David C. Guynn, Jr.

We captured 60 wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) hens from 1998-2001 on the U.S. Department of Energy's Savannah River Site (SRS) in South Carolina to assess nesting success, identify characteristics of successful and unsuccessful nests, and determine survival rates and mortality factors of hens. Hen nesting success varied greatly among years, ranging from 0-80% and was strongly correlated (r = 0.998) with the number of poults per hen observed during brood surveys. Woody stem densities (F30 = 5.1; P = 0.03) and nest concealment (F30 = 4.69; P = 0.04) both were greater at successful...

We compared survival rates of eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo sylvestris) gobblers in hunted (Crackerneck Wildlife Management Area and Ecological reserve [CWMA]) and unhunted (Savannah River Site [SRS]) populations in South Carolina to assess impact of spring gobbler-only hunts. Annual survival rate of gobblers on SRS (0.71) was greater (χ2 = 5.11; df = 1; P = 0.02) than that of gobblers on CWMA (0.54). Our results indicate that spring gobbler harvests constitute additive mortality to turkey populations. However, even in years when reproductive rates were relatively low, a spring-...

We evaluated selected characteristics of forest industry hunt-lease programs for the 1999 calendar year in the southern United States. Sixty questionnaires were mailed to wildlife biologists and hunt-lease administrators of various forest industries within these states. Thirty-four completed questionnaires were returned, yielding an overall response rate of 56.7%. Respondents owned 6,006,050 ha; they leased 4,600,611 ha (76.6%) to the private sector and 424,784 ha (7.1%) to the public sector. The average annual lease fee for the private sector was $9.69 per hectare, and the average annual...

Selected characteristics of forest industry hunt lease programs in the southern United States were evaluated for the 1994 calendar year. Results were compared with earlier similar surveys. Respondents owned 9,198,217 ha and leased 5,935,935 ha (64.5%) to hunt clubs and individuals. Estimated revenues generated from lease fees were about $40 million based on an average annual fee of $6.82 per hectare. Ninety-one percent of the respondents reported that they considered income from leases in their economic analyses and investment decisions which indicates an increasing awareness of the...

Habitat fragmentation is one of the greatest threats to the conservation of biodiversity and has 3 components: habitat loss, patch isolation, and patch size. We tested the effects of forest-clearing size on small mammal populations in the Upper Coastal Plain of South Carolina. These clearings act as islands for many species of small mammals, particularly old-field mice (Peromyscus polionotus) and cotton rats (Sigmodon hispidus). We live-trapped small mammals in 3 size classes of clearcuts (small <6 ha, medium 10-15 ha, and large >25 ha) on the Savannah River Site and compared...

The fell-and-burn site preparation technique is an effective means of regenerating low-quality hardwood stands to pine-hardwood mixtures in the Southern Appalachian Mountains. In this region, pine-hardwood mixtures offer a compromise between the benefits of hardwood management to wildlife and the economic benefits of pine management. However, the fell-and-burn technique has not been tested in the Piedmont and other regions. This study compared the effects of several variations of the fell-and-burn technique on small mammal communities and wildlife habitat in the upper Piedmont of Georgia...

Reproductive data were collected from 774 female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) taken in Mississippi between 1976 and 1979. One- to 2-year old does and 2-year or older does had mean corpora lutea counts of 1.61 and I. 78 and mean fetus counts of 1.40 and 1.66 respectively. Fawn breeding was observed in 4 of 140 fawns and also was evidenced by the presence of lactation in 5 of 146 1-1/2 year old deer. Breeding occurred between November 20 and March 15. Over 80% of breeding occurred December 21 to January 21 with 50% of all breeding between January 7-21.

Two hundred twelve white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were aged by tooth wear and replacement and by sectioning the incisors. Aging by cementum annuli placed 67.8% of the animals in an older age class, 7.2% in a younger age class, and 24.9% in the same age class as aging by wear and replacement. Of deer with 3 cuspid 3rd premolars aged by cementum annuli, 17.3% were aged as 1.5 years, 69.2% as 2.5 years, 9.6% as 3.5 years, and 3.8% as 4.5 years. Five fawns were aged as 1.5 years by the annuli technique. Aging by cementum annuli produced a significantly older age structure than that...

A subjective technique of evaluating habitat potential based on forage availability for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in Mississippi was critically appraised. The technique provides a useful index to forage abundance and requires about 20% of the time required by analogous vegetative sampling techniques.

A cooperative program involving sportsmen and Mississippi Game and Fish personnel was developed to monitor herd health of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on private lands in Mississippi. Organized hunting clubs and private landowners collected biological data which were analyzed by wildlife biologists. Based on this information, antlerless harvest strategies were developed to accomplish specified management objectives. The system was tested in Kemper and Noxubee Counties, Mississippi, during the 1977-78 season and was evaluated by participants and agency personnel. The program...