Use of a Geographic Information System for Determining White-Tailed Deer Habitat Use in the Northern Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming

Seasonal landscape habitat use by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus dacotensis) in the northern Black Hills of South Dakota and Wyoming (USA) was evaluated using the geographic information system (GIS) software, PC ARC/INFO. Summer and winter habitat use was determined by plotting point observations and home ranges of telemetered deer on digital land-use maps. Percentages of habitat types within the study area, deer home ranges, and random home ranges were compared to determine selection of habitat components. Components evaluated include slope, aspect, elevation, cover type, canopy cover, basal area, tree diameter, tree volume, regrowth stem count and height, and presence of grass, forb, and shrub species. Comparisons of percent habitat composition did not detect differences (P ≥ 0.10) between home range 95% and 50% use contours, or between deer home ranges and randomly derived home ranges, with one exception. In winter, elevation was the only variable that differed (P < 0. 10) between deer and random home ranges. However, comparison of deer point observations and random points, showed significant differences (P < 0. 10) in habitat use versus availability. Point analyses supported habitat management practices that augment forage production proximate to adequate fawning, escape, and thermal cover. GIS can aid in management of natural resources, but maps and databases must have adequate detail to answer management questions.