Relationships among white-tailed deer density, harvest, and landscape metrics in TN, USA

Landscape and harvest indices are frequently used to represent white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) density. However, the relationship between deer density and specific landscape indices is unclear. Harvest is another metric often used to estimate deer density. Our objective was to model the...

Full description

Saved in:

Bibliographic Details
Published in:	European journal of wildlife research Vol. 66; no. 1
Main Authors:	Adams, Heidi L., Kissell, Robert E., Ratajczak, Daryl, Warr, Edward L., Applegate, Roger D., Barrett, Lynn, Lavacot, Tabitha, Graves, David
Format:	Journal Article
Language:	English
Published:	Berlin/Heidelberg Springer Berlin Heidelberg 01-02-2020 Springer Nature B.V
Subjects:	Biomedical and Life Sciences Deer Density Ecology Fish & Wildlife Biology & Management Life Sciences Odocoileus virginianus Original Article Wildlife management Zoology United States > US Deer density Deer harvest White-tailed deer Landscape metrics
Online Access:	Get full text
Tags:	Add Tag No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!

Description
Summary:	Landscape and harvest indices are frequently used to represent white-tailed deer ( Odocoileus virginianus ) density. However, the relationship between deer density and specific landscape indices is unclear. Harvest is another metric often used to estimate deer density. Our objective was to model the relationship among deer density, landscape metrics, and harvest density of deer in TN, USA. We estimated deer density across 11 regions in 2011 using distance sampling techniques. We developed 18 a priori models to assess relationships among deer density, harvest density, and landscape metrics. Estimates of deer density ranged from 1.85 to 19.99 deer/km 2 . Deer density was best predicted by harvest density and harvest density + percent woody area. However, harvest density was the only important variable in predicting deer density (Σω i = 0.700). Results of this study emphasize the significance of harvest density in deer management. While the importance of harvest as a management tool for deer is likely to increase as landscapes are fragmented and urbanized, specific management guidelines should be based upon deer densities and landscape metrics when they are important.
ISSN:	1612-4642 1439-0574
DOI:	10.1007/s10344-019-1353-8