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[moderator]

February 2004 Feature Article:

Where have our mule deer gone?

Please use this area to post comments or questions about this feature article.

[bitmasher]

It seems the mature buck hypothesis could be easily tested in "trophy" game units; those managed to have mature bucks. If the "mature bucks create early breeding" theory is correct the mortality rate of mule deer should be noticably lower in those units.

A case in point would be CO's unit 201 in comparision to surrounding units. Anybody know of online mule deer mortality rates by unit over time?

[Quicksilver]

These areas, like 201, that have mature bucks could be directly linked to, how much food is in the area, and how likely the bucks are to roam from heavy cover, to other areas that are more open, and can be easily viewed.

Bit, Mortality rate would be hard to determine, from area to area, since I rarely see a buck keel over because of age in the field.

Maybe some connection, other than mortality, like maybe birth rates could make a more distinct connection, to increase and decrease in Big Buck populations.

[ This Message was edited by: Quicksilver on 2004-03-07 13:13 ]

[bitmasher]

I was referring to "newborn" mortality, meaning how many of the new borns survive to the next year in a given population.

What they do to determine this they sample a large enough group of newborns and attach radio collars. Then track how many die (and why) in the next year.

Birth rates are good indicators too of general health of the herd, but I was interested in specifically if those born earlier are "more fit" (i.e. they breed more frequently if at all).

[AZThunder]

I won't pretend to know the scientific reasoning or hypothesis as to the declining mule deer herds in the West, but off the cuff, I believe that until the various western states drop their wolf re-introduction programs and increase the depredation to Mt. Lions, the mule deer herds in the west will continue to decline. Add in the effects of recent droughts, and you've formulated a weakened and stressed mule deer population who are unable to achieve adequate fawn survivals. Call me Shallow Hal, but that's my 2 cents on the matter.

AZThunder

[SMARTMARKS]

I think that its a joke about the mules declineing, the facts are right infront of your faces, the fawns are being nocked off by cougers in record numbers and the cats cannot be hunted with out dogs come on, you track one down. lol 20 years ago the cats weren't on a freefore all. untill hounds where prohibited. now there after the last of the heards that are left. there not going to go away untill there food sourses are gone. cougers dont eat elk much at all. there a risk for the cats, elk stomp right down the roads here, to cover ground fast, they dont seem in fear of cougers the heard would stomp them into the ground. unlike the mules that have to fenice around the brushs and hide from the groing numbers of cats. soon to out number the deer. the game people blame this and that there suposted to know what there doing there avoiding the facts and really have there hands tied, hellpless for a way to controll them with the no dog laws, well if its a game of natural selection? and the mules dont make it? Where does mans egornace factor in? then i guess that the'll follow the deer into the past as well, without there food sourses, while you all scratch your heads. and ask us to help, and what would you do about it? its the law thats what needs changed, dont you see this? 20 years ago the problem didnt acure because the cats where not everywhere. Soon we'll all just will have to cougers. hunting with night vision, i guess, Or the predator will not decline untill the starve out like in the days without us screwing it all up so its a matter of what you want all cats, or the wildlife the'll wipe out. maybe wonce all the prey is gone, the'll call us food witch is allready starting to happen. as there has been more lion atacks in the last few years, then the last 100 years, now they warn us, to not hike alone and keep the pets inside, And the cats have only just started to come back , Wait another ten years and see, the people dont want to harm them but when ones seen lurking by the schools o boy its all over the news isn't that what they want? they say where moveing into there territory but face it. theres so many cats, that there being shoved into citys by the bigger toms that force them always closer. there haveing special hunts and extra tags to meet qotas but the dont give info on how many cougers where harvested because they dont kill but only such a small amount of them. And you tell me how they can count them? if theres 40 in there books, in an area, then theres more like 150 out there. unlike mules, that can be counted in there wintering range how do they know whats there? hunters looking for elk or deer dont see them how do they count them? there blowing smoke up our butts. what can i do to save the mules? well when big city votes change laws that dont aply to them and people in the country or hunters are out numbered. then it should be up to the state to do whats right and put it right, before the mules are allmost gone and people and the perffered herds. will the states and government step in? or does it take a few more human lifes? to get the voters scared, and back to the basics? why do you think the pioneers controlled it the way they did? let the old timers do what they know was done for a reason. We should not forget why things where the way they where. common sence should tell us this. Back then they liked the mules, and herds where plentyfull. cant anyone step up and see whats wrong and address it because the ones that voted for these laws dont hunt or even know whats happening, maybe to overturn the power of the vote more maulings will just have to acure to scare the vote back. I think it should not be up to the voters anyway. but up to management, the ones that are supposted to know whats going on. the deer herds need them, and im sure that they would be saveing some human lifes to, its just a mater of time, So before they Do, lets wake up. And hopefully there will still be mules and other game animals saved, that could be set back even further If our help in this matter is not meet. And Soon