Forage Relationships between Two Deer Species in Big Bend National Park, Texas

Abstract

Stomach contents of 25 Carmen Mountains white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus carminis) and 29 desert mule deer (O. hemionus crooki) were collected on allopatric and sympatric ranges between June 1972-April 1974 in Big Bend National Park, Texas [USA]. Browse constituted 35%, succulents 28%, forbs 14% and grasses 4% of the white-tails'' diet. Mule deer ate more succulents than browse (38 vs. 27%) while forbs made up 19% of the diet and grasses 3%. Significant differences existed in the diets of both species between allopatric and sympatric range and between diets on sympatric range. Factors other than forage were responsible for habitat separation of Big Bend''s 2 deer spp.