Drive-line census for deer within fenced enclosures

David S. decalesta; Gary W. Witmer; Gary W. Witmer

doi:10.2737/NE-RP-643

Treesearch

Drive-line census for deer within fenced enclosures

Informally Refereed

Authors:

David S. decalesta, Gary W. Witmer, Gary W. Witmer

Year:

1990

Type:

Research Paper

Station:

Northern Research Station

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2737/NE-RP-643

Source:

Res. Pap. NE-643. Radnor, PA: US. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 4 p.

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Download (PDF 514 KB): https://research.fs.usda.gov/download/treesearch/21835.pdf

Abstract

Methodology is presented for conducting drive-line counts to obtain absolute numbers of deer within fairly small (1560 ha) areas. Planning and layout of the drive and the organization of persons who make up the drive-line teams are discussed. Procedures for maintaining proper spacing and alignment of drivers are described. On a drive of a 5.7-km2 estate enclosed by a 2.5-m-tall deer fence in northwest Pennsylvania, numbers of deer counted (78) were within one of an estimate derived from a standard deer pellet-group count. The key elements of a successful drive are organization and communication before and during the drive.

Keywords

census technique, Pennsylvania, white-tailed deer, population estimation

Citation

decalesta, David S.; Witmer, Gary W. 1990. Drive-line census for deer within fenced enclosures. Res. Pap. NE-643. Radnor, PA: US. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, Northeastern Forest Experiment Station. 4 p.