Master of Science Candidate

STUDENT BACKGROUND

I grew up in rural southeastern Illinois and attended Robinson High School. After high school I attended the University of Illinois, graduating with a B.S. in Natural Resources and Environmental Sciences in May 2006. After graduation I moved to South Texas to work on a ranch for one year, gaining experience working with white-tailed deer before beginning Master’s work at Texas A&M University-Kingsville in June of 2007.

THESIS PROJECT

Effects of White-tailed Deer Density and Supplemental Feeding on Deer Forage Consumption and Antler Growth

The objective of my research is to determine how supplemental feeding affects what types of forage white-tailed deer consume. Bite counts will be performed using tame whitetail does allowing their diets to be analyzed. Vegetation class consumption will be compared between does provided and not provided supplemental feed in order to determine if there is a difference between forage classes consumed. I will also be studying how different deer densities and supplemental feed affect yearling antler growth using harvest data and trail camera photos.