208 



Table 112, 



Average group size of mule deer in the Kirby Dam 

 area. 



Month 



Aorll 

 May 



Spring 



June 

 July 

 August 

 Summer 



September 

 October 

 November 

 Fall 



December 

 January 

 T^'ebruary 

 Winter 



March 

 April 

 May 



Spring 



June 



July 

 August 

 Summer 



FBT" 



Groups 



18 

 20 

 38 



9 

 16 



8 

 33 



1 

 2H 



23 



48 



11 



7 



7 



25 



27 

 Hi 



112 



36 

 39 

 17 

 92 



No. 

 Deer 



157 



62 



219 



12 

 32 

 19 

 63 



5 



82 



80 



167 



56 



47 



61 



164 



160 

 258 

 118 

 536 



63 



71 

 42 



176 



Average 



8.7 

 3.1 

 5.8 



1.3 

 2.0 

 2.4 

 1.9 



5 

 3.4 



3.5 

 3.5 



5.1 



6.7 

 8.7 

 6.6 



5.9 

 6.3 

 2.7 

 4.8 



1.75 

 1.8 

 2.5 

 1.9 



C^ 



eastern half. Several mule deer with radio collars were observed 

 on and near the study area. These deer were collared during winter 

 on the CX Ranch, East Decker, and West Decker mines during several 

 years of trapping (Biggins and Phillips 1979). They appeared to 

 summer on the west and east sides of Rosebud Creek, including 

 the west edge of the study area. 



During fall the groups were larger as the mule deer started 



to congregate (Figure 96). Most of the larger groups were found 



in two main areas in the western half of the study area. 



Winter distribution is shown in Figure 97. Most of the mule deer 

 were in groups of four or more, and located at higher elevations 

 along the tops of ridges. The extent of critical winter range is 

 uncertain due to the mild winter. The presence of large groups 

 In the northwestern part of the study area suggests that the 

 winter range may be located on the high ridges in this area. The 



