A Food Habits Study of Whitetail Deer In The Black Hills

Food habits of whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the northern Black Hills were studied during fall and winter 1966067 and 1967-68 and also during summer 1967. Summer study was confined to aspen (Populus tremuloides) areas and involved stomach analysis and a pasture study. Fall and winter food habits were determined by stomach analysis only. Associated aspen vegetation was sampled to find a representative site for construction of a 0.7 acre enclosure. Two deer were placed in a utilization section of the enclosure for 18 days during mid-summer. Annual growth was clipped in a control section of the pasture to estimate total forage production. Analysis of 42 fall rumen samples showed the Oregon grape (Mahonia repens) was the most important fall food species. Bearberry (Arctostaphylos uva-ursi) and common juniper (Juniperus communis) were also important. Analysis of 32 winter rumen samples indicated that Oregon grape and common juniper were the most important. Other winter foods of moderate importance were bearberry, grasses, ponderosa pine (Pinus ponderosa), bur oak (Quercus macrocarpa), and lichens (Usnea sp.). Snow depth was the most important factor affecting availability. As snow depth increased common juniper use increased while Oregon grape and bearberry use decreased. Forbs were not important food items during fall and winter. Significant differences were found in understory coverage and composition among aspen stands. Results of summer stomach analysis did not completely agree with pasture results. Important pasture food species were vetchling (Lathyrus ochroleucus), American vetch (Vicia Americana), serviceberry (Amelanchier alnifolia), and bur oak. Most important food species from analysis of nine summer stomachs were vetchling, serviceberry, mushrooms, aster (Aster leavis), and spiraea (Spiraea lucida). Total forage production on a representative aspen site was found to be 2650 pounds per acre green weight or 853.1 pounds per acre air-dried weight.

Name thesis:degree_name

Master of Science (MS)

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis - Open Access

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Wildlife Management

Year

1969

Author dc:creator

• Schneeweis, James Carl

• Natural Resources and Conservation

Statement dc:rights

• <p>No Copyright - Non-Commercial Use Only<br /><a href="http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC-EDU/1.0/">http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/NoC-NC/1.0/</a></p>

Language dc:language

en

Repository record dc:identifier

https://openprairie.sdstate.edu/etd/220

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:openprairie.sdstate.edu:etd-1220