Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

While studying deer movements in the floodplain of the Mobile River in southwestern Alabama, two fawns (of different ages) were radio-instrumented and their movements compared. The interim of the study period was from December, 1967 until July, 1968. A spotted fawn (between I and 2 months old) that was radio-tracked had a home range comparable to that of adult deer in the area, but diel movements were much less. Another fawn (approximately 4 months old) and her mother were captured and instrumented with radio transmitters at the same time. During the first 16 days of intensive tracking (39 locations of each deer) they were never located together. For the remainder of the study period, they were located together 22 out of 23 times. Even though the two deer were separated during most of the tracking period, the fawn's home range was only slightly smaller than the dam's.

Three study areas and five techniques were used in this study of movements and activities of dogs and influence of dogs on deer. Radio-tracking with telemetry equipment was ineffective due to infrequent and unpredictable movement of dogs. The percentage of licensed dogs estimated from surveys of rural inhabitants was suggested to be inversely related to the number of residents under a dog warden's responsibility. Activity indices determined from sand plot track counts for dogs were not significantly different for three study areas and for the three seasons. Dogs appeared to be most active in the morning between 7:00 AM and 10:00 AM. Activity and movement data from this study were compared with questionnaire responses from game wardens and biologists. Six dogs were trapped at Big Levels during the fall. Two were instrumented but tracking was ineffective. Approximately 70 percent of the dogs trapped and seen during this study were hounds.

In recent years hunting white-tailed deer with dogs, a tradition in many parts of the South, has been the subject of much controversy, but this type of hunting has received little scientific research and there is little data upon which decisions can be based. The effects of dogs on behavior, movements and welfare of 57 different radio-equipped deer in Alabama, Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina were studied. Six of these animals were experimentally chased with hunting dogs in a way designed to simulate very intensive dog hunting. Information from telemetric and pen studies, field observations, kill data and other sources was analyzed to evaluate the effects of hunting with dogs on reproduction, mortality and harvest efficiency. Our data do not support the contention that dogs are in any way a limiting factor on deer populations in the areas we have studied.

During the fall of 1969 a helicopter was evaluated for censusing waterfowl in Louisiana by comparing it with a Cessna 210 airplane. The comparisons indicated that while a helicopter equipped with flotation gear was a safe and highly effective vehicle for censusing waterfowl, twice as much actual flight time was required to complete the same amount of work and operational costs were double those for the airplane. About 1.5 times as many waterfowl were recorded from the helicopter as from the Cessna. However, statistical analysis indicated the difference between aircraft in the total number of ducks recorded was not significant. In contrast, significantly more mottled ducks (Anas fulvigula maculosa) were recorded with the helicopter, indicating it was more effective than the Cessna for counting this species.

Two methods were used to determine survival. In 1968, newly hatched ducklings were web-tagged and subsequently recaptured. The survival rate from hatching to flight stage was 56%, In 1969, direct observation was the method used. Observations of 77 broods revealed a 52% survival from hatching to six weeks of age, with 74% of the total mortality occuring during the first two weeks after hatching.

Wood duck (Aix sponsa) nest box production and brood survival was studied during 1969 on Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge. Of a total of 446 ducklings hatched in nest boxes in 1969, 397 (89%) were marked with consecutively numbered web tags before their exit from the nest box. Eighteen female wood ducks were color marked with nasal saddles so they could be identified with their respective broods throughout the nesting season. Subsequent trapping and observation provided insight into brood survival and total production of this species on Piedmont National Wildlife Refuge. During the I 57-day nesting season* 46 successful hatches were recorded out of a total of 60 nesting attempts. The average number of ducklings leaving the nest box was 9.7. From the 194 available nest boxes there were 46 (24%) successfUl hatches. Six of the 194 boxes were used twice. Brood size in the 4-7 week age class was reduced by nearly two-thirds.

Florida Duck broods were captured and banded by nightlighting in fresh, salt, and brackish water habitats. Ducklings were most frequently observed in brackish water areas. Duckling survival as determined by brood size observations was lower than in other mallard subspecies. Most duckling mortality occurs immediately after hatching. Ducklings are very terrestrial, a behaviorism that reduces exposure to an abundance of predators associated with Florida's aquatic environments.

Nine waterfowl food plants were selected from food habit studies conducted on waterfowl wintering in South Carolina coastal areas. These plants (Aneilema keisak, Brasenia schreberi, Eleocharis equisetoides, Eleocharis quadrangulata, Polygonum arifolium, Polygonum hydropiperoides, Ruppia maritima, Scirpus robustus, and Scirpus validus) were studied in relation to certain chemical and physical properties of soil and water collected from sites producing stands of these plants. It was found that soil nutrition, salinity, and water level are in primary control of the plant growth and distribution in these wetland areas.

During the period from January, 1965 to June 1970 a study was conducted in the Price Lake area of Rockefeller Refuge, Grand Chenier, Louisiana. The objectives were to measure and evaluate the results from a series of treatments designed to alter natural plant succession and improve the vegetative composition for wildlife. Experimental plots were treated in the spring and late fall, 1965. Treatments included burning, tilling, chemicals and combinations of burning, tilling, and chemicals. Sampling data for 1970 (five years following initial treatment) showed that (a) tilling, (b) burning and tilling, and (c) burning, tilling, and chemicals were most effective in reducing the growth of undesirable vegetation and promoting the growth of a more desirable species, widgeongrass (Ruppia maritima). Reinvasion by widgeongrass varied from a high of 48 percent coverage to a low of three percent for the plots which received one of the three treatments named above.

As a waterfourl wintering area, Catahoula Lake, is of national significance and one of the most important natural wintering areas in the Nation. It is the key to waterfowl abundance and hunting success in Central Louisiana. Chufa, (Cyperus esculentus) is one of the principal waterfowl foods on Catahoula Lake. A study was conducted to determine chufa tuber production on the Lake for a five year period. A total of 96 ground samples were taken each year from a series of exclosures and exposed plots. Chufa production per acre is given. Chufa tuber production is compared in exclosures and exposed plots. Comparisons of tuber production on the open lake bed zone and under the tree canopy zone are made.

Aerial searches and mail questionnaires revealed 22 active nesting colonies of brown pelicans (Pelecanus occidentalis) on small islands close to shore off the Florida peninsula and a number of additional colonies in Florida Bay and the Florida Keys between 1968 and 1970. The same nesting islands were occupied in most years. Nesting took place during late winter and spring in Florida Bay and during late spring and summer in colonies off the peninsula. The maximum numbers of nests counted during 1968, 1969, and 1970 was 6,926,6,100, and 7,690 respectively. This represents a conservative estimate of 12,200 to 15,380 brown pelicans nesting during the period of the census. Prebreeding age classes were not counted. Most colonies were in trees on small natural islands. One colony on a spoil island in Anclote Sound was on the ground. At least three other colonies were on w~olly or partially filled islands.

The value of individual nutria (Myocastor coypus) pelts is in direct proportion to pelt quality and size. Various factors affect pelt quality such as fur primeness, fur color, and holes in the skin. Pelt quality in nutria is thought to vary during different periods of the year; however, this has not been confirmed. Observations by O'Neil (1949) show that the Louisiana muskrat reaches the height of its prime from mid-January to mid-February. Shanks and Arthur (1952) found that the value of muskrat pelts in Missouri increased by 202 percent from September to December, because of increased pelt quality. The harvest of nutria has been scheduled to conform with the trapping season for muskrat (Ondatra zibethica). In general, the harvest in Louisiana has been permitted during a 3-month period from December through February. If additional time was required the trapping season was extended into March.

A USDA program to eradicate the introduced sugarcane root weevil in the spring of 1969 was studied to assess effects on fish and wildlife. Two basic techniques were utilized: analyses of residue accumulations in selected species, and search for dead animals. Residues increased substantially in birds but not in earthworms, fishes, or aquatic invertebrates. Considerable bird mortality followed treatment and residues in specimens analyzed indicated death from heptachlor poisoning.

During 1961 and 1962, 311 wild-trapped black francolins (Francolinus francolinus asiae) from India were released in the Gum Cove area of Cameron Parish in southwest Louisiana. A substantial bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus) population was present on the release site. In 1967, ten francolins and ten quail were collected for comparison of food habits and parasite fauna. Differences in food habits were noted but an occasional preference of francolins and of bobwhites for the same food items was revealed. This was not believed to be a limiting factor for either population. Parasite burdens were generally low, and the parasite fauna of each species was quite distinct.

Bobwhite age and weight data were collected from 5 study areas in North Central Texas to determine characteristics contributable to optimal harvest. A total of 24,324 bobwhites were aged and 12,735 were weighed and examined during December and January (hunting season), 1962-67. The_peak in nesting as shown by molt patterns occurred prior to July 15 each year. The mean weight of all birds was 176.2 - a standard error of .5 grams. Weights increased through December and began to decline during the final 3 weeks of January. Average weights of January-killed birds did not decline below the average weight for the study period. It is submitted that bobwhite weight and physical condition can be utilized as criteria for harvest and subsequent management of the species. The harvest beginning date should coincide with the average date on which 90 percent of juvenile birds reach the 150 gram acceptable size. This date during the period in North Texas was November 25.

The American woodcock is a neglected game bird in most southeastern states. Reasons for disregarding this species include: a belief that woodcock are sparse in areas other than Louisiana and southwestern Mississippi; little knowledge pertaining to woodcock habitat; the practice of only hunting woodcock incidentally to other game; and a consensus that quail dogs cannot be used for hunting woodcock. During field activities associated with a rangewide study of parasitism in woodcock, surprisingly high populations were revealed in South Carolina, Georgia, Florida, Alabama, Arkansas, and southeastern Mississippi. Woodcock habitat was characterized and suggestions were presented for alerting southeastern hunters to the presence and value of this game bird.

During spring and summer in 1969 and 1970 approximately 200 observations were made of wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo) brood roosting sites, most of which were found by radio-telemetry. The age that broods began to roost in trees varied from 12 to 19 days for the 14 broods. Most of the ground roosts were located under forest canopies in sparse ground cover. Brood hens normally did not defecate in their ground roosts. After tree roosting began, broods utilized cypress (Taxodium ascendens and T. distichum) and pine (Pinus palustris and P. elliottii) more than all other trees combined. The first night off the ground was typically spent on a horizontal limb 2 to 3 inches in diameter about 22 feet above the ground. Within three days they began to roost higher in the trees, but roost limb diameters were about the same size. Most of the roost trees were over water.

Daily movements and brood rearing among wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) hens in the Piedmont of eastern Alabama was studied during 1968 and 1969. Twelve hens were tagged in the patagium and instrumented with radio transmitters. Daily movements did not cover the entire spring and summer ranges. Daily movements of non-nesting hens averaged 0.4 mile; those of nesting hens averaged 0.22 mile; and those of hens with broods averaged 0.32 mile. They were usually linear and were strongly influenced by feeding areas provided by permanent pastures. All brood rearing ranges were within grazed permanent pastures and adjacent grazed woodlands. Management suggestions for brood rearing habitat based on range and movement data are given.

Body weight and basic body measurements were recorded on 395 adult cottontails collected from three physiographic regions in Georgia. Eight different skull measurements were taken on 65 individuals. Little variation was noted in the percentage change of paunched weights as compared to the animals' total body weight. No significant seasonal variations were noted in total body weight. Coastal Plain adults exhibited significantly greater hind foot length, ear length, total length, and body weight than Piedmont or Mountain rabbits. Six of eight Coastal Plain skull measurements were significantly greater than measurements from either Piedmont or Mountain cottontails. These data are in opposition to Bergmann's Rule which states that mammals in general increase in size as one proceeds northward. Use of total body weight rather than paunched weight at any time of day or season was verified for cottontails in Georgia.

A field test to evaluate anticoagulant rodenticides as a method of controlling raccoon populations was carried out on the Cape Romain National Wildlife Refuge, South Carolina. Fumarin mixed with corn was dispensed at ten permanent feeding stations over a six-week period. A marked decline in the number of raccoons was noted on the study area as a result of the experiment. Feeders for the study were developed by refuge personnel and proved to be relatively bird and mouse proof, but easily accessible to raccoons. In addition to the field study, observations were made of six caged raccoons fed varying amounts of rodenticide to determine lethal dosage and the length of time required to bring death.

The cannon-net technique for trapping deer was used to capture 130 wild fallow deer (Dama dama) in western Kentucky. The net proved dependable as deer were captured on 25 of 27 times it was fired. The average catch was 4.8 per attempt and up to II animals were captured at one time. Mortality was 3.1%. Acepromazine maleate was used with satisfactory results for tranquilizing captured deer.

A study was conducted on the A.E.C. Savannah River Plant, Aiken, South Carolina, to determine if eye lens weight was a reliable indicator of age in feral swine. A strong correlation (r=0.95) was found between eye lens weight and tooth irruption age. In most cases, when body weight failed, eye lens weight remained a dependable indicator of age in feral hogs. Eye lens weight can therefore be used as a reliable age criterion in feral hogs. With the establishment of an eye lens weight - to - age curve based on known-age animals, eye lens weight may prove to be better than tooth irruption for indicating the age structure of a feral hog population.