Forest Habitat And Deer Populations In An Arkansas Ozark Enclosure

A 675-acre Arkansas Ozark enclosure had a carrying capacity of about one deer per 50 to 70 acres. When available, mast provided most of the deer's winter diet, but when mast yields were low winter food supplies became critical. The lungs of all deer examined were heavily infested by protostrongylid larvae. The poor quality of winter range plus the high level of parasitism appeared to be regulating deer numbers.