This appraisal is intended as a general guide for landowners and deer enthusiasts who wish to assess the quality of deer habitat on a particular tract of land. Whitetails are extremely adaptable and can live and thrive in a variety of habitats. However, you can use this appraisal to help you recognize potential deficiencies on your lands or, perhaps, help you create a deer paradise.
DIRECTIONS
1. Assess overall food value.
Consider the surrounding 1,000 acres as a management unit when completing the food value appraisal to the right.
a. Circle the values next to the food availability descriptions that best describe your tract of land on the worksheet to the right.
b. Add the six food availability scores together to find the total food availability score.
c. Divide the total food availability score by six to obtain the overall food value for the land.
total food availability/ 6 = overall food value
An overall food value greater than six should provide deer with adequate nutrition, provided there are no obvious deficiencies in one particular category.
Remember, whitetails use a wide range of woody, herbaceous and agricultural crops-more than 272 different foods in Missouri. Food is seldom a limiting factor, but certain plant species are preferred by deer.
Criteria with the lowest scores should be considered first when formulating a deer management plan for your area.
2. Estimate cover and habitat value.
Consider the surrounding 1,000 acres as a management unit when completing the cover and habitat appraisal to the right.
a. Circle the values next to the cover and habitat descriptions that best describe your tract of land on the worksheet to the right.
b. Add the five scores together to find the total cover and habitat score.
c. Divide the total score by five to obtain the cover and habitat value.
total cover and habitat score/ 5 = cover and habitat value
Any score of six or better indicates good deer habitat. Higher scores usually are the result of intensive management.
Remember, whitetails use many habitats. However, some cover types are selected during certain periods. In addition, deer have smaller home ranges in areas with optimal cover and may spend more time on ground with excellent habitat.
Cover and habitat criteria with the lowest scores should be considered when any habitat improvement program is implemented.
