the habitat in which the deer spend their winters. With the very best of food and 

 cover, a higher number of deer should be able to withstand the rigours of our 

 northern winters to produce young during the periods when winters are not so 

 severe. 



Summary Of 1961 Spring Deer Survey Results 



Some 1961 spring deer surveys were described and compared with previous 

 years in Ontario Fish and Wildlife Review, Vol. 1, No. 2, Fall, 1961. Not all 

 of the data was used in that rej>ort. For easy reference, Tables 1-4 summarize 

 the results of the 1961 surveys. 



Table 1 shows less mortality than was found in the previous years. The 

 results of pellet group counts in Table 2 indicate lower deer densities. The per- 

 centage of stems browsed in Table 3 is generally lower than it was previously. 

 All these changes are to be expected when a mild winter follows two severe ones. 

 The mortality obviously should be less. The density of deer will be reduced be- 

 cause of previous mortality and because little snow last winter allowed the deer 

 to wander further. Since densities are lower, browsing pressure will be less 

 intense. 



There are other indications of the changed winter conditions. The follow- 

 ing list summarizes the causes of death among the few dead deer found: starva- 

 tion 2, predation 26, various causes other than starvation 15, unknown 7. 

 Starvation as a cause of mortality decreased from 31% in 1960 to 4% in 

 1961. The age of distribution in 1961 was as follows: one year 5, two years 

 0, three years 1, four years 2, five years 1, adults 13, unknown 23. Although 

 the sample of aged deer is small a comparison of yearlings with all others (except 

 "unknown") shows 22.7% yearlings, compared with 36.5% in 1960, (and 56.7% 

 in the 1960 aged sample). There is a suggestion here that the percentage of 

 fawns in the winter mortality was lower. 



The value of combining dead deer and pellet group counts as in Table 4 

 has been clearly shown. Because of the reduction in live deer densities, mortality 

 expressed as dead deer per square mile cannot be compared from one year to 

 the next. The mortality expressed as a percentage of the living deer can be com- 

 pared. This year provided an excellent opportunity to test our methods. If the 

 percent mortality had increased over previous years, the methods would not be 

 giving figures indicating true field conditions. Since the percent mortality was 

 down in most cases, we are encouraged to believe that the methods really indicate 

 what is happening. The occasional sampling error, such as that for Kennisis, does 

 not invalidate the whole method but indicates local problems which must be found 

 and corrected. 



Although the browse surveys have not yet shown a close relationship with 

 winter mortality, we are still hoping that with more and better data they will. 

 Meanwhile we are learning a lot about deer foods. One of the most striking 

 findings has been the rather minor part of the diet made up of cedar. Apparently 

 the maples, dogwood and even hazel supply much more food than cedar in 

 many areas. 



From the 1961 results, we conclude that the spring surveys show great 

 promise. We know more about the deer herds and deer yards than ever before. 

 The changing conditions over the past three winters have been faithfully re- 

 flected on a general basis. Only in local areas are there serious discrepancies. 

 Never again should we go through a deep snow year without the knowledge 

 gained from the revealing spring surveys. 



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