252 



CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



It has been my experience that mule deer are more gregarious than 

 coast black-tailed deer. With mule deer it is a regular experience in 

 late winter to encounter bands of from six to twenty individuals (see 

 Fig. 94). 



From 6.30 to 7 o'clock during the evening of June 29, 1927, in 



Yosemite, I watched a band of 16 deer feeding in an open meadow, and 



found they were as follows: 



1 large buck, antlers in velvet, twelve inches long, and forked. 



1 small buck, antlers in velvet and unbranched. 



7 adult does. 



7 yearling fawns. 



Pig. 94. In late winter California mule deer often go in bands. Note use of 

 ears to detect approach of enemy, also uniformity of tail pattern. Yosemite, April 

 29, 1929. J. S. Dixon No. 31. 



From 6 to 6.40 p.m. on December 6, 1927, in Yosemite Valley, of 



22 deer grazing in the meadow there were : 



1 large 4-point buck. 

 1 forked-horn buck. 



1 spike buck. 



5 adult does. 



2 young does. 



12 fawns (two pair of twins and eight singles). 



At Round Meadow, in Sequoia National Park, on June 9, 1933, 

 I counted the California mule deer in the meadow at 6 o'clock in the 

 evening and found the herd consisted of : 



3 large 4-point bucks. 

 1 forked-horn buck. 



1 spike buck. 

 8 pregnant does. 



6 young does. 



8 yearling fawns. 



