Whitetail Deer Model Organism for Biological Principles

Whitetail History Originally occupied transitional forest zones and prairies. Scarce in the coniferous forests of Northern Minnesota. Around the turn of the century, logging took the pine and were replaced by hardwoods thus expanding Whitetail range. There are actually more deer now than ever before. Now, the #1 big game animal hunted in the U.S.

Whitetail Traits Senses – – # 1 sense of smell. (can smell odors up to 1/2 mile away) – # 2 hearing – # 3 eyes (not good, but can detect motion well. They can perceive some color, cones found in retina.)

Whitetail Traits FEED – 1. Browse: buds and twigs from small trees – 2. Graze; grasses, rye, clovers, alfalfa, oats, wheat, corn, acorn, apples, salt licks. – gain weight in the fall for winter months. – bucks will go with out food during rut. (May lose 20 lbs.)

Browse line: An area with too many deer that over grazing an ecosystem.

Whitetail Traits RANGE – Does (female): average range - 1/6 square miles. – Bucks (male): average range - 1 2/3 square miles.

Whitetail Traits MOVEMENT: – Nocturnal - move at night – Crepuscular: feed mostly before sunrise and after sunset. Day trails - woods and brush (look for them here) Night trails - fields, meadows, crop lands. (seldom used during the day) more movement during rut bed down at midday deer move about more when weather is warm rather then cold. clear rather then cloudy. deer lay low during rain, snow and wind. They move rapidly before and after storms. spooked deer may not run as far as you think and are worth going after. if a doe is spotted, wait for a possible buck to follow.

Seasonal and Habitat Relationships Winter is the season of hardship. Shorter days triggers change in metabolism. Deer enter a state of semi-fasting that results in lower food needs. Deer need fat reserves to survive most winters.

Deer will remain in conifer cover during severe winter weather instead of expanding energy looking for food. Deer will “Yard Up” providing well packed trails in deep snow.

Seasonal and Habitat Relationships Deep snow and cold temperatures over long periods of time drain a deer’s energy. A severe winter followed by late spring green up may cause starvation and lower their fawn production. Successive severe winters contribute to fluctuating deer populations in Northern Minnesota just as subsequent mild winters contribute to healthy her numbers and even problems with over population.

WSI = “Winter Severity Index”. A measurement of how severe a winter is on wildlife. Days with snow 15 inches or more or temperature below zero = 1 pt. (2 pts) Dec. 1 – April 30 0 – 50 points = mild winter for wildlife 50 – 79 points = moderate winter for wildlife points = Severe winter points = Very Severe Winter of had a WSI of 202. Closed deer season up north next year.

Bergmann’s Rule #1: An animal’s body increases in size the farther North it lives. Bergmann’s Rule #2: An animal’s appendages decrease in size the farther North. Florida Key Deer Arctic Fox

Whitetail Physiology – Rutting Season Triggered by photo period (change of light) pituitary gland signal tests to release hormones.

November 10, Peak rut in Minnesota. Does go into estrous for 1-2 days. If not breed, they will repeat in December.

When in estrous, does will walk with their tail up or out and to the side.

Whitetail Physiology – Antlers purpose is secondary sex characteristic. sexual adornments bluffing attempts in battle for mating. bucks of same size rack will tangle for mating rights. paths of the veins in the velvet called GUTTERS can be traced in the hard antlers.

Whitetail Physiology – Rutting Season SIZE OF ANTLERS IS DETERMINED BY: 1. Health of deer 2. Available food 3. Genetics 4. Approximate age

Whitetail Physiology – Rutting Season NON-TYPICAL ANTLERS -malfunction hormonal secretions -damage to velvet Records of does with antlers- mixed up hormones. (testosterone regulates rack production in both male and females.)

Hunting Deer Scents: smell is # 1 sense. Different types of scents that appeal to deer: 1. territorial: deer will notice a new animal in his territory. (urine, glands.) *challenge scents 2. hunger: appeals to the deer's sense of hunger. (apples, acorns) 3. curiosity: new smell to deer, so they will investigate. good to use early in season. 4. sex: good during rut. (doe urine) 5. cover: mask human order. (skunk, fox urine) most scents will mask human odor.

HUNTING STRATEGIES Scouting: look for signs before season opens. -trails -browse -rubs - rubs on small trees. early to remove velvet. mark with pre orbital gland to mark territory. size of rub and size of tree often determines size of deer. bucks seldom return during rut. -scrapes - scrapes on ground. bucks scrape and leave urine and inter-digital scent on scrape to mark territory and to attract doe. size of scrape determines size of buck. -track - sharp edges - fresh track - round edges - old track - both bucks and does will drag toes when walking. usually bigger deer will drag. (more often bucks) -beds - size of bed determines size of deer.

Hunting Styles STAND HUNTING up in tree. game usually does not look up. -use scent to hide your odor or attract the deer. your scent may rise in morning and drop in the evening due to air temperature. tree in morning, ground in evening. -locate a stand in a “funnel” where woods/brush narrows forcing deer to you. (find trail, scrapes etc.) -comfort, warmth necessary for duration. stay in stand for at least three hrs

Hunting Styles STILL HUNTING Walking slowly (silent) Move slowly (one step then wait 2-5 minutes) stop, listen, look -good midday technique when game are inactive. deer will let you pass if walking at a pace -walk into wind -careful placement of feet - snap twigs/leaves -soft clothing reduces noise -deer will often run behind you. -two person still hunt: have one person in front of other to guard against deer running behind leader

Hunting Styles STALKING -different from still hunting in that you know that game exists in a particular location. -sneak within shooting range. -stay low to ground and behind cover if possible -if deer lifts its head and looks, stop.

Hunting Styles DRIVING effective way to push game out of a large area. “posters” position at end of cover by “escape route” “drivers” spread out according to density of cover. -keep game from doubling back -know location of others. visible. *start at widest part of cover and work to narrower. -game will stay in cover until end or will run out sides. -use unusual sounds, erratic movements, vary walking speed stop, turn back, etc. safety know position of all hunters.

Carrying Capacity The number of individuals a habitat can support. Measured in late winter. Example: -Farm supports 50 pheasants in summer but 20 in winter. -Remaining 30 will die. -An attempt to stock birds above carrying capacity is fool hearty.

Limiting Resources a factor that controls a process, such as organism growth or species population, size, or distribution. The availability of food, predation pressure, or availability of shelter are examples of factors that could be limiting for an organism. Examples?

Logging When in MN? Late 1800s and early 1900s Where? North and NE part of state and transitional areas Many trees were conifers that grew back to Aspen woods Logging practice and other factors determine regeneration New growth forests Favor “edge” species (Deer and Grouse) Old Growth Forests (climax species) Mature Takes many years to achieve Few “virgin” stands left. (Some isolated ones in the BWCA) Logging a political issue: Remote areas need roads built to them to log. Logging can be useful, economically beneficial, and it can be destructive. Logging practices vary. Ex. Clear cuts, selective logging Logging may have similar affect as fires

Regulated Hunting Game Managers can utilize hunting as a tool to help control the numbers of certain game species of animals. With the use of hunting regulations animal populations can be held in check to the benefit of the species. Rare or endangered species are protected as are non game species. Some hunting is done not as a management tool, but as a recreational endeavor. Most hunters have strong ethical values related to their sport. Money (millions of dollars) generated by hunters through license fees and stamps as well as excise tax on hunting equipment is useful for game management programs.

Regulated Hunting

Pittman-Robertson Act: 1937 Tax applied to wildlife recreational products. Put money back into the land that was being utilized. Money allocated for protecting wildlife and habitat.

Market Hunting At the turn of the 19th century, in the United States, animals were killed for profit. Some sold to restaurants, others used to feed rail or logging camps. Government regulations prohibit this practice today and animal populations have rebounded nicely. The unregulated trapping of Beaver in the 1700s almost led to the animal’s demise. A fad in Europe for hats made from the fur is what led to the exploitation of the animal.