Activity: The lack of ponderosa pine cover made deer easier 

 to observe as they lay out in the open„ For that reason more 

 deer were observed lying in the Hanging Woman study area than 

 in the Otter Creek area (Table 29). Most deer were observed 

 standing in all seasons except spring 1980 when more deer 

 were observed feeding. 



Use of topography : Use of the dissected mid-slopes was the 

 highest in every season (Table 30). The highest percentage of 

 observations using the hillside category was during the winter 

 season, 89 percent. This topographic area is most likely to 

 offer shelter from the wind and, at the same tine, be free of 

 snow cover. 



The lowland features, alluvium/terrace and flood plains, had 

 peak use during summer and fall seasons. Deer were forced 

 onto the riparian bottom lands in search of water and succulent 

 forage. These types received heaviest usage, 31 percent, 

 during the driest season, summer of 1980. 



Use of exposure: Deer were observed on every aspect in every 

 season (Table 31) . They were fairly evenly distributed with 

 a few exceptions. During the spring 1979 season 48 percent of 

 the deer were observed on southerly slopes. This occurred 

 just after a long hard winter and the southern slopes were the 

 first to become free of snow and offer new growth to eat. 



The summer seasons were marked by substantial increases in 



the usage of flat, lowland categories. Again, deer were reacting 



to the lack of moisture in the upland areas. The mild nature 



of the 1979-80 winter was demonstrated by the 62 percent 



usage figure on northerly slopes. 



Use of slope : Seasonal use of slopes by mule deer in the 

 Hanging Woman Creek area is presented in Table 32 » Usage of 

 steep slopes was highest during the winter months when 32 

 percent usage was observed. The lowest percentage was observed 

 during the summer of 1980, 6 percent. 



More deer v/ere observed on medium slopes than any other in 

 all seasons except winter when gentle and steep slopes had 

 more deer. Medium slopes averaged 41 percent of mule deer 

 observations during the study. Flat land areas received the 

 most during the two summer seasons with 28 and 37 percent 

 for 1979 and 1980 respectively o 



Antelope 



Population characterist ics: During the six seasons of study, 

 3,308 antelope were observed on the Hanging Woman Creek area 

 (Table 9). Average group size ranged from 3.4 antelope per 

 group during the first spring season to 44.2 antelope per group 

 in the winter months. January was by far the largest when 

 3 groups averaged 91.3 antelope per group were observed. 



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