Abstracts

Abstract: Home range sizes and movements of adult male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on the hunted Big Cypress National Preserve (BCNP) and nonhunted Everglades National Park (ENP) were compared to assess the influences of hunting, rut, refuge availability, and seasonal flooding on deer activities. Over a 3 year period (Apr. 1989-Mar. 1992) 54 deer were monitored via aerial telemetry. Annual home ranges of adult males were larger in BCNP (7.0 km2) than in ENP (2.9 km2), and generally exceeded those reported for males in other nonmigratory populations. Home ranges and movements of adult males in BCNP were larger than those in ENP for 2, 6 month hydrological and 4, 3 month biological seasons. These differences may be attributed to hunting related disturbances the lower population density in BCNP and possibly, to habitat variation between the 2 areas. High water levels, which coincided with rut, did not appear to limit deer movements. Males in BCNP did not move to ENP to avoid hunters, and the resultant mean annual harvest rate in BCNP was high (53%). In contrast, a few males from ENP moved regularly into BCNP during rut and then returned to ENP before hunting intensified; these males effectively used ENP as a refuge. Findings from this study suggest that the potential for overharvesting the male population in the BCNP prairie is high, particularly during wet years when hunting with airboats is facilitated. In BCNP, research by the National Park Service indicates that adult male deer are preyed upon commonly by the endangered Florida panther (m concolor corvl). Thus, high mortality rates of males due to recreational hunting may depress prey availability for the Florida panther.