CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 217 



and found them to be a full eight feet. This is the greatest height I 

 have actually measured that I have known a mule deer to jump. 



This ability of mule deer to jump has a direct bearing on deer 

 management. In many instances it has been found desirable to con- 

 struct deer-proof fences around apple orchards, vineyards, and gardens 

 in order to prevent serious destruction of valuable property. Numerous 

 types and heights of fences have been tried out, but of many fences 

 examined, the one described herewith has proven best as regards cost, 

 ease of construction, upkeep, and efficiency. This fence effectively 

 protected an apple orchard located 4h miles northeast of Dunlap, Fresno 

 County, where in January, 1924, I found mule deer numerous and 

 hungry. 



Split cedar posts, 7 feet long, svmk 18 inches into the ground and 

 spaced 10 feet apart, supported the fence. The main portion of this 

 fence consisted of medium weight, 8-strand woven wire hog fencing, 42 

 inches high. The distance between strands from top to bottom was 9, 

 7^, 6, 5^, 5, 3, 3, and 2 inches, respectively. A single tight strand of 

 barbed wire was stretched on the ground 2 inches below the woven wire 

 fence. Four strands of light barbed wire were placed at intervals 

 of 5, 7, 12, and 12 inches above the hog fence, being stapled to and sup- 

 ported by 2 X 4-inch scantlings 4|- feet long, which had been spiked 

 to the upper portions of the cedar posts. This method placed the high- 

 est barbed wire 6| feet above the ground, and this proved high enough 

 to keep the hungry deer out of the apple orchard, thereby protecting 

 the trees and fruit. 



Posture. 



When alarmed, the mule deer carries its head elevated with the 

 nose forward so that it is above the line of the back. When the ani- 

 mal is walking slowly along, unalarmed and unafraid, the head is often 

 carried below the level of the back, particularly when the animal is 

 following, by scent, the trail left by another deer. When grazing 

 leisurely, the front legs are spread slightly, and the head and neck 

 are carried close to the ground. 



As an example of the different postures in which the head may be 

 carried, I cite an instance in which I was standing at the edge of an 

 open meadow but partially concealed by screening branches of a bush. 

 While I stood watching a doe that was busily feeding on green grass in 

 the open meadow about sixty feet distant from me, she suddenly, 

 through a slight movement on my part, became aware of my presence. 

 At the time, she was headed directly toward me and had her front legs 

 spread wtII apart, so that her lower lips touched the ground. The 

 moment she caught sight of the slight movement that I had made, she 

 gazed intently and fixedly in my direction, but as I remained motionless 

 she was apparently unable to make out what had caused the movement. 

 In order to secure a better view of the strange object, she quickly lifted 

 her head as high as possible and viewed me for a moment in that posi- 

 tion. Not being satisfied with what she saw, she then stretched her 

 neck as far as possible to one side and then to the other, gazing intently 

 at me in all of the positions. She did this without moving any portion 

 of her body other than her head, neck, and ears. I presume that 



