White-Tailed Deer Visibility and Behavior along Forest Roads

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Abstract
The visibility and behavior of O. virginianus in a forested area was studied from 1962 to 1977 in northern New York [USA] based on 4727 observations involving 6237 deer. Deer observation rates were correlated with fluctuations in regional population levels and effectively predicted trends in regional fall buck harvests. Several factors influenced deer viewing opportunities including population density, summer range location, individual deer behavior, sex, age, seasonal range, flight behavior, forest type, timber harvesting and hunting. Summer range location determined from radio-collared deer and observations of deer marked with collars and ear streamers indicated that some animals were highly visible and contributed a majority of deer observations along particular sections of road. Observation rates were significantly correlated with cover types, basal area density of roadside forests, presence of small clearings and hunting. Hunting negatively influenced observation rates because of reduced deer density and loss of highly visible deer. Bucks only hunting may be compatible with deer viewing by controlling illegal harvest of females. Deer viewing opportunities were equal throughout daylight hours.

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