the basis of proportional distribution. Male-selected blocks 

 were based on the same criteria, except that males 

 predominated. Fifty two blocks were designated as female 

 selected and 61 were male selected (Fig. 9.6). 



The vegetational composition of female- and male-selected 

 blocks differed significantly (X 2 = 378.1, 19 df, P < 0.001). 

 Further examination indicated that the greatest difference was 

 in occurrence of the pinus- juniperus-shale type, which was 

 used more than expected by males and less than expected by 

 females. The open and moderate density Douglas fir- juniper, 

 scattered density pine- juniper-grass , moderate density pine- 

 juniper, and river riparian cover types, in decreasing order 

 of importance, were all used more than expected by females and 

 less than expected by males. Non-timbered types, including 

 shale-longleaf sage, sagebrush-grassland, and greasewood were 

 more abundant in male-selected blocks, although individual 

 contributions to the total chi-square value were not high. 



These differences in selection of vegetation cover types 

 between productive females/fawns and adult males were expected 

 on the basis of cover and forage availability. Douglas fir- 

 juniper and scattered density pine- juniper-grass types, 

 selected by productive females/fawns, provided the greatest 

 seasonal quantity and diversity of forage for deer (Tables 3.2 

 and 3.3). The pine- juniper-shale type produced the lowest 

 quality and diversity of forage of any timbered type on the 

 area and had greatest representation in blocks used 

 predominantly by males. The Douglas fir- juniper and 

 moderately dense pine- juniper cover types, most strongly 

 selected by females, also provided the greatest amount of 

 hiding cover among all major types. 



Vegetational Diversity and Topography 



Fawns and productive females used blocks containing more 

 cover types than those used by mature males during summer (X 2 

 = 10.64, 5 df, P = 0.06), but not during autumn (X 2 = 7.62, 5 

 df, P = 0.19). Mature males were more likely to occur in 

 blocks containing only 1 or 2 cover types than were fawns and 

 productive females. Fawns and productive females also 

 selected more diverse blocks than mature males based on number 

 of cover polygons per block during summer (X 2 = 24.07, 7 df, 

 P < 0.005), but not during autumn (X 2 = 9.05, 7 df, P = 0.25). 



There were significant differences in distribution of 

 fawns, females, and males among topographic relief classes 

 during summer (X 2 = 21.2, 6 df, P = 0.002) and autumn (X 2 = 

 13.4, 6 df, P = 0.04), but not during winter (X 2 = 1.7, 6 df, 

 P = 0.94). Fawns and productive females avoided areas of both 

 extremely low and extremely steep terrain. Proportionately 



258 



