Few studies have evaluated fecal indices for monitoring diet quality a
nd intake of North American deer, We conducted 11 digestion trials wit
h black-tailed (Odocoileus hemionus columbianus Richardson) and mule d
eer (O. h. hemionus Rafinesque) to examine relationships between sever
al chemical constituents of deer feces (i.e., fecal nitrogen, fecal 2,
6-diaminopimelic acid (DAPA), fecal neutral detergent fiber (NDF), fec
al acid detergent fiber, and fecal acid detergent lignin) and dry matt
er intake, digestible energy, digestible energy intake, diet crude pro
tein content, crude protein digestibility, and digestible crude protei
n intake, We developed regression equations to predict diet quality an
d intake and also evaluated 2 alternative methods (organic matter basi
s and neutral detergent fiber (ndf) basis) for quantifying fecal indic
es, Concentrations of DAPA, fecal NDF, and fecal N were the most preci
se for estimating diet quality and intake, Extracts from 5 of 11 diets
precipitated only small amounts of protein and influence of tannins o
n protein digestion probably was slight, Quantifying fecal indices per
unit organic matter and neutral detergent fiber in the feces was comp
arable to the standard dry matter basis and under some field condition
s should improve their predictive ability, We believe our best equatio
ns are suitable for management purposes where diets are similar and in
take and quality are believed to be within the ranges we documented.