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Rosenberger JP, Edge AC, Killmaster CH, Johannsen KL, Osborn DA, Nibbelink NP, Miller KV, D’Angelo GJ. Female Deer Movements Relative to Firearms Hunting in Northern Georgia, USA. Animals (Basel) 2024; 14:1212. [PMID: 38672360 PMCID: PMC11047325 DOI: 10.3390/ani14081212] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/04/2024] [Revised: 04/13/2024] [Accepted: 04/14/2024] [Indexed: 04/28/2024] Open
Abstract
Perceived risk associated with hunters can cause white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) to shift their activity away from key foraging areas or alter normal movements, which are important considerations in managing hunting and its effects on a population. We studied the effects of seven firearms hunts on the movements of 20 female deer in two Wildlife Management Areas within the Chattahoochee National Forest of northern Georgia, USA, during the 2018-2019 and 2019-2020 hunting seasons. Deer populations and the number of hunters in our study area have declined significantly since the 1980s. In response, hunting regulations for the 2019-2020 hunting season eliminated opportunities for harvesting female deer. To evaluate the indirect effects of antlered deer hunting on non-target female deer, we calculated 90% utilization distributions (UDs), 50% UDs, and step lengths for pre-hunt, hunt, and post-hunt periods using the dynamic Brownian bridge movement model. Data included 30 min GPS locations for 44 deer-hunt combinations. Pre-hunt 50% UDs (x- = 7.0 ha, SE = 0.4 ha) were slightly greater than both hunt (x- = 6.0 ha, SE = 0.3 ha) and post-hunt (x- = 6.0 ha, SE = 0.2 ha) 50% UDs (F = 3.84, p = 0.03). We did not detect differences in step length, nor did we detect differences in size or composition of 90% UDs, among the periods. Overall, our results suggest that the low level of hunting pressure in our study area and lack of exposure to hunters led to no biologically significant changes in female deer movements. To the extent of the findings presented in this paper, adjustments to the management of hunting in our study area do not appear to be necessary to minimize hunting-related disturbances for female deer. However, managers should continue to consider female deer behavior when evaluating future changes to hunting regulations.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jacalyn P. Rosenberger
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA (G.J.D.)
| | - Adam C. Edge
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA (G.J.D.)
| | - Charlie H. Killmaster
- Game Management Section, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle, GA 30025, USA
| | - Kristina L. Johannsen
- Game Management Section, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle, GA 30025, USA
| | - David A. Osborn
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA (G.J.D.)
| | - Nathan P. Nibbelink
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA (G.J.D.)
| | - Karl V. Miller
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA (G.J.D.)
| | - Gino J. D’Angelo
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, GA 30602, USA (G.J.D.)
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Edge AC, Rosenberger JP, Yates CJ, Little AR, Killmaster CH, Johannsen KL, Osborn DA, Kilgo JC, Miller KV, D’Angelo GJ. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) fawn survival and the influence of landscape characteristics on fawn predation risk in the Southern Appalachian Mountains, USA. PLoS One 2023; 18:e0288449. [PMID: 37651350 PMCID: PMC10470973 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0288449] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/05/2022] [Accepted: 06/27/2023] [Indexed: 09/02/2023] Open
Abstract
In the Southern Appalachian region of the United States, harvest data has indicated the occurrence of low deer densities while exposing a trend of declining white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations over the past several decades in northern Georgia. A triumvirate of increasing fawn predator populations reside in the Southern Appalachian Mountains including coyotes (Canis latrans), black bears (Ursus americanus) and bobcats (Lynx rufus). This region is also characterized by a homogenous landscape composed of mature forests and sparse understory vegetation, likely lacking adequate cover to offer fawns refugia from predators. Our objectives were to estimate survival and cause-specific mortality rates of fawns while assessing a possible link between mortality risk, intrinsic fawn characteristics (i.e., birth mass, Julian birth date, sibling status), and landscape features within fawn usage areas. During 2018-2020, we radio-collared 71 fawns within the Chattahoochee National Forest of northern Georgia, USA and monitored survival to 12 weeks of age. We observed low fawn survival (cumulative = 0.157, 95% CI = 0.091-0.273; vaginal implant transmitter = 0.196, 95% CI = 0.096-0.403) with predation as the leading cause of all known mortalities (45 of 55 mortalities; 82%) due primarily to coyotes (n = 22), black bears (n = 12), and bobcats (n = 7). Relationships between landscape features and fawn predation risk were minimal with only one informative covariate. Increasing amounts of early successional land cover within fawn usage areas decreased fawn mortality risk within the first 20 days of life, but elevated mortality risk thereafter. All fawns with any amount of early successional land cover in their usage areas died of predation (n = 13) at various time intervals, suggesting limited areas of potential fawning cover may be targeted by predators. However, fawn predation risk seemed to be high regardless of landscape covariates due to the limited number of surviving fawns. Coyote-caused mortality occurred over a longer period at a consistently higher magnitude than all other forms of mortality, indicating possible delayed prey-switching behavior and coyote predation as an important factor of fawn survival. The low recruitment of fawns influenced by high predation rates and homogenous habitat conditions is likely the cause of deer population declines in the region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Adam C. Edge
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | | | - Cheyenne J. Yates
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Andrew R. Little
- School of Natural Resources, University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Lincoln, Nebraska, United States of America
| | - Charlie H. Killmaster
- Wildlife Resource Division, Game Management Section, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Kristina L. Johannsen
- Wildlife Resource Division, Game Management Section, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle, Georgia, United States of America
| | - David A. Osborn
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - John C. Kilgo
- USDA Forest Service, Southern Research Station, New Ellenton, South Carolina, United States of America
| | - Karl V. Miller
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
| | - Gino J. D’Angelo
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, Athens, Georgia, United States of America
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Rosenberger JP, Little AR, Edge AC, Yates CJ, Osborn DA, Killmaster CH, Johannsen KL, Miller KV, D'Angelo GJ. Resource selection of deer hunters in Georgia's Appalachian Mountains. WILDLIFE SOC B 2022. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1356] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/09/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacalyn P. Rosenberger
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia 180 E Green Street Athens GA 30602 USA
| | - Andrew R. Little
- School of Natural Resources University of Nebraska–Lincoln 3310 Holdrege St Lincoln NE 68583 USA
| | - Adam C. Edge
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia 180 E Green Street Athens GA 30602 USA
| | - Cheyenne J. Yates
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia 180 E Green Street Athens GA 30602 USA
| | - David A. Osborn
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia 180 E Green Street Athens GA 30602 USA
| | - Charlie H. Killmaster
- Game Management Section, Wildlife Resources Division Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle GA 30025 USA
| | - Kristina L. Johannsen
- Game Management Section, Wildlife Resources Division Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle GA 30025 USA
| | - Karl V. Miller
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia 180 E Green Street Athens GA 30602 USA
| | - Gino J. D'Angelo
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources University of Georgia 180 E Green Street Athens GA 30602 USA
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Rosenberger JP, Boley BB, Edge AC, Yates CJ, Miller KV, Osborn DA, Killmaster CH, Johannsen KL, D'Angelo GJ. Satisfaction of Public Land Hunters During Long‐term Deer Population Decline. WILDLIFE SOC B 2021. [DOI: 10.1002/wsb.1244] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/12/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Jacalyn P. Rosenberger
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street Athens GA 30602 USA
| | - B. Bynum Boley
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street Athens GA 30602 USA
| | - Adam C. Edge
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street Athens GA 30602 USA
| | - Cheyenne J. Yates
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street Athens GA 30602 USA
| | - Karl V. Miller
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street Athens GA 30602 USA
| | - David A. Osborn
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street Athens GA 30602 USA
| | - Charlie H. Killmaster
- Game Management Section, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle GA 30025 USA
| | - Kristina L. Johannsen
- Game Management Section, Wildlife Resources Division, Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Social Circle GA 30025 USA
| | - Gino J. D'Angelo
- Daniel B. Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources, University of Georgia, 180 E Green Street Athens GA 30602 USA
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Abstract
A technique to remotely image temperature distributions of heated metallic surfaces is extended to higher temperatures. It uses a Dy(+3):YAG thermographic phosphor (TP) bonded to the surface and excited by radiation at 355 nm. Digital images of the emission from two excited states were recorded and divided by each other to correct by normalization for illumination and coating nonuniformities. Results show that the TP can survive heating and cooling cycles to 1400 K and that emitting states achieve thermodynamic equilibrium before radiating. Temperatures in the range of 300-1300 K were determined by normalization of pairs of emission images with a single calibration constant. Uncertainties of +/-7-13% at a spatial resolution of 20 microm and +/-0.7-4% at a resolution of 500 microm were achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- A C Edge
- Aerospace Research Laboratory, University of Virginia, 570 Edgemont Road, Charlottesville, Virginia 22903, USA
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