1936] 



MAMMALS OF OREGON 



85 



open situations, however, they have been so easily killed that they 

 are now practically confined to the forests and steep mountain slopes. 



Abundance. In the Lower Deschutes Valley and the Columbia 

 Eiver Valley east of the Cascades mule deer have been scarce for 

 a long time, owing probably to the great amount of hunting in 

 proximity to well-settled agricultural valleys. But the best reports 

 available indicate an increase on the national forests and unoccupied 

 mountainous areas of eastern Oregon. 



Table 11 shows a steady increase in the number of mule deer esti- 

 mated by the Forest Service on national forests from 1926 until 

 1931. In 1932 the total decreased appreciably, and in 1933 a slight 

 decrease continued. As some of the ranges were overstocked, this 

 may however, represent a healthy tendency. The figures refer only 

 to deer on the national forests but probably include three-fourths of 

 the deer of eastern Oregon. A few hundred whitetails would be 

 included. 



TABLE 11. Mule deer on national forests in Oregon 

 [Data from estimates by IT. S. Forest Service] 



NOTE. No estimates available for 1927 or 1928. 



General habits. As might be expected from the prominent eyes 

 and the very large ears, thes deer depend for protection from 

 enemies largely on their keen senses. Their favorite bed ground 

 during the daytime is on a steep slope often near the crest of a ridge 

 overlooking a wide scope of country, where the approach of any 

 enemy will be detected. 



To some extent the mule deer are locally migratory. Usually as 

 the deep snows of winter come on they leave the higher slopes and 

 work down into the foothills, canyons, and valley draws where bare 

 ground and an abundance of food are generally found on steep, 

 sunny slopes, or in brushy bottoms. In spring and early summer they 

 migrate back toward the higher levels, and the bucks, especially, with 

 their sensitive, growing horns, seek the crests of wind-swept ridges 

 during the worst of the fly time. 



The bucks shed their antlers during the latter part of winter, 

 varying from January to March. In April the new set begins to 

 grow, and by July the beautiful brown velvet-covered antlers are 

 practically full grown. In September the velvet peels from the 

 hardened beams and prongs, which are soon polished and ready for 

 the fall season of fighting. 



Breeding habits. The mating season throughout the Rocky Moun- 

 tain region seems to be mainly in November. These deer are to some 

 extent gregarious and migratory. During the mating season an old 



