145 



Table 72. Mule deer population characteristics on the Sand Creek 

 study area, i980. 



Population Structure 

 Number Classified Fawns: 100 Bucks;100 {%) 



Month Total Bucks Does Fawns" Does Adults Does Bucks Does Fawns 



Sept 57 13 25 19 76 50 52 22.8 43.8 33.3 

 Oct 45 9 17 19 111.8 73 52.9 20 37.8 42.2 



Distribution: Spring mule deer distribution is illustrated in 

 Figure 73- Most observations were in the northwest portion and 

 along the southwest and southern boundaries. 



Summer observations were more widely dispersed over the study area 

 (Figure 74). Pall observations (Figure 75) were also scattered 

 with some degree of concentration in the vicinity of ponderosa pine 

 habitats (Figure 8). Winter observatins were clumped in the north- 

 west and southwest portions of the study area (Figure 76). The 

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

 made delineation of traditional winter concentration areas impossible, 

 Lack of significant snow cover allowed deer to range widely during 

 the entire season. 



Cover type usage: Seasonal use of cover types is p^resented in 

 Table 73. Use of ponderosa pine habitats was undoubtedly under- 

 estimated for all seasons due to the difficulty of observing deer 

 in coniferous cover. In spite of this observational bias, large 

 proportion of observations occurred in this cover category all 

 seasons. Ponderosa pine habitats occupy a very small proportion 

 of the study area (Figure 4). Selection of ponderosa pine habitats 

 was most evident in winter. 



Use of sagebrush and grassland habitats was much greater during 

 spring and summer of 198I than the preceding year, with a 

 corresponding lesser use of creek bottom types. This trend was 

 also noted on the Foster Creek study area. Use of creek bottom 

 habitats peaked during fall and use of agricultural areas was 

 greatest in spring. 



Activity : Mule deer activity at time of observation is presented 

 in Table 74. The largest proportion of deer were standing or 

 feedinp; when first seen during all seasons except winter and 

 spring of I98I. Bedding activity was most prevalent in winter. 

 Feeding activity was most commonly observed during spring. Feeding 

 activity was significantly more commonly observed during spring and 

 summer of I98I than spring and summer of the preceding year. This 

 trend suggests that it was necessary for deer to spend more time 

 feeding during the 198I seasons. Drough conditions severely limited 

 forage in early spring to a greater extent in 198I than in 198O. 



