Whitetail Deer Model Organism for Biological Principles
Slide 2
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.
Slide 3
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.)
Slide 4
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.)
Slide 5
Browse line: An area with too many deer that over grazing an
ecosystem.
Slide 6
Whitetail Traits RANGE Does (female): average range - 1/6
square miles. Bucks (male): average range - 1 2/3 square
miles.
Slide 7
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.
Slide 8
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.
Slide 9
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.
Slide 10
Seasonal and Habitat Relationships Deep snow and cold
temperatures over long periods of time drain a deers 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.
Slide 11
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 80 - 99 points = Severe winter. 100 + points = Very Severe
Winter of 1995-96 had a WSI of 202. Closed deer season up north
next year.
Slide 12
Slide 13
Bergmanns Rule #1: An animals body increases in size the
farther North it lives. Bergmanns Rule #2: An animals appendages
decrease in size the farther North. Florida Key Deer Arctic
Fox
Slide 14
Whitetail Physiology Rutting Season Triggered by photo period
(change of light) pituitary gland signal tests to release
hormones.
Slide 15
November 10, Peak rut in Minnesota. Does go into estrous for
1-2 days. If not breed, they will repeat in December.
Slide 16
When in estrous, does will walk with their tail up or out and
to the side.
Slide 17
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.
Slide 18
Whitetail Physiology Rutting Season SIZE OF ANTLERS IS
DETERMINED BY: 1. Health of deer 2. Available food 3. Genetics 4.
Approximate age
Slide 19
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.)
Slide 20
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.
Slide 21
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.
Slide 22
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
Slide 23
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
Slide 24
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.
Slide 25
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.
Slide 26
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.
Slide 27
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?
Slide 28
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
Slide 29
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.
Slide 30
Regulated Hunting
Slide 31
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.
Slide 32
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 animals demise. A fad in Europe for hats made from the fur
is what led to the exploitation of the animal.