White-tailed Deer, Odocoileus virginianus, capture techniques in yarding and non-yarding populations in New Brunswick

Abstract

During 1994-1996 we captured and radiocollared fawn (6-9 months old) and adult White-tailed Deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in yarding and non-yarding populations in New Brunswick using Clover trapping, darting from tree stands, rocket netting, and helicopter net gunning. With the exception of net gunning, we immobilized 81 deer with a combination of ketamine HCL and xylazine HCL. We antagonized chemical immobilizations by administering 10-27.5 mg yohimbine hydrochloride. Forty-eight deer were captured in Clover traps from which seven escaped. Ninety-two deer were captured in both study areas; 19 in the non-yarding population and 73 in the yarding population. Ground capture methods were effective in the yarding population but not in the non-yarding population where capture rates were lower apparently because deer were not attracted to baits. Forty-three deer were captured and radiocollared by helicopter net gunning using 16.5 hours of helicopter time. Several methods were used to locate neonate fawns. Methods included monitoring radiocollared doe movements and behavior, checks of open fields, night-lighting, intensive ground grid searches, and opportunistically. Of these, only intensive ground searching was effective (35 of 50 captures) and required an average of 30.6 person-hours per fawn captured.