severe winter of 1949-50. The narratives indicated the 

 probability of winter loss, at least during 1949-50. 



1951 - "Food and cover conditions for big game on the area 



are excellent. " 



[Author's Note:] The final census flight of the 1950s was 

 flown on 13 February, 1951. Sixty-eight miles of strips were 

 flown, covering an estimated 16 mi 2 . Eighty mule deer were 

 counted and, assuming a 50% efficiency of observation, a 

 density estimate of 10 mule deer/mi 2 (3.86/km 2 ) was indicated. 



[Author's Note:] Classifications for population composition 

 were made during both early October and early December, 1951. 

 For 519 mule deer classified during early October, 125 

 fawns/100 females and 86 adult males/100 females were 

 observed. It is likely that classifications made during the 

 first week of October somewhat overestimated the proportion of 

 males in the population. For 470 mule deer classified during 

 early December, 125 fawns/100 females and 38 adult males/100 

 females were observed. If there were around 10 mule deer/mi 2 

 during spring 1951, then the observed level of fawn production 

 and recruitment, by itself, would have resulted in pre-hunting 

 season populations of 15-18 mule deer/mi 2 . Based on data from 

 hunter checking stations and post-season questionnaires, we 

 estimate that the number of mule deer harvested on the study 

 area was 200-300. Mule deer population density during 

 December 1951 may have been in the range of 12-15/mi 2 . 



1952 - "There is every indication that our mule deer herd is 



one of the healthiest and most productive in the 

 country. While there aren't any widespread signs of 

 overuse as yet, we should be constantly on guard, "... 

 "Bobcats are probably the most numerous predator on 

 the Game Range. Their numbers are far above normal 

 on the west end of the area in the most heavily 

 populated big game locality. " 



[Author's Note:] Pre-hunting season classification of 1,191 

 mule deer during 1952 indicated that there were 94 fawns/100 

 females and 48 adult males/100 females. A post-season 

 classification of 860 mule deer was comprised of 91 fawns/100 

 females and 29 adult males/100 females. Data from hunter 

 checking stations and post-season questionnaires indicated 

 that 250-350 mule deer may have been harvested from the study 

 area. An estimated 791 mule deer were harvested from the 

 northern end of the county, with much of the pressure directed 

 toward the vicinity of the study area. 



1953 - "Due to favorable weather conditions during the spring 



and early summer, grasses, weeds, herbaceous plants, 

 trees, and shrubs all made an excellent growth." ... 



374 



