Joseph J. Campo

We reevaluated the effects of hunting deer (Odocoileus virginianus) with dogs in 10 east Texas counties 5 years after the initial investigation in 1984. We mailed standardized questionnaires to rural boxholders, licensed hunters, and forest industry landowners. The numbers of landowners and hunters opposed to deer hunting using dogs increased (P < 0.05) from 1984 to 1989. However, there was no (P > 0.05) shift in hunter classification between years. The area available for hunting deer with dogs by landowner permission declined 69% and only 5% of the available deer range in the 10 dog...

We studied habitat used for nesting by eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) on intensively managed pine forest land in eastern Texas in 1980 and 1981. Most (89%) nests were within 100 m of a road or timber stand boundary. Nest sites had <60% canopy closure, low density of rnidstory trees (16 stems/0.04 ha), low basal area (9 m2/ha), and abundant herbaceous ground and shrub cover. Retaining forest openings resulting from logging activity likely will enhance nesting habitat for turkeys in eastern Texas.

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were experimentally chased with dogs in east Texas in December 1984 and in January and December 1985. Chase duration and dog dispersal were determined with the aid of radio telemetry. Fifty-three experimental chases of deer were conducted; chase duration averaged 18 minutes. Average dog dispersal from the point of release was 1.1 km; 70% of chases were within 1.6 km of the release point. Dog dispersal data indicated that 2,514 ha were required to hunt deer with dogs in a 405-ha core area to prevent dog trespass onto surrounding land in 70% of the...

Mortality and reproduction of 65 stocked eastern turkeys (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) were studied using radio telemetry on 2 different areas in east Texas from February 1979 through July 1981. The known survival rate was 62% after 1 year and 48% at the end of the study period. The known mortality rate was 11 % after 1 year and 21% at the end of the study period. Predation on hens during the nesting and early brood-rearing season was the greatest loss of adult turkeys. A high rate of nesting and renesting indicated a high reproductive potential for these turkey populations. Average...

Soft mast production was measured on lohlolly pine (Pinus taeda) plantations, ages 1 to 9 years, in Kemper County, Mississippi. A fertilized 6-year-old plantation, site prepared hy hedding, had the largest numher (6) of soft mast produce,'s. B1ackhelTY (Rubus argutus) production accounted for 91 percent of the total soft mast yield. B1ackherry and total soft mast production (93 kg/hal was significantly greater (P < 0.05) on a 5-year-old hedded plantation than on all othe,' plantations. Total fruit yield was greater on 6- and 7-year-old fertilized than on ,wn-fe"tilizl'd plantations.