Vol. 2k , No. 9 
Page 3 
the area were found to buffer predation on prairie chicken nests. Thus, the 
increase in the number of buffer species in 1931 may be a major factor for the 
high nest success of 70.8% for prairie chickens this year. Predation on prairie 
chicken nests is probably reduced by an abundance of alternative food choices. 
Ecology and Management of White-tailed Deer - I/- 87 -R C.M. Nixon, L.P. Hansen, 
J.E. Chelsvig, P.A. Brewer 
Spring is an interesting time to observe deer. During that season, many 
deer disperse from winter concentration areas. Many radio-monitored deer 
dispersed from the Allerton Park study area during spring 1981, some accompanied 
by their 1980 fawns (Table 1). 
All deer but one confined their movements to the Sangamon River drainage. 
Most moved between mid-April and early May. Forest vegetation had blossomed and 
was actively growing by mid-April and provided adequate food and cover for traveling 
deer. Three deer (an adult female and her fawns) left the Park early on 24 January, 
less than 2 weeks after capture. This early movement may have been due to dis¬ 
turbance by the researchers. Earlier, these deer may have been pushed onto the 
Park from their original winter range by hunting pressure or some other disturbance. 
Only one deer (305“06) moved out of the Sangamon River drainage. Due to 
transmitter failure, we do not know the location of her summer range or the exact 
time and end point of her movement. Fortunately, she was sighted 16 June on the 
south edge of Champaign, Champaign County--43.2 km (27 mi) E-NE from where she 
was last seen in Allerton Park. Most corn was less than 30 cm (approximately 
l ft.) tall and would not provide adequate cover for deer. We cannot explain 
this direction of travel, but it is similar to the movement in spring 1980 by 
another deer of the same age and sex. 
With the approach of another fall hunting season, we expect to learn more 
about dispersal movements of deer. 
Table 1. Distances and directions of dispersal movements from Allerton Park for 
white-tailed deer marked in 1981. 
Number 
Age^- 
Sex 
Mi. 
Km. 
Directi on 
Date last 
seen in 
park area 
First date 
found in new 
location 
303-04 
A 
M 
2.6 
k.2 
NE 
4/13/81 
4/23/81 
305-0^- 
SA 
F 
27.0 
43.2 
E-NE 
6/03/81 
6/16/81 
307-08 
A 
F 
6.5 
10.4 
NE 
1/24/81 
1/26/31 
309-10 
SA 
M 
11.0 
17.6 
SW 
4/12/81 
5/12/31 
311-12 
SA 
M 
6.5 
10.4 
NE 
1/24/81 
1/26/81 
314-15 
SA 
M 
6.5 
10.ii 
NE 
1/24/01 
1/26/81 
