White-tailed deer monitoring protocol SOP #9 Procedures and Equipment Storage after the Field Season

Heartland Inventory and Monitoring Network (HTLN)

Because of their impacts on vegetation, disease transmission, visitor health, and vehicle-deer collisions, park managers at Arkansas Post National Memorial, Pea Ridge National Military Park, and Wilson’s Creek National Battlefield identified white-tailed deer as a vital sign for monitoring (DeBacker et al. 2005). Monitoring white-tailed deer populations better positions park management to take action to mitigate concerns involving deer. This monitoring protocol consists of a protocol narrative (this document) and 10 standard operating procedures (SOPs) for monitoring white-tailed deer in HTLN parks. The overall goals of HTLN white-tailed deer monitor-ing are to 1) document annual changes in the number of white-tailed deer, changes could signal presence of ille-gal deer harvest, disease, or other acute factors of concern for park management; 2) document long-term trends in the number of white-tailed deer to help park management determine if measures need to be taken to maintain herd health, minimize vegetation damage within a park, or alleviate visitor health concerns; and 3) annually map locations of white-tailed deer observed to assist park management in assessing the influences of management actions on deer usage of an area, habitat type, etc. This protocol narrative describes the sampling design for white-tailed deer, including the response design (data collection methods), spatial design (the park and survey routes within a park), and revisit design (timing and frequency of visits survey routes). It also outlines field methods for establishing survey routes, counting deer, and measuring visible area. Details can be found in the SOPs, which are listed below and available at irma.nps.gov. Other aspects of the protocol summarized in the narrative include procedures for data management and report-ing, personnel and operating requirements, and instructions for how to revise the protocol.