M. K. Causey

White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) damage to cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) was evaluated during 2 growing seasons in east-central Alabama. Deer began browsing cotton as soon as cotyledons emerged, and all plant parts were browsed during the growing season. Browsing of cotton cotyledons may kill plants and will reduce yields if it is extensive. However, browsing on cotyledons was rare in this study. Most feeding was done on cotton leaves, and occurred too late to reduce yields. Similarly, square and terminal removal after August and small boll removal after September occurred too late...

We studied the effects of 3 planting dates (Sep, Oct, Nov) and 2 fertilization rates (the recommended nitrogen [N], phosphorus [P], and potassium [K] based on soil testing and twice the recommended N, with P and K) on rye (Secale cereale), oats (Avena sativa), and wheat (Triticum aestivum) planted for white-tailed deer {Odocoileus virginianus) from 1991 to 1993. Forage plantings established early (September) in the cool season produced the most forage during the season and maximized production during hunting season. Doubling the recommended rate of N fertilization increased forage...

Thirty-seven white-tailed deer fawns (Odocoileus virginianus) born during summer and autumn 1993 were used to study effects of early weaning on survival and growth. Fawns at birth (date recorded) were weighed (kg), measured (cm), and tagged for identification. Fawns were randomly assigned to early weaned (treatment) or control groups at 60 days of age. Treatment animals were separated from their dams at this time, and control animals remained with their dams until 6 months of age. Both groups were fed a pelleted ration containing a medium protein level (11.6%). Study animals were sedated,...

While researchers recently have begun to examine production and nutritional quality of forage plantings for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus), little research has been done to determine deer preference of commonly planted forages. Due to lack of research, some forages are being inappropriately recommended to supply forage during times of the year they are not productive or preferred. We employed a timed observational method to determine captive whitetailed deer use of commonly planted forages from 1989-1991 at the Auburn University Deer Research Facility near Auburn, Alabama. We...

Forage production and nutritional quality were determined for 11 cool-season and 6 warm-season forages for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on a site in the Piedmont Plateau of Alabama from 1989 to 1991. Cool-season forages produced from 1,355 to 5,946 kg/ha (dry-matter basis) of forage per season containing from 56% to 84% total digestible nutrients (TDN), 8% to 30% crude protein (CP), 16% to 67% neutral detergent fiber (NDF), 0.15% to 2.34% calcium, 0.10% to 0.40% phosphorus, and 0.85% to 4.59% potassium per clipping. During summer 1990, warm-season forages produced from 1,757...

Visual observations on group composition of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) on the Fred T. Stimpson Wildlife Sanctuary, Alabama, were conducted from November 1975 through March 1976. Group composition was divided into 3 periods (pre-rut, 6 Nov - 6 Jan; rut, 7 Jan - 29 Feb; post-rut, March) to determine effects of reproductive behavior. During the study, 937 groups containing 2,391 deer were sighted. Sightings of single males and single females increased during the rut, and mean group size decreased. Data suggest a temporary dissociation of adult does from family groups as a...

Ten female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were live-trapped, radio-tagged, released, and monitored for a 5-month period (Nov. 1975 - Mar. 1976) on the Fred T. Stimpson Wildlife Sanctuary in Clarke County Alabama. Study animals were monitored hourly during 74 individual diel periods before, during, and after the pealt of rut. Additional random daily monitoring (2512 locations) was also conducted. Minimum home ranges did not differ statistically among the pre-rut, rut, and post-rut study periods. Minimum total linear distance moved during diel periods, distance between extreme...