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Spatio-temporal distribution of white-tailed
deer (Odocioleus virginianus) relative to prescribed burns
on rangeland in south Texas
Meek, Michael Glenn. 2007. Spatio-temporal distribution of white-tailed deer (Odocioleus virginianus) relative to prescribed burns on rangeland in south Texas. College Station, TX: Texas A&M University. 60 p. Thesis.
Overgrazing and fire suppression has left much rangeland in poor condition for various wildlife species. Prescribed fire is one range improvement practice used to restore degraded wildlife habitat. I determined the effect of prescribed fire on whitetailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) spatial and temporal distribution, in the presence of cattle grazing. Three 40 ha patches, constituting 10% and 6% of the land area in the lesser and greater Yellow Bluff pasture, respectively, were burned in September 2005. To determine habitat use and distribution of deer relative to these burns 3 bucks and 3 does were netted from a helicopter and fitted with Global Positioning System (GPS) telemetry collars (Lotek™ GPS_3300S) for a period of 30 days during each season. For estimation of spatial distribution of deer, the collars were programmed to take a position fix every hour to reduce problems associated with spatial autocorrelation. For 12 days within this period the collars recorded animal location every 5 minutes to compare habitat use with 6-9 GPS collars (GPS_3300LR) placed on cattle. This allowed me to examine fine-scale movements of deer relative to cattle.
Keywords: white-tailed deer, Odocioleus virginianus, fire suppression, prescribed burns, Texas
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Title: RMRS Other
Publications: Spatio-temporal distribution of white-tailed deer
(Odocioleus virginianus) relative to prescribed burns on
rangeland in south Texas
Electronic Publish Date: March 13, 2008
Last Update: March
13, 2008