| One of the best methods to examine the condition of white-tailed deer is to evaluate the physical growth of yearling deer. Antler development, consisting of average beam diameter and number of points, as well as lactation status were identified as measurable population-level quality indices for yearling deer in Michigan. The condition of the deer herd, as measured by these quality indices, was examined temporally and spatially both within and among 3 distinct regional study sites in Michigan. Each of the population-level quality indices increased along a north to south regional gradient, which suggested that deer in the southern part of Michigan were in relatively better condition than their counterparts in the more northern regions. This trend in deer herd condition may be attributed to winter severity, population density, and habitat quality differences among the 3 distinct regional study sites in Michigan. The temporal and spatial trends in each of these factors were evaluated both within and among the 3 distinct regional study sites, as was the relationship between these factors and yearling antler development. Multiple factors affected deer herd condition within each regional study site; in the northern part of the state weather gave way to a mixture of weather and density, and in the southern-most part of the state, density had the most influence on herd condition. |
