Westvaco Wildlife and Ecosystem Research Forest-Rules

A Comparison of White-Tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) Population Estimation Methods in West Virginia

Christopher A. Langdon and John W. Edwards, Division of Forestry, West Virginia University, Morgantown, WV 26506

James Crum, West Virginia Division of Natural Resources, Wildlife Section, Elkins, WV 26241

W. Mark Ford, USDA Forest Service, Northeast Experiment Station, Parsons, WV, 26287

Abstract: The objective of our study is to compare 3 methods of estimating the white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population density on the Westvaco Wildlife and Ecosystem Research Forest (WERF). Pellet group counts, spotlight counts, and automatic camera surveys were conducted in August (summer) and October (fall) 2000; additional sampling will be conducted in January (winter) and April (spring) 2001. We defined 8 cover types on the WERF and established 296 pellet group plots among them. All plots are cleared of pellets prior to a one-month sampling period; density is calculated assuming 20 pellet groups/deer/day. Spotlight-count data from 7 consecutive night surveys of a 32-km route are analyzed using program DISTANCE. Data gathered over 14 days using 29 infrared-triggered cameras are analyzed to estimate population size and composition. Over 100 marked deer are present on the WERF as part of an ongoing home range study by the University of Georgia. All captured deer receive uniquely numbered ear tags and can be individually identified. Resighting marked deer by spotlight count and/or by automatic camera survey will allow us to estimate population size using the Lincoln-Peterson method. We will make among-method comparisons of accuracy and efficiency for each season, as well as within-method comparisons of accuracy and efficiency among seasons. Additionally, we will examine the sources and magnitude of bias in each method for each season. Using radiotelemetry data gathered by Tyler Campbell and Ben Laseter of the University of Georgia, we will examine the effect of baited camera survey stations on white-tailed deer movement.