I am studying white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) demographics specific to Michigan’s northern lower peninsula to contribute to the development of a scientific-based, comprehensive deer management plan for the Little River Band of Ottawa Indians (LRBOI). Currently, the LRBOI do not have a management plan that allows for them to properly manage deer populations on Tribal lands, even though deer are a culturally significant animal to the Tribe. Specifically, I am estimating population density and herd composition, and quantifying survival and cause-specific mortality rates of radiocollared does. My survival analysis also includes habitat and intrinsic covariates within MARK framework. This research will contribute to knowledge of deer demographics in the Northern Great Lakes region while providing the LRBOI, the Grand Traverse Band of Ottawa Indians, and the Little Traverse Bay Band of Odawa Indians with information essential to developing an Integrated Resource Management Plan for Tribal land in Michigan.
