of mule deer on the Circle West study area compares favorably with recent mule 

 deer studies in eastern Montana (table 21). The ratio of 20 bucks: 100 females 

 lies within the range observed in these studies. During 1975 and 1976, hunter 

 harvests in hunting unit 650 yielded approximately 390 and 325 mule deer, re- 

 spectively. This represents 1.1% and 1.5% of the total state mule deer harvest 

 during those years, respectively. Harvest statistics for hunting district 650 

 are presented in Appendix L. 



An outbreak of epizootic hemmorage disease apparently affected deer pop- 

 ulations in the study area during the study period, although white-tailed deer 

 were probably more affected than mule deer. Large numbers of deaths were re- 

 ported by local residents in fall of 1976 but were not confirmed. The outbreak 

 of this disease was evident in other areas in Montana (Swenson 1978) and it may 

 have been region-wide. 



Figure 29 shows monthly changes in sample abundance of mule deer for the 

 five roadside wildlife survey routes. It can be seen that mule deer were seen 

 most consistently and in largest numbers along the Flowing Well route, which 

 provided a mosaic of diverse coulee, big sagebrush, and badlands comples habitats. 

 The relatively large numbers seen along this route in winter indicate winter 

 concentration in this area, which was also indicated by the general ground and 

 aerial survey (maps 6 and 10). Few mule deer were observed along the other road- 

 side routes (Appendix I). 



JAN FEB MAR 



Figure 29. Monthly sample abundances of mule deer along five roadside 

 wildlife survey routes, 1977. 



108 



