Vol. 2k, No. 8 
Page /> 
Ecology and Management of White-tailed Deer - V/-87~R C.M. Nixon, L.P. Hansen, 
J.E. Chelsvig, P.A. Brewer 
Daytime cover is critical for deer survival in winter; it provides con¬ 
cealment, protection from harsh weather, and some food. A knowledge of the winter 
habitat requirements of deer is a useful management tool and, therefore, is a 
major focus of this project. Daytime in this study extends from the beginning 
of morning civil twilight (about 30 minutes before sunrise) to the end of evening 
civil twilight (about 30 minutes after sunset). 
Visual and telemetric observations of radio-collared deer have provided some 
indication of habitat use (Table 2). The deer were typically found in mature 
or successional upland forested areas, which had a relatively dense understory 
of shrubs and small trees. Two deer also made extensive use of bottomland timber 
areas. All these habitat types seem to provide good protection from the gusty 
Central Illinois winds, which can cause a large loss of body heat. Nighttime 
habitat use is similar to daytime use except for the slightly increased use of 
crop fields while foraging. 
Summer locations are being observed to see how much use deer make of 
abundant grain crops. This information will be presented in future reports. 
Table 2. Winter habitat use by radio-monitored, adult, female, white-tailed 
deer expressed as a percentage of the total number of times the deer was 
located from 1 January to 31 March 1931. 
Deer 
316 
Deer 
336 
Deer 338 
Deer 
21*8 
Day 
Night 
Day 
Night 
Day 
Night 
Day 
Nigh 
Mature upland 
55.9 
kk.k 
1 * 8.6 
31.9 
1*2.7 
18.6 
36.1* 
23. 
Successional upland 
33.9 
1 M 
37.8 
3k.0 
28.6 
k.7 
9.1 
Mature bottomland 
1.7 
9.5 
2.7 
25.5 
20.6 
55.8 
50.0 
1 * 0 . 
Grass (mowed) 
3.** 
6.3 
2.7 
2.1 
k.7 
k.5 
Wheat 
5.1 
25.k 
8.1 
6 . 1 * 
9.3 
23. 
Corn stubble 
2.3 
Plowed 
k.7 
13. 
Total number 
observations 
59 
63 
37 
kl 
35 
1*8 
22 
30 
