Deer research project begins on Choctaw Island WMA
MONTICELLO - The Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the
University of Arkansas at Monticello began a study this week on the
movements of white-tailed deer. The study will take place on 7,676-
acre Choctaw Island Wildlife Management Area in Desha County.
Commissioners from the AGFC designated Choctaw Island as the
agency’s first Deer Research Area in October 2002.
The study, titled “Spatial Ecology of White-tailed Deer on Choctaw
Island Wildlife Management Area,” will include trapping deer on the
WMA and will limit access to portions of the area while trapping is
underway, according to AGFC deer program coordinator Cory Gray.
“We ask people visiting Choctaw Island WMA to understand that
during deer trapping, access may be limited on portions of the area,
and if you come across a trap site, please do not disturb it,” Gray
explained. Trapping has begun and will be complete once 30 deer
are caught.
Gray explained that deer allocate their time and use available
habitats to satisfy basic requirements for food, rumination,
movement, social interactions and rest. “The resulting time budget
and habitat use pattern may vary with age, gender, time of day,
season and weather conditions,” he said.
The AGFC will capture 30 deer annually and fit each with a satellite Global Positioning Systemcollar and monitor their
movements, Gray said. Data will be collected and analyzed to determine such things as seasonal and daily deer habitat use,
the influence of hunter movements on deer activity, at what degree of hunting pressure does a deer leave, how far does he go
and does he come back to the area after the hunting pressure is gone.
Biologists will also be looking at causes of deer mortality, deer movements related to flooding, physical condition of deer and
disease screening. “We will also monitor body condition such as measuring fat and muscle depth. We’ll also evaluate the
relationship between antler quality and age, collect DNA samples for future management or research projects,” Gray noted.
Project leaders hope to produce lesson plans based on white-tailed deer movements that will assist educators in integrating
Geographic Information Systemtechnology into their wildlife and geography programs. “This project is unique in that we have
partnered management and research with education. Data collected during this project will be used throughout the state in
classrooms to teach children deer biology, deer habitat use, deer movements and home range information,” Gray said.
“Satellite GPS collars will allow us to display deer movement information on the AGFC website similar to the satellite mallard
project. The difference will be that the deer data will not be real-time and will be time-delayed to reduce poaching of study deer,” he said.