1. Overview
2. Objectives
3. Materials and/or Software Required
4. Prerequisites
5. Module Description
6. National Standards Addressed
7. Assessment Techniques
8. Areas of Focus
9. Appropriate Grade Level(s)
10. Relevant Links and Related Resources

Overview:

As part of a unit on white-tailed deer ecology, students gathered data in conjunction with the state and local white-tailed deer hunting season. Areas of study included food habits analysis and age/sex analysis from harvest data. For the food habits analysis, stomach contents were obtained from successful, local hunters. The samples were sorted and the volume of each component was measured and recorded. The data was then used to form hypotheses concerning the individual organism. Data was also collected from the local deer check station in order to examine the ages and gender of the harvested animals.

Objectives:

The purposes of this activity were: A. To gain a better understanding of white-tailed deer ecology B. To gather and analyze data concerning the food consumed by white-tailed deer. C. To gather data concerning the age and gender of deer harvested within the county to identify trends in the population. D. To analyze state deer harvest data to identify trends.

Materials:

Materials needed for stomach content analysis:
Trays Forceps
Rubber gloves
Magnifying glasses
Graduates

Software needed:
Excel

Prerequisites:

Helpful things to know before you begin:
A. Basic knowledge of feeding habits of white-tailed deer.
B. General knowledge of local flora.
C. Basic knowledge of Excel.

Module Description:

These activities were completed as a part of a unit on white-tailed deer (WTD) ecology. Initially, students learned basics about WTD including feeding, reproduction, and preferred habitats. Also included was a brief history of WTD populations in Illinois.

In Illinois, all deer harvested with a gun during hunting season must be processed by a county “check station”. At the station, the age and sex of each deer is recorded in addition to a variety of other information. Students participating on the project were encouraged to spend at least thirty minutes at the county check station. Prior to hunting season, students learned to determine the age of deer by noting the number and amount of wear on the lower teeth. This gave those students attending the station a more complete experience. Data concerning age and sex of deer harvested was also obtained from the check station.

Food habits analysis: In order to obtain samples of stomach contents from harvested deer, several hunters were contacted. A total of four samples were obtained. Although only the contents of the rumen were needed, all hunters donated the entire “gut pile”. This provided an opportunity for a hands-on lesson in internal anatomy. Once the stomach samples were obtained, the samples were rinsed using a screen. Students then separated the various components by plant species. The volume of each species was measured using the displacement method and recorded in Excel. Percentages were also calculated.

After each sample was sorted and measured, the data from each sample was analyzed. Students were asked to form hypotheses concerning each animal based strictly upon stomach contents. For example, one sample was exceptionally large and contained a considerable variety of plants. Students thought that perhaps this sample was obtained from a deer that moved a great deal, coming in contact with a wide variety of plants. They also hypothesized that perhaps the large quantity was because the sample came from a female who was still with her fawn. This would also explain the substantial movement. Information from the hunter indicated that the sample was indeed from a lactating female. Another factor considered by the students was the time of day at which the deer was harvested. Deer normally feed in the morning and evening with digestion occuring throughout the day and night. The degree of digestion can be used to predict the harvest time.

After a discussion of information obtained from the hunters, students constructed reports.

Age/sex ratio:
The data concerning the age and sex of the deer harvested in Edgar County is only available for the 2003 gun season. Data collected in future years will provide a means for comparison.

National Standards Addressed:

Science as Inquiry: CONTENT STANDARD A: As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop • Abilities necessary to do scientific inquiry • Understandings about scientific inquiry Life Science: CONTENT STANDARD C: As a result of their activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop understanding of • Biological evolution • Interdependence of organisms • Matter, energy, and organization in living systems • Behavior of organisms History and Nature of Science: CONTENT STANDARD G: As a result of activities in grades 9-12, all students should develop understanding of • Science as a human endeavor • Nature of scientific knowledge

Assessment Techniques:

For food habits analysis: Students write formal reports including procedures, data and conclusions. Included in the report is a discussion of the relationship of materials ingested to specific factors associated with each individual deer.
For population data: Students compare age/gender data for the county for each year available using graphs. Students prepare reports describing the results and predicting future population trends.

Areas of Focus:

Life Science

Appropriate Grade Level(s):

9-12

Relevant Links and Related Resources:

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