316 



CALIFORNIA FISH AND GAME 



GENERAL STATEMENT OF FOOD HABITS 



In general, mule deer in California browse relatively more than 

 they graze, although at certain seasons fresh green grass may form as 

 much as 90 per cent of the food eaten by California and southern mule 

 deer. Browse is a general term applied to shoots, twigs, leaves and 

 fruits of woody plants, vines, bushes and trees. Deer and domestic 

 stock are said to graze on grasses, sedges and clovers. 



In California, under normal conditions, mule deer forage in quite 

 a different manner from domestic stock. Unlike domestic sheep or 

 cattle, they scatter out when feeding and do not forage and trample 



the meadows in closely packed 

 flocks or herds. There is also 

 a decided difference in the de- 

 gree of utilization of forage 

 plants. Deer tend toward re- 

 peated but liglit utilization 

 taking a nip here and tliere as 

 tliey pass by food plants, 

 whereas under similar condi- 

 tions, cattle and sheep tend to 

 stop and to browse heavil}' on 

 such plants. The relatively 

 light pruning by deer permits 

 bushes and plants to keep up 

 a continuous growth and is 

 not so destructive to the range 

 as is the heav}- utilization and 

 trampling of domestic stock. 

 When mule deer breed and 

 become overabundant, then 

 serious damage to the range 

 may result. Then even seed- 

 lings of coniferous trees mav 

 be killed h\ overbrowsing (see 

 Fig. 116)." 





Fig. 116. Western yellow pine seedling killed 

 by repeated browsings of mule deer. 

 Yosemite, March 30, 1930. Wildlife Divi- 

 sion No. 566. 



METHODS USED IN THIS STUDY 



In my study of mule deer 

 in California, it soon became 

 apparent that one of the critical factors which called for close observa- 

 tion and attention was that of their food habits and food preferences. 

 Hunters, ranchers and stockmen, as w^ll as naturalists, have given 

 accounts of the food habits of deer at different localities and diff'erent 

 seasons. Some observers have even gone so far as to state that deer 

 never eat this or that plant, that grass is "seldom touched," and have 

 made various other statements which need verification. In my study of 

 the mule deer in California, I have purposely selected certain typical 

 regions and have made detailed observations on the food preferences 

 of deer in Modoc, Lassen, Plumas, Mariposa, Fresno and San Diego 

 counties. 



