Seasonal Distribution and Home-Range Patterns of Sitka Black-Tailed Deer on Admiralty Island, Southeast Alaska

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Abstract
Fifty-one Sitka black-tailed deer (O. h. sitkensis) were radiocollared and their movements monitored on Admiralty Island, southeast Alaska, from Nov. 1978 through Aug. 1982. An estimated 75% of the population made seasonal migrations from low-elevation winter ranges to high-elevation (usually subalpine or alpine) summer ranges; the remainder were year-round residents of low-elevation ranges. Migratory deer made extensive movements between summer and winter ranges and were located at higher elevations than resident deer during all seasons. In winter, the elevation of all deer locations averaged 124 m. During mild winter conditions (Jan.-March 1981), deer were found at higher elevations than during more severe winter conditions (Jan.-March 1982). The mean summer and winter home-range size of all radio-collared deer was 79 ha. Home-range size did not differ between summer and winter, males and females, or resident and migratory deer. With few exceptions, deer returned to the same summer and winter home ranges in consecutive years. In only 1 case did a deer move permanently from the watershed in which it was captured.