EFFECTS OF HUNTING AND LOSS OF ESCAPE COVER ON MOVEMENTS AND ACTIVITYOF FEMALE WHITE-TAILED DEER, ODOCOILEUS-VIRGINIANUS

We monitored radio-collared female White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virgi nianus) at Sand Lake National Wildlife Refuge, South Dakota, before an d during hunting seasons in 1992 and 1993 to assess the effect of hunt ing on deer movements and activity. Unexpected flooding throughout the refuge in 1993 also allowed us to evaluate the effects of loss of esc ape cover (i.e., robust emergent wetland vegetation) on deer movements and activity. Although >70% of diurnal locations occurred in escape c over in 1992, use of escape cover was <28% in 1993 as a result of unex pected flooding that rendered most escape cover unavailable to deer. I n 1992, hunted deer remained in areas similar to those used before the hunting season and responded to presence and activity of hunters by m oving farther into escape cover. In 1993, deer moved to adjacent priva te lands when availability of escape cover decreased on the refuge. De er located on private lands increased movements during the hunting sea son. In 1992, deer exhibited diurnal activity patterns before and duri ng hunting seasons; crepuscular activity patterns were observed before and during hunting seasons in 1993. Differences in activity patterns before hunting seasons in 1992 and 1993 indicated that availability of escape cover was the major factor influencing deer activity patterns.