Final Report: Surveys and Investigations Projects as Required by Federal Aid inWildlife Restoration Act, Missouri. Study No. 22. White-Tailed Deer Population Modeling in Missouri. Job No. 3. Annual and Seasonal Mortality Rates of White-Tailed Deer

摘要

We determined the survival of 250 radio-transmitted does from 1988-1993 in northcentral Missouri. We also indirectly measured survival of fawns from birth to 4 months of age by comparing regional fecundity rates with recruitment by individually marked does. Overall fawn survival between birth and 4 months of age was 74 percent. Annual survival of adult females during the winter-spring and summer periods approached 100 percent; fall survival was lower. Hunting and deer/vehicle accidents accounted for 68 percent and 13 percent of the mortality, respectively. Disease, poaching, and unknown causes accounted for the remainder of the mortality. We discuss the importance of these findingsto the use of models in deer management.