Movements of Mule Deer in Northeastern Nevada

The migratory habits of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in typical basin-and-range country of northeastern Nevada were studied for 6 years, 1955-60. In all, 789 deer were marked, 438 with bells, on 12 different winter ranges. Sightings and kill returns indicated that individual deer tended to return each year to the same winter and summer ranges. Often, deer wintering together scattered widely to different summer ranges, and deer on a particular summer range often moved to widely separated winter ranges. Many migrating deer traveled far past potential destinations; some fall migrants bypassed winter ranges 5 or 10 miles distant, and moved 80 or 90 miles farther. Migrants from other ranges did the same, only in opposite directions, thus forming a crisscross migration. There appeared to be little topographic orientation with respect to major drainages and mountain ranges. Management implications of the scattered, crisscross migrations are discussed. The objective of this study was to trace the migratory movements of mule deer in northeastern Nevada from points of winter concentration to summer ranges scattered throughout the higher elevations of the reigon. The findings presented are based on over 300 reports, observations, and kills of marked animals. From 1955 to 1960, 789 deer were trapped and marked on 12 winter ranges. The study area was within the Owyhee Game Management District, an administrative unit of 18,000 square miles, which encompasses the best deer ranges of Nevada. Nearly half of the deer kill in the state occurs in this district. The topography of the study area is typical of basin-and-range country. South of the Humboldt River some of the northsouth ranges rise above 10,000 feet, the intervening basins vary in elevation from 5,500 to 6,000 feet. There is less regularity of pattern north of the river; the area is hilly with elevations between 6,000 and 7,500 feet. Higher areas of from 8,500 to 1Present address: U. S. Forest Service, Elko, Nevada. This content downloaded from 157.55.39.180 on Sat, 27 Aug 2016 06:00:37 UTC All use subject to http://about.jstor.org/terms MOVEMENTS OF MULE DEER * Gruell and Papez 415