Seasonal food habits of the white-tailed deer in the Cross Timbers and Prairies Ecological Region of Texas

Date

2000-05

Authors

Poor, Stuart L.

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Abstract

Food habits studies for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are numerous in most ecological regions of Texas. One unstudied region is the Cross Timbers and Prairies Ecological Region. In 1996-1998, the white-tailed deer seasonal diets in relation to forage availability in this area were determined. White-tailed deer were collected (n=242) seasonally and their rumen contents were examined to determine the percent composition of the diet. Along with the overall forage consumption in the Cross Timbers and Prairies Ecological Region, forage consumption on varying range conditions, soil types, and precipitation patterns were evaluated. We found that the overall food habits consisted of 36% browse, 20% forbs, 20% mast, 12% grass, 7% food plots, and 5% commercial feed during the study period. A food profile of food resources available to white-tailed deer, a food preference index, and seasonal food habits were developed based on the data collected.

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Keywords

white-tailed deer, season foods, ecology, diets, wildlife

Citation

Poor, S. L. (2000). Seasonal food habits of the white-tailed deer in the Cross Timbers and Prairies Ecological Region of Texas (Unpublished thesis). Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.

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