Population effects of white-tailed deer dispersal

Dispersal is difficult to measure and is often ignored in population analyses, despite its potential effect on population demographics. We studied population effects of dispersal by estimating natal dispersal, survival, emigration, and immigration of yearling, male while-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at Chesapeake Farms, Maryland. We radiomarked males to determine natal dispersal and survival and used mark-resight population estimates and telemetry data to estimate emigration and immigration. Most yearling males (70%) dispersed from their natal ranges a median distance of 6 km. Overall survival from 8 to 18 months of age was 0.44+/-0.07. Hunting accounted for most disperser (22 of 26) and philopatric male (4 of 7) mortalities. We estimated emigration as 39+/-8 yearling males and immigration as 31+/-11 yearling males. The postdispersal population consisted of a mix of immigrants and philopatric males. Movements of yearling males across management unit boundaries represented an exchange of individuals that required a landscape-level perspective when making management decisions. This is particularly true on small areas where the postdispersal population May contain a mix of immigrant and philopatric males.