Evaluation of Seasonal Habitat Use By White-Tailed Deer in Eastern South Dakota

Seasonal use of selected habitat types by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) was investigated using radio telemetry locations during 1983 and 1984, on a predominantly agricultural area in east-central South Dakota. In the summer of 1983, radio-collared deer used corn, shelterbelts, and wetlands in proportion to their availability. Soybeans, grainfields, and grasslands were avoided. Deer selected shelterbelts in the fall and wetlands during the winter months, for protective cover. Habitat use shifted in the spring and shelterbelts received heavy use, once they became free of drifted snow. Shelterbelts continued to be selected by deer during the summer of 1984. IN the fall of 1984, both corn and shelterbelts were selected. Deer habitat use also was determined from seasonal deer trail surveys conducted on the study area in spring, summer, and fall of 1984. When compared to radio telemetry data for verification, significant differences (p<0.05) were detected in use patterns for the spring and fall seasons.