Effects of Intensive Hunting on White-Tailed Deer Movement

Root, Brian; Fritzell, Erik; Giessman, Norbert

Human hunting activity may influence vulnerability of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to harvest by causing increased movement or changes in home range (Autry 1967, Sparrowe and Springer 1970, Pilcher and Wampler 1982). However, few studies have monitored the extent to which hunting activity affects deer movements, especially on intensively hunted areas (Autry 1967, Downing et al. 1969, Marshall and Whittington 1969). This knowledge is important to managers where overharvest of local deer populations is possible because of high hunter densities. Refuge areas are used widely to protect deer from adverse effects of hunting activity, but their effectiveness is uncertain (Autry 1967, Hawkins et al. 1971, Kammermeyer and Marchinton 1976). Because of the reported success of refuges in maintaining local deer populations in agricultural regions in the Midwest (Hawkins et al. 1971, Zagata and Haugen 1973, Zwank et al. 1979), the Missouri Department of Conservation began establishing seasonal refuges on intensively hunted wildlife management areas in 1972. Refuge areas, ranging from 100 to 800 ha, were closed to trespass during the firearms deer season in mid-November, but remained open to legal outdoor activities (including hunting) during the remainder of the year. No studies, however, have assessed the effectiveness of these seasonal refuges. The objectives of this study were to quantify movement responses of white-tailed deer to intensive hunting pressure and to assess the use of a seasonal refuge by white-tailed deer during firearms seasons on an intensively hunted wildlife management area in northern Missouri.

Effects of Intensive Hunting on White-Tailed Deer Movement

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