White-tailed deer held in metabolism stalls at the deer research pens at Pennsylvania State University while on a 

 radioactive phosphorus deposition study, supported by a contract with the Atomic Energy Commission. Photo 

 by James S. Lindzey) 



breeding season and winter periwl was not as 

 pronounced witli deer on a day length extended 

 to Ifi hours. Initiation of antler growth and 

 shedding of winter hair were also delayed by ex- 

 posure to the longer day. Delays were more pro- 

 nounced in deer exiK>sed to Iti-hour days l)efore 

 reaching sexual maturity. 



Migr<if!o7i and movem^ent of YeUotnxtone elk. — 

 During the winters of 19f)'2-63 and l!)()3-64, nearly 

 1,100 elk were trapped, individually marked with 

 color-coded collars, and released foi- study in the 

 park in a Montana I 'nit study. 



During the winter phase of tiie study, airline 

 miles between the first and last sightings of 74 

 elk weiX' determined. The interval bi'tween sitrht- 



ings of 41 animals (56 percent) on the winter 

 range was 2 miles or less; 18 (24 percent) traveled 

 more than 2 miles but less than 10 ; and 15 (20 per- 

 cent) had roamed a minimum distance of 10 to 

 20 miles. Some animals were seen as many as five 

 times, but 70 percent were seen only once after 

 l)eing marked and released. 



Elk were observed in the spring and summer 

 from one- fourth mile to 54 airline miles from the 

 winter range sites where tliej' were trapped and 

 niai-ked. Of 1'.>1 .such sightings, 167 (87 percent) 

 animals had covered less than 10 miles; the range 

 of 11» others (10 percent) was l>e.tween 10 and 30 

 miles; and the reiuaining 5 (3 percent) were seen 

 fT-oin :>0 to ."»4 miles from the initial release point. 



30 



