deer distribution in response to patch burning on rangeland

“…Fire can, however, reduce vegetative cover, allowing more sunlight and precipitation to reach the ground (Owens et al, 2002). As a result of fire, production of forbs and grasses may be stimulated and many fire adapted woody plants will resprout providing additional food for browsers (Bozzo et al, 1992). Despite the effectiveness of fire in grass-dominated systems to improve forage quality for wild and domestic grazers (Rogers et al, 2004;Vermeire et al, 2004;Wallace and Crosthwaite, 2005), the success of range restoration by prescribed fire in shrub-dominated systems has had varying results.…”

Use of pellet group counts in determining density and habitat use of mooseAlces alcesin Finland

“…Franzmann, Oldemeyer, Ameson & Seemel 1976b, Cairns & Telfer 1980, Forbes & Theberge 1993), deer (e.g. Stormer, Hoekstra, White & Kirkpatrick 1977, Cairns & Telfer 1980, Collins & Umess 1981, Bozzo, Beasom & Fulbright 1992), wapiti Cervus canadensis (Cairns & Telfer 1980), bison Bison bison (Cairns & Telfer 1980) and roe deer Capreolus capreolus (e.g. Papageorgiou 1978, Henry 1981, Aulak & Babinska‐Werka 1990a, 1990b, Kay 1993).…”