dispersed from the study area while the other did not. One 

 case of marked sisters also occurred as part of a set of 

 triplets . 



The relationship of triplet male 3680 with his sisters, 

 3480 and 3580 was discussed previously. The sisters were most 

 often apart during the first month following family breakup 

 but thereafter were usually in the same group through their 

 second year. Family breakup occurred on about 23 May 1981. On 

 that date, female 3580 and male 3680 were together, but female 

 3480 was separate from her siblings. All were separated on 29 

 May, but on 3 June female 3580 and male 3680 were back 

 together. All 3 were separated on 5 , 8, 12, and 18 June, but 

 the sisters were together on 10 June. Thus, during the period 

 23 May to 18 June, the sisters were together only 1 of 8 times 

 that they were observed. From 24 June 1981 until 1 May 1982, 

 near the start of their first fawning season, they were 

 together 13 of 17 times that they were observed. 



During their third year (1 June 1982 through 31 May 

 1983), the sisters both had their first fawns; in each case, 

 a singleton that appeared to survive through 1 year. They 

 were observed 13 times that year, but never in the same group, 

 although on 29 July 1982 they were observed about 100 m apart, 

 each with her young fawn. 



During their fourth year (starting at 3 years of age) the 

 sisters were observed 3 times during June and July but were 

 never together. From 4 August through 14 December 1983, they 

 were together 5 of 11 times they were observed. Both either 

 had not had or, more likely, had lost their fawns by 4 August 

 1983. Female 3480 was collected on 14 December 1983, ending 

 further possibilities of association. Female 3580 has 

 remained on or near her natal area through 1987. 



Associations of Marked Deer of Unknown Family Relationship 



Two mature males, observed from January 1979 through 

 October 1980, were closely associated with each other except 

 during the rut. During January-October, the two were in the 

 same group during 24 (59%) of 41 observations over the 2 

 years. The association was strongest during late February 

 through May, when they were together 14 of 16 times either was 

 observed. Although these 2 mature males were frequent 

 associates, based on the dispersal rates of yearling males, it 

 is unlikely that they were maternally related. 



There were several instances of marked females 

 associating frequently with each other when the family 

 relationship of the individuals was unknown. In the 

 previously described relationship involving female 1277 and 

 her daughters 1077 and 1177, another marked adult female 



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