Oyer, A. M. 2002.  Localized management of white-tailed deer in the central Adirondack Mountains, New York.  M.S. Thesis, State University of New York, College of Environmental Science and Forestry, Syracuse, 211 pp.

Abstract: The social behavior of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) provides an opportunity for a new approach to managing deer populations.  In northern forests, female deer associate in multigeneration social groups and exhibit a high degree of site fidelity.  I tested whether localized removal of a social group created a persistent area of low deer density on Huntington Wildlife Forest in the central Adirondacks, New York.  I examined relative abundance and home ranges of deer to determine if the removal created a low density area, how long the low density area persisted, and the origin of repopulating females.  Abundance declined due to the removal.  Home range analysis showed that no radiocollared deer from surrounding areas moved into the removal area and that deer density was reduced for 5 years.  Repopulating deer originated from within the removal area or immediately adjacent to it.