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Winter : A Time of Testing Deer Management

Winter : A Time of Testing Deer Management. Original Power Point Created by Andy Harrison. Modified by the GA Agriculture Education Curriculum Office July 2002. Adaptations. Heavy coat of hair In northern regions the hair coat is longer

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Winter : A Time of Testing Deer Management

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  1. Winter : A Time of TestingDeer Management Original Power Point Created by Andy Harrison Modified by the GA Agriculture Education Curriculum Office July 2002

  2. Adaptations • Heavy coat of hair • In northern regions the hair coat is longer • When the weather gets cold, the hair elevates to trap air • Fat is distributed within the body cavity and along the back • Also have fat within the long bones • Marrow fat

  3. Adaptations • Energy reserves • Form of animal starch • Glycogen in the liver • Kidney Fat Index (KFI) is an indicator of herd health • Ratio of kidney weight to fat surrounding kidney • Expressed as a percentage (%)

  4. KFI • Should be looked at in the summer to better indicate overall condition • Should also be looked at in the winter to determine effects of winter conditions

  5. Other Adaptations • Modifications to metabolic systems allow for reduced feed intake • Up to 40% • Yarding – mostly a northern occurrence • Bucks migrate to area of insulating cover, such as evergreens • Eat everything in reach, including limbs and twigs and other low quality feeds • Some die off due to disease and parasites

  6. Adaptations • Snow • Deer hooves are not adapted for travel in snow and ice • Snow covers the foods needed for energy • Cold adds to demand for food and energy • Rumen fermentation requires heat • Even eating low quality forage aids in keeping rumen activity going

  7. Adaptation • Deep snow gives advantage to predators • Such as wolves and coyotes • Southern deer increase activity • Keep warm in order to maintain body temperature • Search for high quality foods

  8. Winter – The Killer of Deer • Northern winters harder on deer • More buck and fawn mortality in the north • Fawns have smaller body size and lose more heat than adults • Fawns cannot reach feeds in deer yards • Fawns deplete fat reserves quicker • Mortality higher in large bucks that rutted heavily

  9. Winter - Friend of Deer • Winter kill keeps the population at an acceptable level – especially in north • Not the case in south • South has a bigger over-population problem

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