"the leaves and seed heads on many species remained 

 green and succulent for a much longer than normal 

 period. " 



[Author's Note:] Reports of widespread deer mortality during 

 late summer and autumn, 1953, especially along the Missouri 

 River, were investigated (Chaffee 1954). Based on more recent 

 information and experience, we believe that the reported 

 mortality during summer and autumn, 1953, represented an 

 outbreak of epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD). During more 

 recent years, mortality from EHD has been mostly confined to 

 white-tailed deer and few mule deer have died. At least some 

 mule deer living near the Missouri River died during late 

 summer and autumn, 1953, but it is unlikely that the outbreak 

 of EHD had a major impact on mule deer populations. 



1954 - "The mule deer population in the areas that have been 



open to hunting, is lower than at any period since 



1949. " 



"All browse species, as well as grasses and weeds, 



made an excellent growth this season. " 



"Game range personnel have seen only 2 Coyotes this 



period. The bobcat population over the entire area is 



believed to be high." (May-Aug. 1954) 



"A total of 6 coyotes were observed on the Game Range 



this period [Sept. -Dec. 1954]. This is the largest 



number recorded in any period report since 1949. 



There have been two complaints of coyote depredation 



on domestic sheep bands running in or adjacent to the 



Game Range this period." 



[Author's Note:] During August, 112 fawns/100 females were 

 observed, and a classification of 684 mule deer during October 

 indicated 94 fawns/100 females. 



1955 - "The latter part of the summer was extremely dry"... 



"Coyotes - This animal is definitely on an increase on 

 the Game Range but are by no means present in alarming 

 numbers . Our personnel have seen as high as four 

 animals in one day. " 



[Author's Note:] During August 1955, 128 fawns/100 females 

 were observed. 



1956 - "When drought conditions occur over a large area as 



they have during the past two seasons, the deer tend 

 to concentrate within a five to six mile strip along 

 the river or reservoir." 



"This movement back to the river breaks was first 

 noticed in locally dry areas late in the fall of 

 1955. " 



375 



