64 CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



C. Fnllowinp; are some causes of (ic.-ilh in deer: 



1. AVintor kill (starvation). 



2. Predators. 



3. Hunting (moans will later bo devised for securing an accurate record 



of legal hunting kill on Work Areas). 



4. Illegal hunting. 



5. Wounded deer lost by hunters that die. 



6. Accidents (natural accidents, not man-caused, such as falling off 



cliff, snagging self in brush, etc.). 



7. Old age. 



8. Disease. 



VI. Food and Water. 



This is one of the most important parts of the investigation. It (Mubraces the 

 relation of our deer herd and live stock and the need of water. It is also one of 

 the nK)st ditlicult phases of the study upon which to secure definite, unassailable 

 information. It is, therefore, urged that all workers devote especial emphasis to 

 this portion of the study and endeavor to assend)le a mass of pertinent facts in this 

 regard. 



A. Ascertain actual food of deer on your area by observation (watching 

 them eating) and record list of deer food plants in their order of preference 

 (seasonally) or give percentage figures for food plant preference. Range Examiner 

 Johnson, of the Forest Service, is an expert botanist, familiar with most of the 

 forage plants in the mule deer section. He will cooperate with the workers and 

 familiarize them with the common and important food plants. 



B. Note and report from time to time in monthly reports as observations 

 are made, the effect that deer browsing has upon the food plants. Necessarily 

 some of these observations should be made in areas free from live stock or at a 

 season when live stock are not present. Consider the possibility of fencing off small 

 plots in grazed areas to exclude live stock, yet permit access of deer for use as 

 study plots in comparison -with the surrounding area. 



C. Note and report as above what other animals feed upon the same plants 

 as the deer and their effect upon same. 



1. Other wild animals (antelope, rabbits, squirrels, etc.). 



2. Cattle and/or horses. 



3. Sheep (domestic). 



D. Note and report as above what plants cattle and sheep feed upon that 

 doer do not eat, and effect upon same. 



E. Take photographs illustrating good food growth, poor growth and cases 

 illustrating where good deer browse has been destroyed by fire, drought, grazing 

 or other causes. "Before and after" photos are particularly desired. 



VII. Migration. 



Secure all possible data relative to the migration of deer in your vicinity, 

 especially on and to and from the AVork Areas. Provide this information in the 

 monthly reports. The following are some considerations by which to bo gnidrd ni 

 this phase of the study. 



A. Dates of commencement of migrations (spring and fall). 



B. Dates of height of same. 



C. Dates of conclusion of same. 



D. If there are more than the two definite annual migrations, such as a mid- 

 winter migration, caused by deep snow, lack of food or some other factor, record 

 and report same. 



E. Note direction of migration travel. 



F. Note time migrating is done, by day or night or both. 



G. Attempt to ascertain distances migrated (distance from summor to winter 



ranges). 



H. Ascertain range of individual deer (recognizable individuals sueh as bucks 

 with distinctive antlers, animals with malformed hoofs, etc. Consider possibility of 

 marking deer, ear tagging or marking fawns for instance, for this purpose). 



1. By day or week. 



2. In a year. 



