Transience of deer wintering areas

Abstract

Fidelity of white-tailed deer (Odocoileusvirginianus) to wintering areas was examined in west-central New Brunswick. Wintering areas were located and mapped during aerial surveys in 1975 and 1987–1989. Of 99 wintering areas identified in 1975, 42 were unoccupied 13 years later. Small wintering areas (<50 ha) were more likely to be unoccupied in the subsequent survey than larger ones (>100 ha). Forest cutting had a profound effect on transience of wintering areas. Small clearcuts within a wintering area increased the likelihood of deer use. Wintering areas that were completely clear-cut were likely to be abandoned.