Abstracts

Abstract: Tetracycline-treated corn was provided (17 Jul-5 Aug 1992) to free-ranging white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on Cedar Knoll Club (CKC) in Allendale County, South Carolina to determine its potential as an oral biomarker and to study the influence of intensive supplemental feeding on movement and harvest patterns. Mandibles from deer harvested on CKC and neighboring properties during the hunting season (15 Aug 1992-1 Jan 1993) were examined grossly and microscopically under ultraviolet light for tetracycline deposition. Of deer taken during the first 2 weeks of the season on CKC and nearby lands, 89.4% and 63.9% were marked, respectively. On CKC and off, the percentages of marked deer harvested were highest early and decreased over the season. The percentages of marked deer decreased with increasing distance from CKC, but some were harvested even on the periphery of the area sampled (i.e., about 7.0 krn from feeding stations). For the entire season, 68.0% of the deer harvested on CKC (n = 454) and 29.6% harvested on surrounding clubs (n = 331) were marked. Among harvested deer 2 1.5 years old, a greater percentage of does (72.0%, n = 125) were marked than bucks (67.9% n = 280) on CKC. In contrast, bucks (38.6% n = 158) on adjacent lands were marked more frequently than does (20.3%, n = 128). Appropriate statistical comparisons, results, and inferences will be discussed. Our results suggest that the deer, especially bucks, are very mobile, and, as a result, harvest patterns are influenced by timing of the breeding season and club hunting efficiencies as well as deer productivity. These results also demonstrate that tetracycline is useful for oral biomarking of free-ranging white-tailed deer.