SUMMER HOME-RANGE AND HABITAT SELECTION BY WHITE-TAILED DEER IN THE SWAN-VALLEY, MONTANA

We studied summer habitat use by 13 adult and 5 yearling female white- tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in the Swan Valley, Montana durin g 1980 and 1981. We used 515 radio relocations to evaluate use of habi tats within home ranges and selection of home ranges within the study area. All deer used riparian habitats more, and upland habitats less t han expected based on availability within their summer home ranges. Ad ult deer home ranges contained more logged riparian and unlogged uplan d habitat than randomly-placed polygons, called random home ranges. Ad ult home ranges also contained less logged upland habitat than random home ranges. Yearling home ranges generally resembled random home rang es in habitat composition; however, random home ranges contained less logged riparian habitat than did yearling home ranges. Based on select ion for unlogged riparian habitat within home ranges and an inverse re lationship between adult home range size and the availability of unlog ged riparian habitat within their home range, it appeared that unlogge d riparian was seasonally important to deer in the Swan Valley. Based on our results, we recommend that riparian, particularly unlogged ones , be managed conservatively by establishing buffer zones of no logging . Harvest should be limited to uneven-aged silvicultural systems. Qual ity upland cover should be maintained adjacent to riparian areas and o ther moist habitat components. Habitat diversity on a small scale shou ld be a management goal and could be accomplished with uneven-aged sil viculture and prescribed fire. Alternatively, when even-aged managemen t is applied, cutting unit size should be minimized (less-than-or-equa l-to 12 ha) and units dispersed over the landscape. Postlogging scarif ication should be limited to minimum required for successful conifer r egeneration in order to enhance shrub production for deer forage and c over.