143 



Sand Creek 



Mule Deer 



Population characteristics: During the study period 963 mule 

 deer were observed on the Sand Creek study area (Table 70). 

 Mean group size was smallest during summer (2.2 to 2.3) and peaked 

 at 8.6 in spring 198I. Mean number of observations per hour of 

 aerial survey ranged between 22 (summer I98O) and 62 (winter and 

 spring 1981) (Table 71). 



Population structure, determined during September and October 

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

 76:100 and 111.8:100 (Table 72). Combined observations from 

 September and October 198O indicate a fawn/doe ratio of 90.5:100 

 with 37.2% of the population composed of fawns. Production 

 surveys conducted by the Mont. Dept . of Fish, 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 composed of fawns (Swenson I98I). 



Table 70. Observations by month and mean group size for mule 

 deer on the Sand Creek study area. 



