of their flight was probably at the lower end of the range. 

 The application of the observability factor to their data 

 indicates a density of 18 mule deer/mi 2 (4.8/0.265). This 

 figure probably should be corrected again because the area 

 they flew was that which, in recent years, had the highest 

 density on the study area. Data collected from 1964-1986 

 indicated that the density figure from Brown (1947) should be 

 multiplied by a correction factor of 0.70 to convert to a 

 figure applicable to the entire study area. This final 

 conversion indicated a density of 12.6 mule deer/mi 2 (4.86/km 2 ) 

 for September, 1947. 



1948 - "The statement that continual outflux of deer from the 

 Game Range is seeding all of Eastern Montana is heard 

 many times from many quarters . Leo Coleman who was 

 there when 2 men killed one of the last Grizzly Bears 

 on the Game Range in the Timber Creek breaks in 1905 

 states emphatically that there are many more deer 

 along the river in the Game Range than at any time in 

 their memory. This statement is always agreed upon by 

 old-timers . " 



"Our deer population on many areas is nearly to the 

 point where 50% of the annual growth on the most 

 palatable species is being used by wildlife. Deer 

 populations must be watched closely to prevent range 

 damage. The time is not too far distant when the 

 unmentionable proposition of opening the season on 

 does will have to be discussed." 



"All animals observed and checked were in fine 

 condition with fine glossy coats. Bucks handled were 

 all free from external parasites and loaded with fat." 

 "One remark common to all livestock operators and old 

 timers is, "This years crop of antelope [or deer] 

 fawns is the largest crop of twins I have ever seen." 

 It is believed that last winters 1080 program is 

 responsible for the quotation." 



[Author's Note] It is likely that the coyote poisoning program 

 initiated during winter 1946-47 did result in increased fawn 

 survival. There was little consistent information, with large 

 sample sizes, available for fawn/female or fawn/adult ratios 

 prior to 1949. However, narratives indicated that pronghorn 

 antelope fawn/adult ratios increased from an "average" of 

 about 0.3 fawns/adult prior to coyote poisoning during winter 

 1946-47 to 0.63 fawns/adult during 1948. The narratives 

 implied that fawn/adult ratios for mule deer increased to a 

 like or greater degree. The fawn/100 female ratios reported 

 for mule deer during 1949-1956, indicated consistently higher 

 fawn/ 100 female ratios than observed during any other time 

 period. 



371 



