Seasonal home range size and philopatry in two northern white-tailed deer populations

From 1994 to 1997, we compared summer and winter space utilisation by two white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) populations wintering in adjacent areas in southeastern Quebec characterised by deep snow cover. One population lived at low density (10 deer/km(2)) with access to abundant forage in winter (127 000 twigs/ha), whereas for the other, high-density population (20 deer/km(2)), forage availability was reduced (68 000 twigs/ha). Because of intraspecific competition for resources, we predicted that deer in the high-density population would have smaller home ranges, would exhibit greater philopatry, and would be more likely to disperse. Deer from both populations occupied summer home ranges that were similar in size (1182 ha for adult males; 1102 ha for adult females; 6033 ha for yearling males; 2528 ha for yearling females) but much larger than home ranges observed elsewhere in North America. The high-density population showed a higher level of philopatry than the low-density population during winter but not during summer. Most deer remained migratory during the study (n = 93) but 4 of the 5 that dispersed were from the high-density population. We speculate on the ability of white-tailed deer populations facing severe winters to adapt to using large home ranges in summer. Our results shed light on how wintering areas appear and expand.