105 



Table 45. Amphibians and reDtiles observed on the Greenleaf-Mlller 

 study area. 



Common Name 



1 Saf?;ebrush lizard 



2 Great plains toad 



3 Painted turtle 

 k Racer 



5 Bull snake 



6 Prairie rattlesnake 



Scientific Name 



ScztopofiaA g^a.a^06u6 

 Bu^o cognatui 



Colube.fi CO n& tfiltto n. 

 V-itaophl& catzn^io^fi 

 Cfiotala& \}lHyidii& 



Poster Creek 



Mule Peer 



Population characteristics: During the study period 3,249 mule 

 deer were observed on the Foster Creek study area (Table 46). 

 Mean group size was smallest during summer (2.1 to 2.3) and largest 

 in winter (8.7). Mean number of observations per hour of aerial 

 survey ranged between 21.2 (summer 1980) and 64.9 (winter I98O-8I) 

 (Table 47). 



Population structure, determined during September and October 

 1980, indicates a healthy herd with a fawn/doe ratio between 81.3:100 

 and 116.2:100 (Table 48). Combined observations from September and 

 October I98O Indicate a fawn/doe ratio of 91.4 :100, with 4l.3% of 

 the population composed of fawns. Production surveys conducted 

 by the Montana Deot . of Pish, Wildlife and Parks prior to hunting 

 season resulted in an average fawn/doe ratio of 82:100 for all 

 30 hunting districts in southeastern Montana, with 44% of the 

 population comprised of fawns (Swenson 198I). 



Distributi on 

 Figure 5a. 



Spring mule deer distribution is illustrated in 

 Most observations were in the area of Foster Creek, 



in the central portion of the study area, and along Little Pumpkin 

 Creek to the south. 



Summer observations were even more noticeably associated with major 

 drainages (Figure 59). Foster Creek, Little Pumpkin Creek and the 

 Mullins Coulee area of Lav Creek appeared to be high use areas. 

 These meslc habitats were particularly important to deer during 

 severe drought conditions of 198O and 198I. 



Pall mule deer distribution (Figure 60) was less concentrated 

 than summer, but remained mostly associated with the Foster Creek 

 drainage. 



Winter observations (Figure 61) were dispersed over the study area. 

 The winter of 198O-8I was extremely mild and of short duration, 

 which made delineation of traditional winter concentration areas 



