Table 3. Winter Mule Deer Survey - Marias River, 1978. 



Bucks D oes Fa wns Total 



Mouth to 33 226 139 398 

 Highway 80 



to 1 15 9 25 

 Tiber Dam 



Total 34 241 148 423 



In 1978, a winter survey of the Marias River breaks found 

 42 3 mule deer from the mouth to Tiber Dam. This population had 

 8 percent bucks, 57 percent does, and 35 percent fawns. 



Fawn/100 adults ratios for three winters are presented in 

 Table 4. 



An index to overwinter mortality as measured by fawn survi- 

 val was noted during consecutive aerial surveys throughout the 

 winter of 1978. The number of fawns/100 adults declined from 

 53.8 on January 13 (423 deer), to 43.5 on February 16 (806 deer) 

 to 37 on March 4 (202 deer), just prior to spring break-up. 

 Average group size increased from 5.6 deer to 10.9 to 11.9, re- 

 spectively. 



The western segment of the Middle Missouri River project 

 takes in part or all of five hunting districts (Figure 10). 

 They are 400, 404, 405, 471 and 610. Only two of these districts, 

 405 and 471, are totally within, or have a majority of their area 

 within, the project boundaries. Table 5 presents average deer 

 harvest figures from hunter questionnaires for these two dis- 

 tricts from 1974 through 1977. From a low in 1974 the number of 

 deer harvested and number of hunters has generally increased with 

 some changing regulations and varying weather conditions. Hunter 

 success has been constant the last 3 years, reported at about 

 40 percent for both districts. 



On November 4, 1979 a hunter check station was operated at 

 Fort Benton. Sixty-one hunting parties were contacted, with a 

 total of 157 hunters (2.6/party). A total of 25 mule deer (17 

 bucks, 8 does) was checked for a hunter success rate of 16 per- 

 cent. The mule deer ages were 2 fawns, 9 yearlings, and 14 

 adults . 



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