Karl V. Miller

Although surface mining may affect wildlife communities adversely, the degree of impact depends upon the extent of mining activity and the reclamation efforts employed. We compared breeding bird and small mammal communities on sites of different successional stages in 1995 and 1996 to evaluate the wildlife value of the reclamation prescriptions currently used on kaolin surface mines in east-central Georgia. Sites were grouped according to tree ages during the first year of the study (age class I, 2-4 years; age class II, 5-7 years; and age class III, 8-11 years). Avian abundance in 1995...

Antler measurements, weights, and estimated ages were collected from 529 male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) harvested on the Campfield Hunt Club, Georgetown County, South Carolina, from 1984 to 1989. Yearlings (N = 216) were aged ≤17, 18, or ≥19 months of age according to premolar wear and replacement patterns. The 4-month hunting season was divided into 3 periods to test for differences in weight and antler development between the ≤17- and ≥19-month-old age groups. Mean number of points and mean weights of ≥19-month-old deer harvested during the first and second periods were...

Differential development of reproductive characteristics and sex organs among age classes of male white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) during the breeding season was studied in west-central South Carolina. Blood samples and reproductive organs were obtained from 292 hunter-harvested deer from 26 October through 21 December 1985. Peak serum testosterone concentrations of ≥3.5-yearold deer occurred during the first week of the study, whereas peak concentrations in younger deer occurred approximately 4 weeks later. Testosterone concentrations were higher (P < 0.03) in older age...