Use of warm-season food plots by white-tailed deer

Relationships between intensity of use of summer food plots by white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) and estimated nutritional carrying capacity of the surrounding habitat and food plot standing crop were determined. Use of the food plots estimated by double-sampling inside and outside enclosures increased as estimated nutritional carrying capacity decreased when estimated nutritional carrying capacity was ;Percent food plot forages in deer diets was greater for all months in food plot areas than 1 km from food plot areas. Percent browse in deer diets was greater for all months except for October 1 km from food plots than in food plot areas. Percent prickly pear in deer diets was greater 1 km from food plots than in food plot areas. The high use of food plots when food plot forages were availabLe and the replacement of browse and cacti with food plot forages substantiates the notion that food plots may increase the nutritional level of deer diets in south Texas during summer when the nutritional value of natural deer forage plants is lowest. (Abstract shortened by UMI.).