Baccus, John T.Poor, Stuart L.2022-10-172022-10-172000-05Poor, S. L. (2000). Seasonal food habits of the white-tailed deer in the Cross Timbers and Prairies Ecological Region of Texas (Unpublished thesis). Southwest Texas State University, San Marcos, Texas.https://hdl.handle.net/10877/16213Food habits studies for white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are numerous in most ecological regions of Texas. One unstudied region is the Cross Timbers and Prairies Ecological Region. In 1996-1998, the white-tailed deer seasonal diets in relation to forage availability in this area were determined. White-tailed deer were collected (n=242) seasonally and their rumen contents were examined to determine the percent composition of the diet. Along with the overall forage consumption in the Cross Timbers and Prairies Ecological Region, forage consumption on varying range conditions, soil types, and precipitation patterns were evaluated. We found that the overall food habits consisted of 36% browse, 20% forbs, 20% mast, 12% grass, 7% food plots, and 5% commercial feed during the study period. A food profile of food resources available to white-tailed deer, a food preference index, and seasonal food habits were developed based on the data collected.Text84 pages1 file (.pdf)enwhite-tailed deerseason foodsecologydietswildlifeThesis