33 



usually consists of Rumex spp. on mud flats and various mustard 

 {CfLuclfiZfiaz) and legume ( Lcgum-tnoAae) family species on upland 

 sites. 



Ap:ricultural Series 



This vegetation type occurred within the natural types. All 

 active crop lands were included. Two subtypes were defined; the 

 unland subtype and the creek bottom subtyoe. 



(1) Upland Subtype 



The primary crops produced on this subtype (Figure 33) were non- 

 irrigated varieties of wheat, barley, oats and native grasses 

 harvested either for hay or seed. This subtype occurred adjacent 

 to subtypes within the ponderosa pine, juniper and sagebrush- 

 grassland series. 



(2) Creek Bottom Subtype 



This tyoe occurred on irrigated or non-irrigated bottoms along 

 the Tongue River and the larger creeks (Figure 34). Alfalfa hay 

 was the primary crop. Some corn and small grains were also grown. 

 These lands would have been riparian series vegetation subtypes 

 were they in their original condition. 



RESULTS AND DISCUSSION 



Each species or group of species is discussed separately for 

 each of the seven study areas. Distribution mans are presented, 

 with high use or critical areas delineated, for the important 

 game species and the nongame species of special interest or concern. 

 Care should be taken in interpretation of the tables and figures 

 presented in this report as they represent observations made 

 during a 17 month period covering all or portions of six seasons. 

 The winter period was very mild with little snow cover. May and 

 June of 1981 were the only months with appreciable precipitation. 

 General drought conditions prevailed during most of the study. 



Sweeney-Snyder 



Mule Deer 



Population characteristics: During the study 630 mule deer were 

 observed in the Sweeney-Snyder study area (Table 1). Average 

 group size ranged from summer lows of 2.0 in 198O and 2.1 in 198I 

 to a high of 5.1 during the 198O-81 winter season. The same 

 pattern was observed in several other wildlife studies conducted 

 in southeastern Montana (Martin 1980a) and in the Bull Mountains 

 of central Montana (Dusek 1978). 



