Rangeland Ecology & Management

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GEOGRAPHIC VARIATION IN THE MORPHOLOGY OF WHITE-TAILED DEER IN SOUTH TEXAS.
Author
Gann, Kory R.
Hewitt, David G.
Rice, Michaela
Ortega-Santos, J. Alfonso
DeYoung, Randy
Ortega-Santos, J. Alfonso
Fulbright, Timothy E.
Boutton, Thomas W.
Campbell, Tyler A.
Publisher
Society for Range Management
Publication Year
2016
Body

To assess the relationship between soil physical properties and deer morphology, we captured 2,775 white-tailed deer in autumn 2011-2014 on 4 East Foundation properties that range in location from the Gulf Coast to 90 miles inland. We determined the percent of each capture area composed of soils with a surface texture classified as sandy loam or clay loam, as well as the percent of each capture area composed of soils with an average percent sand >70% and >80% at a depth of 0?24 in. Percent of each capture area composed of soils with > 80% sand best explained differences in deer morphology. For every 1% increase in the proportion of the capture area composed of soils with >80% sand, female body weight decreased by 0.29 lbs. for 2?3 year olds, 0.35 lbs. for 4?5 year olds, and 0.39 lbs. for the 6+ age class (P < 0.01, R2 = 0.735). The male body weight model predicted that for every 1% increase in the proportion of the capture area composed of soils with >80% sand, male body weight decreased by 0.71 lbs. for 2?3 year olds, 1.13 lbs. for 4?5 year olds, and 1.03 lbs. for the 6+ age class (P < 0.01, R2 = 0.853). For every 1% increase in the proportion of the capture area composed of soils with >80% sand, antler measurements (Gross Boone and Crockett score) decreased by 0.45 points for 2?3 year olds, 0.68 points for 4?5 year olds, and 0.42 points for the 6+ age class (P < 0.01, R2 = 0.775). The soil parameter had no effect on body weight of fawns or yearling (1 year old) deer of either sex or antler size of yearling males. The efficiency of deer management programs may be reduced on sites with sandy soils by increasing the amount of time necessary to achieve desired results or by limiting the overall results of the management program.

Language
English
Resource Type
Text
Document Type
Conference Proceedings
Conference Name
SRM Corpus Christi, TX