Luke Garver
Master of Science Candidate
Major Advisors: Drs. David Hewitt and Timothy Fulbright
STUDENT BACKGROUND
My name is Luke Garver. I am originally from Jacksonville, Illinois located just west of the capitol, Springfield, and just east of Pike County. I graduated from the University of Illinois in 2006 with a B.S. in Animal Science. I was raised to have a great love and appreciation for the outdoors and have enjoyed most outdoor activities my whole life. I am enjoying my time in South Texas and take advantage of any opportunity I get to fish and hunt in the Lone Star State.
THESIS PROJECT
Effects of Supplemental Feed on Deer Activity and Intake Rates
The objective of my research is to determine what effects supplemental feed has on nutrient intake rates of white-tailed deer. I will also attempt to establish what impact it has on deer activity patterns. Bite counts will be taken as well as samples of each plant fed upon to determine the quality and quantity taken in. By comparing diet composition and quality of does under differing treatments, I will assess the effects supplemental feed has on nutrition. To study activity patterns GPS collars will be used. Each of the tame does will be fitted with a collar that takes a GPS fix every 30 minutes. Distances between points and overall movement rates will be analyzed.
RESEARCH ABSTRACTS
Texas Chapter of the Wildlife Society
