Table 5.6. Summer mortality and causes for radio-collared mule deer fawns 

 1976-1986. 



Number of 

 Number of Definite or % 



Fawns Number Z Probable Coyote 



Year Monitored Died Mort. Coyote Killed Unknown Other Killed 



100 



83 



50 



100 



100 



100 



80 



100 



67 



100 



100 



TOTAL 



167 



54 



32 



48 



89 



a Data from Dood (1978) and personal communication. 

 b Data from Riley (1982) and personal communication. 



was known 

 origin. 



to have died from internal injuries of unknown 



Antlerless deer (including fawns) could not be legally- 

 harvested during 1976-1980. Estimated hunter harvest of fawns 

 in 1981 and 1982 was about 7-8% of the prehunt fawn population 

 and about 2-3% in 1983 and 1984. Too few fawns were checked 

 in the hunter harvest during 1985 and 1986 to make valid 

 estimates. Data from field checks of hunters during 1960-1962 

 indicated that approximately 8%, 20%, and 13% of prehunt fawn 

 populations were harvested during those years. A special late 

 season antlerless hunt during 1961 resulted in a greater than 

 average harvest of both fawns and adult females. Even during 

 autumn, mortality from other causes usually accounted for more 

 fawns than did hunter harvest. 



Hunters selected against fawns as compared to adult 

 females. During 1960-1962 and 1981-1984 when relatively large 

 samples of antlerless deer were checked, comparison of the 

 proportions of fawns and adult females in harvests and the 

 pre-season populations indicated average harvest rate for 

 fawns was 59% (range, 43-73%) of that for adult females. 



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