Citation

Wiles GJ, Harmon P. Weeks J. J. Wildl. Manage. 1986; 50(3): 487-496.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1986, Wildlife Society, Publisher BioOne)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

unavailable

Abstract

Movements to natural mineral licks and frequency of visits were examined for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in southern Indiana from February 1979 to September 1980. Nearly all deer with known home ranges visited licks. Most deer frequented licks situated within or adjacent to their home ranges, but other nearby licks were also used. The longest known trip to a lick outside of home range boundaries was 3.2 km; most trips were <1.5 km. Individual deer used an average of 1.9 licks, and frequency of known visits ranged from once every 1.2-12.3 days. Most visits to licks occurred 1-2 hours after sunset, but in 1980 a 2nd peak was noted 3-4 hours after sunset. The sex ratios of lick users were highly skewed toward females, whereas the age ratio was skewed toward adults and yearlings. Recommendations for salting programs in southern Indiana include placing salt blocks 1.5 km apart and ≥75 m from roads in bottomland habitats.