Seasonal range and habitat selection by white-tailed deer in northwestern Virginia

I studied home range size and composition, habitat selection, habitat factors that determine such selection, feeding habits, and population structure of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) of Posey Hollow, near Front Royal, Virginia. At least 10 radio-tagged adult females were located for 14 months in 1989-90 to determine home range sizes. The proportion of each habitat type within home ranges were calculated to determine the influence of habitat types on size of home ranges. Seasonal habitat selection was determined from the number of deer locations on habitat types compared to their availability. Habitat factors, determined by sampling 180 random points in all habitat types, were compared to factors at 720 deer locations. Feeding habits were quantified from 381 hours of direct observation. Population size and structure was based on 130 road counts.;Two-way ANOVA showed that home ranges sizes differed by season. Seasonal home ranges of the black locust (Robinia pseudoacacia) subpopulation were largest in Autumn. Home ranges of the tulip (Liriodendron tulipifera) subpopulation of deer were largest in winter. The home ranges of oak (Quercus sp.) subpopulation did not differ seasonally. Linear regression showed that home range areas were most influenced by their proportions of oak, hard woods, and black locust habitat types. Chi-square goodness-of-fit determined that deer were selective in habitat use during all seasons. Black locust habitat type was most preferred during spring and summer, and was second to grassland in autumn and winter. Discriminant function analysis showed that black locust and tulip subpopulations were selective during all seasons. Deer selected locations with higher forb cover and higher coralberry (Symphoricarpos orbiculatus) cover during spring, higher grass and coralberry cover during summer, and with higher grass cover during autumn and winter. Oak subpopulation used habitat types selectively except during summer. The double validation procedure revealed habitat selection during all seasons; mainly forbs and grasses were responsible for the selection. Time spent feeding on forage classes varied by season. Ground cover was consumed most during spring and summer; browse dominated autumn diets, and grasses dominated during winter. The deer population had a density of 0.32/ha. Sex ratio was 0.56 males per female. There were 51.1 fawns per 100 does; and yearlings made up 11.7% of the population in Autumn. Signs of habitat overuse call for population reduction. This population should be managed as 3 distinct subpopulations.