Relationship of mule deer to livestock on summer range in the Pryor Mountains, Montana
by John Edgar Firebaugh
A thesis submitted to the Graduate Faculty in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of
MASTER OF SCIENCE in Fish and Wildlife Management
Montana State University
© Copyright by John Edgar Firebaugh (1969)
Abstract:
A study was conducted in the Pryor Mountains of south-central Montana during the summers of 1967
and 1968 to obtain quantitative data on distribution, food habits, and range relations of mule deer and
cattle on the summer range., Physical condition and productivity of the deer were also studied. The
previous history of livestock grazing on the area was reviewed. The physiography and vegetation of the
study area were described. The vegetation was described as constituting three zones: the
Fescue-Wheatgrass, Douglas-fir, and Spruce-Fir. Canopy coverages and frequencies of occurrence of
various low-growing plant species were determined for most of the types and subtypes within each
zone by quantitative measurements. Distribution of mule deer for both summers was determined by
1,152 observations during 129 observation trips. Eighty-one percent of the total deer observations were
in the Douglas-fir Zone. The Fescue-Wheatgrass and Spruce-Fir Zones received light use by deer.
Fifty-seven percent of the total cattle observations were on the Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone. The
Douglas-fir Zone received the least amount of use by cattle. Deer food habits were determined by
examination of 70 feeding sites during the summers of 1967 and 1968. Forbs composed 89 percent of
the total summer diet while browse and grasses formed 10 and 1 percent, respectively. Use of forbs
decreased from June to September while use of browse increased. Eighty-three percent of the mule deer
feeding sites were located in the Douglas-fir Zone. Cattle food habits were evaluated by examination of
59 feeding sites. Grasses and grass-like plants constituted 71 percent of the diet. Forbs and browse
composed 28 and 1 percent of the diet, respectively. Use on grasses and grass-like plants increased
from 56 percent in July to 90 percent in September as forbs became desiccated. Utilization of forbs
decreased from 42 to 9 percent during this same period. The majority of cattle feeding sites were
located in the Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone. Forage utilization by cattle was determined by use of
agronomy cages, exclosures, and grazed plant transects. Utilization was found to be heavy in several
areas. Hog-dressed weights of hunter-killed mule deer were lower than those of certain other studies.
Classification of 1,152 deer by age and sex revealed low fawn:doe ratios of 54 and 32 fawns per 100
does for the summers of 1967 and 1968, respectively. There was little overlap of range use and little
direct competition for food between mule deer and cattle. , Taraxacum laevigatum was the only plant
species used substantially by both. Distribution and numbers of cattle appeared to limit the distribution
of deer mainly to the Douglas-fir Zone.
This limitation of range use possibly accounted for the lower productivity of deer. R E L A T IONSHP OF MULE DEER TO L I V ESTOCK ON SUMM E R
RANGE IN THE PRYOR MOUNTAINS, MONTANA
by
JOHN EDGAR FIREBAUGH
A thesis submitted to the Gr a d u a t e Faculty in partial
fulfillment of the requirements fo r the degree
of
M A S T E R OF SCIENCE
in
Fish and Wildlife Manag e m e n t
Approved:
CC h a i rman, Examining Committe
G r a d u a t e ' D^Sn
M O N T A N A STATE UNIVERSITY
Bozeman, Montana
June, 1969
ill
ACKNOWL E D G M E N T
To the following, among others, the author wishes to express ap­
preciation for their contributions to this study:
Dr„ Don Co Quimby,
Montana State University, who directed the study and aided in prepara­
tion of the manuscript; Mr. Thomas Mussehl, Montana Fish and Game De­
partment, for project planning; Mr= Fletcher Newby, Mr. Arnold Foss
and other personnel.of District 5, Montana Fish and Game Department,
for advice, field assistance, and cooperation; Mr. Gary P. Wetzsteori,
District Ranger, Mr. Gwen D. McKittrick, Range Technician, and other
personnel of the Custer National Forest for assistance and use of
facilities; Mr. Dean Bibles, District Manager, and other staff of the
Bureau of Land Management for cooperation and assistance; Glenn
Erickson, student assistant, for field assistance; Dr. W. E. Booth,
Montana State University, for aid in identification of plant speci­
mens; Dr. Robert L= Eng and Dr. Richard J. Graham, Montana State
University, for critical reading of the manuscript.
The author was
supported by the Montana Fish and Game Department under Federal Aid
Projects W-75-R-13, W-75-R-14, and W-98-R-8 and W-98-R-9.
iv
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Page
ACK N O W L E D G M E N T .»„ „. „ = „ = „ =«
e o o o o o o o e e e c o o o c e o f i
ii
o c o o o o o e o e e o o o e o e o o
ill
TABLE OF CONTENTS .........
iv
LIST OF TABLES ............
C-O O Q
o ' o « © o o o o o o o a i > o o
vi
LIST O F i FIGURES ...........
o o o o o ' o o o :o o e e o e o o e # «
vii
ABSTRACT
o e o o o o o e e e o o e e o o e o o
viii
INTRODUCTI ON ...............
o o o c o o o o o o e o e o o e e o o
I
DESCRIPTIO N OF STUDY A R E A .
c e o o o e o o e e e e e o o c e o o
3
METHODS
o o o o o o o e o o c o o o o o o o e
5
e . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
. . C O . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
V G Q G t d t l O r i
o t i o o c o O o o o . o c c o o o o o o e o
Animal D i s tributi on ............
Food H a b i ts ...........o........
Forage Uti Iization .............
Mule Deer Physical Condition and Productivi ty .
5
5
5
6
7
8
RESULTS .
V e g e t a t i on .....o...................... ........
FESCUE-mEATGRASS ZONE ...................
Fesaue-Wheatgrass Type ..............
Eageltrush Type ...............u......
Aspen IType ........o.................
DOUGEAS—FTR ZONE .....................o...
Dougtas-fir Type ....................
Lodgepote Fine Type .................
Logged Ctear-Cut Type ...............
Sagebrush PaPk Type .................
ENGELMAJtN SPRUCE-SUBALPINE .FIR ZONE ......
Spruoe-Fvr Type ...,.......o.
Fescue-Sedge Park Type ...............
Sagebrush-Fescue Park Type ..........
Open Sedge Grasstand Type ...........
8
8
8
13
13
16
16
16
16
17
19
19
19
19
19
V
T A B L E OF CONTENTS
(continued)
Page
Range Use and Distribution
23
23
26
MULE DEER . . . . . . . .
CATTLE 0 . 0 0 0 0 . 0 0 0 0 0 0 9
Food Hab11s
o o o o o
. . o . o o o o o o o o o o o
MULE DEER ooooo.ooooo.
Monthly Use .»...
Vegetat-Lon Zones
CATTLE 00000000.000000
Monthly Use .....
Vegetation Zones
o' o o o o o o c o o e o o o o o o o o '
0 0 0 0 0 0 0 * 0 0 0
*'0
0 0 0
*0
* 0 0 0 0 0
• * 0 <* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 * 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
0 0 0 * 0 0 0 0 0 0
o' 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 * 0
o o o o o o o o o o o o o * o o o o * * ' o o _ o o
Forage U t i Iization .............
41
41
43
CROOKED CREEK ALLOTMENT ...
MYSTIC ALLOTMENT ..........
Mule Deer Physical Condition and Productivi ty
45
45
46
PHYSICAL CONDITION,.....................
P*RODU CTT VJLT Y ... OOO...... .0000900. 0.0.00
DlSCUSSl On
48
00.0000000000
APP E N D I X .
LITERATURE C ITED ........
31
31
31
35
36
36
39
O O O O O O
O O o' O O O
OOOOOOO
50
54
vi
LIST OF TABLES
Table
Io
. Page
P E R C E N T C A N O P Y C O V E R A G E A N D F R E Q U E N C Y O F ■L O W - G R O W I N G
T A X A F O R V E G E T A T I O N T Y P E S AS D E T E R M I N E D B Y E X A M I N A T I O N OF
TWENTY
Ho
2 X 5
IVo
V.
O N E A C H O F 27 S I T E S
24
P E R C E N T O F T O T A L C A T T L E O B S E R V A T I O N S F O R T H E S U M M E R O F 196 8
B Y M O N T H F O R E A C H V E G E T A T I O N Z O N E , T Y P E , A N D S U B T Y P E .......
27
CATTLE STOCKING RATES ON THE CROOKED CREEK A N D MY S T I C
A L L O T M E N T S I N 196 7 A N D 1 9 6 8 ................................
29
P E R C E N T OF M U L E D E E R D I E T O F V A R I O U S P L A N T S P E C I E S B Y M O N T H •
A N D V E G E T A T I O N Z O N E AS D E T E R M I N E D B Y E X A M I N A T I O N O F 70
OF 1967 A N D
H
>
CLOSURES.
DURING THE
SUMMERS
OF
1967 A N D
U S E OF FESTUCA I D M O E F SIS W A S
GRAZED PLANT METHOD
@0
o'* 0
0 * 0 0 0 0
AVERAGE H O G - D R E S S E D WEIGHT,
BY
0 0 0
1968
*0
..........
0 0
0 0 0
*0 *0
0
* 0.
42
OF
45
SEX A N D AGE CLASS OF M U L E D E E R FROM FIELD OBSERVATIONS
D U R I N G T H E S U M M E R S O F 1967 A N D 1 9 6 8 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
47
T AXA W IT H LESS THAN
I PERCENT CANOPY
T A X A OCCURRING AT LEVELS
A ND VEGETATION ZONE
XIIo
37
......................
COVERAGE IN ANY
V E G E T A T I O N TYPE O R SUBTYPE AS DE T E R M I N E D BY EXAMINATION
O F T W E N T Y 2 X 5 D E C I M E T E R P L O T S O N E A C H O F 27 S I T E S . . . . . . . . .
XI.
32
DETERMINED BY
* 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
S E X A N D A G E CLASS,
48 M U L E D E E R F R O M T H E P R Y O R M O U N T A I N S
Xo
...........
FORAGE UTILIZATION BY CATTLE ON THE CROOKED CREEK A N D MYSTIC
ALLOTMENTS AS D E T E R M I N E D BY USE OF AGRONOMY CAGES A N D E X ­
THE
IXo
1968
P E R C E N T O F C A T T L E D I E T OF V A R I O U S P L A N T S P E C I E S B Y M O N T H
A N D V E G E T A T I O N Z O N E A S D E T E R M I N E D B Y E X A M I N A T I O N O F 59
FEEDING SITES
VIIIo
9
oooooooooo'oooooooooooooooooooooooo.ooooooooooooo
FEED I N G SITES DU R I N G THE SUMMERS
VIIo
.........
P E R C E N T OF T O T A L D E E R O B S E R V A T I O N S F O R THE SUMM E R S OF
1967 A N D 1 9 6 8 B Y M O N T H F O R E A C H V E G E T A T I O N Z O N E , T Y P E ,
AND SUBTYP E
IHo
DECIMETER PLOTS
OF LESS
THAN
IN THE S U M M E R DIET
51
I PERCENT BY MONTH
OF M U L E
DEER
........
52
T A X A O C C U R R I N G AT LEVELS OF LESS T H A N I P E R C E N T BY M O N T H
AN D V E G E T A T I O N Z O N E IN T H E S U M M E R D I E T OF CATTLE ...........
53
vii
LIST OF FIGURES
Figure
Io
Page
ap O f t»tle S t ud^7 ar ea
o e o o o o o o e e o e o o o o ' o o o o o e o o o o e o o o o e e c e e
4
2o
Fescue-Wheatgrass Type.in the Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone ....
12
3»
Sagebrush Type (Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype) in the
FeSCUe—WheatgraSS Zone ooeooo. ooooeoocoeoeo oo eoooeoooeeocoo
14
Sagebrush Type (Sprayed■Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype) in
the FeSCUe—WheatgraSS Zone oeoooeooooe eeeoeo*eoo#eoooee«o
14
5=
Aspen Type in the Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone .................
15
6.
Logged Clear-Cut Type of the Douglas-fir Zone with the
Douglas-fir Type in the background .......................
15
Sagebrush Park Type (Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype) in the
Douglas-fxr Zone ........o........................■. .......
18
Sagebrush Park Type (Sprayed Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype)
in the Douglas-fxr Zone ...o..............................
18
Fescue-Sedge Park Type in the Spruce-Fir Zone with the
Spruce-Fir Type in the background ........................
20
10.
Sagebrush-Fescue Park Type in the Spruce-Fir Zone ........
20
11.
Open Sedge Grassland Type in the Spruce-Fir Zone ..........
21
12.
Study Area showing areas of deer and cattle concentrations
and the Crooked Creek and Mystic Allotments ..............
25
Erosion occurring on the Mystic Allotment in the
Spruce-Fxr Zone ................o.........................
30
Contour furrowing by the Forest Service for prevention
of erosion in the Spruce-Fir Zone .........................
30
Percent grasses, forbs, and browse occurring in the
diets of mule deer and cattle as determined from
examination of feeding sites during the summers of
1967 and 1968 ...............................o............
34
4.
7.
8.
9.
13.
14.
15.
A B STRACT A study was conducted in the Pryor Mountains of south-central Mon­
tana during the summers of 1967 and 1968 to obtain quantitative data on
distribution, food habits, and range relations of mule deer and cattle
on the summer range„ Physical condition and productivity of the deer
were also studied. The previous history of livestock grazing on the
area was reviewed. The physiography and vegetation of the study area
were described. The vegetation w a s •described as constituting three
zones: the Fescue-Wheatgrass, Douglas-fir, and Spruce-Fir.
Canopy
coverages and frequencies of occurrence of various low-growing plant
species were determined for most of the types and subtypes within each
zone by quantitative measurements, Distribution of mule deer for b o t h ■
summers was determined by 1,152 observations during 129 observation
trips.
Eighty-one percent of the total deer observations were in the.
Douglas-fir Zone. The Fescue-Wheatgrass and Spruce-Fir Zones received
light use by deer. Fifty-seven percent of the total cattle observa­
tions were on the Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone. The Douglas-fir Zone re­
ceived the least amount of use by cattle.
Deer food habits were
determined by examination of 70 feeding sites during the summers of
1967 and 1968. Forbs composed 89 percent of the total summer diet
while browse and grasses formed 10 and I percent, respectively. Use
of forbs decreased from June to September while use of browse increased.
Eighty-three percent of the mule deer feeding sites were located in the
Douglas-fir Zone.
Cattle food habits were evaluated by examination of
59 feeding sites. Grasses and grass-like plants constituted 71 per­
cent of the diet. Forbs and browse composed 28 and I percent of t h e .
diet, respectively. ■ Use on grasses and grass-like plants increased■
from 56 percent in July to 90 percent in September as forbs became,
desiccated.
Utilization of forbs decreased from 42.to 9 percent dur­
ing this same period. . The majority of cattle feeding sites were lo­
cated in the Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone. Forage utilization by cattle
was determined by use of agronomy cages, exclosures, .and grazed plant
transects. Utilization was found to be heavy in several areas. Hogdressed weights of hunter-killed mule deer were lower than those .of
certain other studies.
Classification of 1,152 deer by age and sex
revealed low fawn:doe ratios of 54 and 32 fawns per 100 does for the
summers of 1967 and 1968, respectively.
There.was little overlap of
range use and little direct competition for food between mule deer
and cattle. , Taraxacum Zaevigatum was the only plant species used
substantially by both. Distribution a n d .numbers of cattle appeared
to limit the distribution of deer mainly to the Douglas-fir Zone.
This limitation of range use possibly accounted for the lower
productivity of deer.
INTRODUCTION
Observations of mule deer (Odoco-ileus hemionus) and of summer ranges
in the Pryor Mountains of south-central Montana by members of the Montana
Fish and Game Department prior to 1967 suggested that both the deer popu­
lation and the range were in below average condition.
doe ratios suggested poor reproductive performance.
Low observed fawn:
Weights obtained at
hunter checking stations and field observations indicated below normal
weightso
Certain personnel of the Fish and Game Department believed
that these unfavorable conditions were partially a result of competition
from livestock which heavily grazed the summer range.
Heavy grazing by sheep and cattle in the past resulted in loss of
topsoil in certain areas and deterioration of this summer range.
The
magnitude of this deterioration is attested by recent range renovation
practices such as contour furrowing by the U. S„ Forest Service.
Forest
Service records show that the study area and adjacent lands were heavily
grazed by numerous bands of sheep in the early 1900's.
The Forest Ser­
vice has controlled grazing in the Crooked Creek Allotment since 1926
when grazing permits were first issued.
The other Federal agency in­
volved in the administration of these lands is the Bureau of Land Man­
agement.
Their records indicate that from 1936-1945, between 400 and
1,400 sheep grazed on the Mystic Allotment for 2 to 6 months of the
year (Bibles 1968).
The sheep were replaced by cattle in 1946.
Cattle
numbers have since varied from 100 to 200 for 3 to 5 months during the
year.
-2-
This study was conducted in the Pryor Mountains during the summers
of 1967 and 1968=
Part time work was carried out. in the fall of 1968<,
The objectives were to obtain quantitative data on distribution, food
habits, and range relations of deer and livestock on the summer.range.
Mule deer reproduction and body condition were also studied.
DESCRIPTIO N OF THE STUDY AREA
The Pryor Mountain Range, located about 40 miles south of Billings,
extends generally in an east-west direction.
21 miles long and 10 to 18 miles wide.
The range is approximately
The southern and western slopes
gradually rise in elevation from the 4,500-5,000-foot surrounding plains
to the highest point in the range, 8,786 feet on Big Pryor Mountain. •
The more abrupt northern and eastern slopes rise from 1,000-3,000 feet
above the plains.
Many deep, timbered canyons have been cut by drain­
ages .thorough the soft, underlying limestone formations.
The study area (Figure I) comprises approximately 36 square miles
of the eastern one-third of the Pryor Mountains.
It is characterized
by ridges which are open on top and timbered on the sides, large ex­
panses of open grassland, and steep, timbered canyons.
The heads of
Sage Creek, Dry Head Creek, and the Dry Head Overlook Cliffs bounded
the study area on the north while the east was bounded by the sheer
cliffs which slope down to the Big Horn River canyon.
The southern
border was an indefinite line about 2 miles north of the Custer National
Forest boundary, and the Big Pryor Mountain ridgeline bordered the area
on the west.
Climatological data were taken at the Sage Creek Ranger Station lo­
cated 7 miles west of the study area at an elevation of 5,675 feet.
The
mean monthly temperature and precipitation for June through September of
1967 and 1968 were 60.I0F. and 2.68 inches, respectively (USDA, Forest
Service, 1967-1968).
The month of June received the heaviest amount of
moisture with an average of 6.27 inches for the two summers.
LtEfNB
FE SC llE-W H E AT tR A SS ZONE— % %
,V1O U N T A
I
Figure I.
Map of the study area.
METHODS
Vegetation
Plants were collected from the study area and classified to aid in
identification of the various species comprising the vegetation types»
Scientific and. common names of the plants are from .Booth (1950) and
Booth and Wright (1959)0
Classification of vegetation into zones, types and subtypes was
influenced by Daubenmire (1946)=
2 x 5
The vegetation in at least twenty
decimeter plots with ten paces between were evaluated on each
type and subtype to determine canopy coverages and frequencies of the
various low-growing species, following the method of Daubenmire (1959).
AnimaT Di s tri b uti on
Deer and.cattle were observed along each of three routes through
the study area from a.4-wheel drive vehicle or on foot.
nocular and a 25 X spotting scope.aided in observations„
bility limited observations in certain areas.
A 7 x 35 bi­
Inaccessa-
Animals were recorded
as to vegetation zone, type, and subtype, as well as by location on a
grid map of the study area.
Food Habits
Mule deer and cattle food habits were determined by examination of
feeding sites as soon after the animals had vacated the area as prac­
ticable.
All recent instances of plant use were recorded by species at
each feeding site.
One bite was considered one instance of use as de-
-6-
scribed by Knowlton (1960) and others„
The number of instances of use
for each species was computed as a percentage of the total for each
feeding site=
The aggregate percentage method (Martin e* a£= 1946)
was then used to tabulate the data by vegetation zones and months =
Vegetation within ten 2 x 5
decimeter frames was evaluated on each
feeding site to determine canopy coverage and frequency of each species
present=
The abundance of these plants in the community as measured
by canopy coverage was compared to the percent of each species in the
diet to determine food preferences.
Forage Utilizatio n
Forage utilization was evaluated through the use of agronomy cages,
exclosures, and the grazed plant method.
Agronomy cages were placed in
specific locations on the summer range prior to cattle use to protect
the vegetation from grazing=
Two previously constructed "permanent"
exclosures were also located on the study area.
After cattle were re­
moved in the fall, the vegetation was clipped from five =96 square feet,
circular plots located inside and from five located outside each cage
and exclosure=
This vegetation was then air dried, separated to
grasses and forbs, and weighed to the nearest gram.
Weights for vege­
tation from protected and unprotected plots were compared.
These
samples were converted to pounds per acre to determine percent
utilization by cattle on the range.
Percent utilization was also determined for most of these same
— 7—
areas by use of the grazed plant method«
One hundred bunchgrass plants
on a paced transect were examined to determine if they were grazed.
The only bunchgrass species occurring in abundance was Idaho fescue
(Festuoa 'Ldahoens-is') „
A conversion chart (Cole 1963) was used to ex­
press the percent of grazed plants as the percent utilization.
Mule Deer Physical Condition and Productivi ty
Hunter checking stations were operated during the regular and late
deer seasons each fall to determine the sex and to obtain weights and
lower jaws of deer killed.
Direct observations on the study area were
also an indication of the physical condition of these deer.
Produc­
tivity was determined by classification of deer to age and sex to ob­
tain sex ratios and fawn:doe ratios.
The reproductive tracts of six
hunter-killed females were collected for examination.
RESULTS
Vegetation
The vegetation within the study area was divided into three major
zones„
These zones were the Fescue (Festuoa icZafooensis)-Wheatgrass
(,Agropyron spp,) Zone, the Douglas-fir (Pseudotsnga menziesH) Zone,
and.the Engelmann spruce (P%cea engeImanni)-Subalpine fir (Abies Zasiooaapia) Zone (Figure I) .
The species composition of low-growing vege­
tation of the major types and subtypes within each of these zones as
determined by quantitative measurements is shown in Table I,
General
observations were used to evaluate the vegetation in the following
types and subtypes: Aspen Type, Douglas-fir Type, Lodgepole pine Type,
Logged Clear-Cut Type, Sagebrush-Bluegrass Subtype, Sagebrush-Junipet
Subtype, and the Spruce-Fir Type0
FESCUE-WHEATGRASS ZONE
This was the only grassland zone.represented in the study area.
It was found at elevations of 6,200 to 8,000 feet and was divided
into three types.
Fescue-Wheatgrass Type:
This type (Figure 2) was dominated by
Idaho fescue (Festuoa idahoensis) and thickspike wheatgrass (Agropyron
dasystaohyum)o
Other locally important grasses present were bluebunch•
wheatgrass (Agropyron spioatum), Junegrass (Koeleria oristata), and
bluegrass (Poa spp„).
Common forbs were field chickweed (Cerastium
OJ3Vense), yarrow (Aohittea miZZefoZium) , and bedstraw (Galium spp.). .
Although not sampled on the specific sites, sticky geranium (Geranium
TABLE I.
PERCENT CANOPY COVERAGE AND FREQUENCY OF LOW-GROWING TAXA FOR VEGETATION TYPES AS DETERMINED BY EXAMINATION OF TWENTY
2 X 5 DECIMETER PLOTS ON EACH OF 27 SITES.
Taxa^
GRASS AND GRASS-LIKE PLANTS
Agropyron dasystachyum
Agropyron smithii
Agropyron spieatwi
Agropyron spp.
Bromus marginatus
Carex eleocharis
Carex spp.
Danthonia intermedia
Festusa idahoensis
Hesperoahloa kingii
Koeleria oristata
Melioa spectabilis
Phleum alpinum
Poa spp.
Stipa spp.
Fescue-WheatRrass Zone
Sagebrush Type
SagebrushSprayed^/
FescueS ag ebrush-Fescue
Fescue
ieatgrass
3 sites
2 sites
5 sites
10/44— ^
2/13
5/33
2/15
5/33
-
-
-
1/5
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1/8
1/5
1/12
1/17
-
1/22
-
-
-
21/84
24/87
-
-
13/63
1/8
-
-
4/48
PouRlas-fir Zone
Sagebrush Park Type .
Sprayedf.'
SagebrushSagebrush-Fescue
Fescue
4 sites
2 sites
-
-
-
-
1/13
-
1/20
1/15
-
4/39
1/18
16/80
-
13/78
2/23
-
6/48
1/17
2/8
8/46
3/19
1/5
2/22
-
1/8
-
-
19/95
1/3
1/20
-
17/90
2/23
-
5/50
1/5
1/5
1/8
-
-
-
4/25
1/5
3/24
-
-
-
1/23
-
4/29
7/50
2/23
17/80
-
5/37
-
Open
Sagebrush- Sedge
Fescue
Grassland
3 sites
2 sites
-
-
1/3
*
FescueSedge
6 sites
1/5
-
4/45
~
Spruce-Fir Zone
2/35
4/53
3/35
1/3
19/97
-
-
1/14
-
2/27
-
1/4
1/18
~
-
1/12
1/10
-
2/30
-
-
FORBS
Achillea millefolium
Agoseris glauoa
Anemone patens
Antennaria parvifolia
Antennaria rosea
Arnica cordifolia
Arnica sororia
Astragalus miser
Astragalus spp.
-
-
1/3
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
3/34
3/24
1/25
1/5
1/12
-
-
2/9
2/11
1/5
-
1/4
6/65
-
6/33
-
1/10
11/72
2/10
1/11
-
1/8
-
3/18
1/9
1/12
*
11/65
9/60
-
1/7
-
1/3
1/7
_
2/18
2/20
-
1/25
-
1/15
2/38
I
I
to
TABLE I.
(CONTINUED).
axa
Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone
Douglas--fir Zone
Sagebrush Type
Sagebrush Park Type
SagebrushSagebrushSprayed
Sprayed
FescueSagebrush-Fescue
Fescue
Sagebrush-Fescue
Fescue
Wheatgrass
4 sites
2 sites
2 sites
3 sites
5 sites
Spruce-Fir Zone
FescueSedge
6 sites
SagebrushFescue
3 sites
Open
Sedge
Grassland
2 sites
3RBS (continued)
Balsamorrhiza inoana
Balsamorrhiza sagittata
Campanula rotundifolia
Castilleja lutescens
Cerastium arvense
Cirsium undulatum
Clematis hirsutissima
Delphinium bieolor
Dodeeatheon eonjugens
Erigeron speaiosus
Eriogonum umbellatwi
Fragaria virginiana
Galium spp.
Geranium viseossissimm
Geum triflorum
Lithophragma parviflora
Lomatium montanum
Lupinus polyphyllus
Myosotis syIvatica
Oxytropis serieea
Perideridia gairdneri
Phlox spp.
Polygonum bistortoides
Potentilla gracilis
Seneeio spp.
Taraxaeum laevigatum
Tounsendia parryi
Valeriana dioiea
Viola praemorsa
Zygadenus elegans
2/9
-
1/6
-
5/40
1/5
-
3/17
1/3
5/48
1/10
-
-
1/9
2/9
1/6
-
-
-
-
4/53
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1/5
-
4/25
2/17
-
-
1/3
1/3
1/5
-
6/38
5/28
-
3/17
1/7
4/15
-
1/9
1/2
8/32
2/13
4/20
-
-
-
~
-
-
2/21
-
13/53
-
-
-
2/28
-
2/43
-
5/42
-
-
-
-
-
-
3/36
1/6
-
2/6
-
4/28
1/4
-
2/18
1/16
6/34
-
1/8
-
3/20
-
3/10
10/53
4/12
-
1/5
-
1/9
1/12
1/6
1/4
-
11/61
1/5
1/19
-
4/43
1/13
4/41
2/26
1/20
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
1/13
-
1/6
1/10
-
-
4/33
1/8
-
1/12
-
7/41
5/64
2/23
-
3/22
-
-
-
-
1/15
2/23
-
-
-
-
-
2/18
3/15
-
3/22
2/12
3/20
5/35
-
-
2/30
-
1/7
-
-
5/27
-
1/13
-
1/8
-
1/5
3/22
-
-
1/8
-
1/5
-
17/87
1/20
-
3/20
-
6/55
TABLE I.
(CONTINUED).
Eescue-Wheatgrass Zone________________________ Douglas-fir Zone_________________ Spruce-Fir Zone
Sagebrush Type___________________ Sagebrush Park Type______
Open
Sprayed
SagebrushSprayed
FescueSagebrushFescueSagebrushSedge
Fescue
S ag eb rush-Fes cue Sedge
Wheatgrass
Fescue
S agebrush-Fescue
Fescue
Grassland
2 sites
3 sites
4 sites
6 sites
2 sites
5 sites
3 sites
2 sites
Taxa
SHRUBS
Artemisia tridentatadive)
Artemisia tridentata(&es&) Juniperus horizontalis
1/3
Potentilla fruticosa
1/2
Rosa spp.
Sumphorioarpos atbus
BARE
ROCK
I/
GROUND
11/77
3/33
23/72
-
9/60
1/15
4/53
13/17
-
2/15
6/48
1/5
10/55
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
18/58
5/21
13/73
1/13
1/5
8/63
9/73
-
27/72
-
7/45
1/10
Includes only those taxa with mean canopy coverage values of I percent or more for at least one vegetation type.
listed in Appendix Table X.
2/ Sprayed with 2, 4-D in 1960 for the control of sagebrush.
3/ Canopy coverage (percent of area covered by vegetation)/average frequency (percent occurrence among plots).
4/18
13/93
14/88
Others are
H
hI
-12-
Figure 2t
Fescue-Wheatgrass Type in the Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone.
-13-
visoossissimum) and yampa (,Perideridia gairdneri) were prevalent in more
mesic areaso
Sagebrush Tyipe:
A majority of the sagebrush type in the Fescue-
Wheatgrass Zone was sprayed with 2, 4-D in 1960 by the Forest Service to
control big sagebrush (Artemisia tridentata) =
Some live sagebrush re­
mained near stands of Douglas-fir and lodgepole pine (Sinus contorta) in
the ecotone between the Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone and the Douglas-fir Zone,
This type was divided into two subtypes: the Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype
(Figure 3) and the Sprayed Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype (Figure 4),
The
Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype was dominated by big sagebrush and Idaho fescue.
Major forbs included phlox (Phlox spp,), Washington lupine (Lupinus polyphyltus), yarrow, field chickweed, Oregon fleabane (Erigeron speoiosus),
and prairiesmoke (Geum triflorim)„
The Sprayed Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype
was also dominated by big sagebrush, although a majority of the plants
were dead.
present,
Common snowberry (Symphorioarpos albus) was another shrub
Idaho fescue, thickspike wheatgrass, and bluegrass were im­
portant grasses.
Prevalent forbs were yarrow, bedstraw, sticky geranium,
field chickweed, and yampa.
Aspen Type:
This type (Figure 5) occurred in dense stands but w a s •
limited to a few mesic slopes of some drainages.
tremuloides) was the dominant overstory.
Quaking aspen (Populus
Rose (Rosa spp.), b luegrass,
sedge {Carex spp.), and smooth dandelion (Taraxacum laevigation) were
important understory plants.
-14-
Figure 3
Sagebrush Type (Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype) in the FescueWheatgrass Zone.
Figure 4
Sagebrush Type (Sprayed Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype)
Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone.
in the
-15-
Figure 5
Aspen Type in the Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone,
Figure 6
Logged Clear-Cut Type of the Douglas-fIr Zone with the
Douglas-fir Type in the background.
-16-
DOUGLAS-FIR ZONE
This was the major timber zone in the study area.
from 6,000 to 7,800 feet.
It was dominant
The vegetation was described as constituting
four.types and four subtypes.
Douglas-fi-T Type:
Zone.
This type (Figure 6) dominated the Douglas-fir
Scattered among the Douglas-fir were Engelmann spruce and in the
upper limits of the zone an occasional limber pine (,Plnus flexllls).
In
areas where trees were not dense the understory was dominated by common
juniper (Junlpevus communis), sticky geranium, purple onion grass (Melica
spectabilis) , bluegrass, and sedge.
Arrowleaf balsamroot (Balsamowhiza
sagittaba) was prevalent in the drier, more open areas.
The common
understory in the denser stands included elk sedge (Cavex geyevi) , heartleaf arnica (Arnica cordifolia), and Virginia strawberry (Fragaria virginiana).
Important shrubs present were white spiraea (Spiraea
betulifolia) and common snowberry.
Lodgepole Pine Type:
This was a minor type in the Douglas-fir Zone
and appeared to be a serai stage which grew in burns originally occupied
by Douglas-fir.
Elk sedge and heartleaf arnica were the common grass­
like plant and forb understory species, respectively.
Dominant shrubs
included low red huckleberry (Vaccinium scoparium) ■, white spiraea, and ■
Oregon grape (Berberis repens)* ■
Logged Clear-Cut Type:. These clearings (Figure 6) which were among
dense stands of Douglas-fir, were logged during the summers of 1965 and
1966.
Since then a variety of plant species have become established.
-17-
Common grass and grass-like plants included mountain brome (,Bromus mavginatus) and elk sedge.
Heartleaf arnica, smooth dandelion, yarrow,
bedstraw, and mint (Mentha spp.) were dominant forbs.
Important shrubs
present were common snowberry and white spiraea.
Sagehrush Park Type:
The majority of parks in the Douglas-fir
Zone were of a sagebrush type.
They were classified into four subtypes.
The Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype (Figure 7) Was found in most of the smaller
parks which did not receive the spray.
Big sagebrush was the dominant
shrub and common snowberry was also prevalent.
Idaho fescue and sedge
were the dominant grass and grass-like plants, respectively.
Important
forbs included yarrow, Washington lupine, bedstraw, and yampa,
The
Sprayed Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype (Figure 8) occurred in most of the
larger parks in the Douglas-fir Zone which received the spray in 1960.
The dominant shrub was big sagebrush, most of which was dead.
Impor­
tant grasses included Idaho fescue, thickspike wheatgrass, and needlegrass (Stipa spp„).
Bedstraw, yarrow, pasque flower (Anemone patens),
and sticky geranium were the major forbs present.
In the. more mesic
parks of the zone occurred the Sagebrush-Bluegrass Subtype.
the sagebrush had been sprayed.
Big sagebrush was the dominant shrub
while bluegrass was the important grass.
geranium and yampa.
Some of
Common forbs were sticky
The Sagebrush-Juniper Subtype occurred on the
drier, south slopes in the southern portions of the study area.
Big
sagebrush and Rocky Mountain juniper (Juniperus saopulorum) were the
— 18-
Figure 7.
Sagebrush Park Type (Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype) in the
Douglas-fir Zone,
Figure 8„
Sagebrush Park Type (Sprayed Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype) in
the Douglas-fir Zone.
-19-
dominant shrubso
wheatgrass =
Common grasses included Idaho fescue and bluebunch
Lupine was the important forb =
E E G E L M M U SPRUCE-SVBALPIEE FIR ZONE
This zone occurred from approximately 8,000 feet to the highest
elevation on the study area, 8,776 feet.
Four main types were
described.
Spruoe-F-ir Type:
This timber type (Figure 9) was composed of
Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir growing together in small dense
stands separated by open fescue-sedge parks.
Dominant understory in­
cluded sedge, heartleaf arnica, yarrow, and gooseberry (,Ribes spp.)«
Fesoue-Sedge Park Type:
9) in the Spruce-Fir Zone.
This was the dominant park type (Figure
Important grass and grass-like plants in­
cluded Idaho fescue, needleleaf sedge (Cgrex eteocharis) , and other
sedges.
Major forbs were yarrow, prairiesmoke, phlox, field chick-
weed, and western bistort (Polygonum bistortoides) *
Sagebrush-Fescue Park Type:
This type (Figure 10) occurred on
some southern slopes at the heads of drainages.
dominant shrub and Idaho fescue the major grass.
Big sagebrush was the
Yarrow, pale agos-
eris (Agoseris glauoa) , Washington lupine, phlox, and field chickweed
were common forbs.
Open Sedge Grassland Type:
This type (Figure 11) occurred as
large open expanses of grassland on shallow, rocky soils.
Sedges were
the dominant species present with needleleaf sedge the most common.
— 20-
Figure 9 o
Figure 10.
Fescue-Sedge Park Type in the Spruce-Fir Zone with the
Spruce-Fir Type in the background.
Sagebrush-Fescue Park Type in the Spruce-Fir Zone.
-21-
Figure 11
Open Sedge Grassland Type in the Spruce-Fir Zone.
-22-
Import ant forbs included phlox and mountain death camas {Zygadenus
elegans)„. Shrubby cinquefoil (Potentilla frutiaosa) was the major
shrub presento ■
Range Use and Distribution
MULE DEER
During 129 observation trips in the summers of 1967 and 1968, each
of 1,152 observations of deer was recorded according to vegetation zone,
type, and subtype (Table II) as well as location (Figure 12)^
The
greater number of observation trips in July and August apparently ac­
counted for the larger numbers of deer observed during these months.
Adverse weather during September of both years limited., observations „
Eighty-one percent of the total deer observations were in the
Douglas-fir Zone.
The majority of deer were feeding or resting=
half of the observations were recorded,in the Douglas-fir Type.
Nearly
Abun­
dance of succulent fofbs, the major forage class in the summer diet of
the deer (Table V ) , and protection offered by the timber and steep can­
yons were major reasons for the high number of observations.
The Logged
Clear-Cut Type received the second highest use of any vegetation type=
Most of the deer observed were feeding on forbs which were abundant.
The subtypes of the Sagebrush Park Type received similar intensity of
use throughout the summer, except for the Sagebrush-Bluegrass and
Sagebrush-Juniper Subtypes which were limited in occurrence.
The Fescue-Wheatgrass and Spruce-Fir Zones received relatively
light use by deer during the summer.
The 10 percent of total deer ob­
servations recorded for the Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone was distributed quite
evenly among all types except aspen which was limited in occurrence.
No monthly trends were evident.
Most deer observations for the Spruce-
— 24™
TABLE H o
PERCENT OF TOTAL DEER OBSERVATIONS FOR THE SUMMERS OF 1967
AND 1968 BY MONTH FOR EACH VEGETATION ZONE, TYPE, AND SUBTYPE«
Vegetation Type
June
July
August
September Total
F E S C UE-WHE ATGRASS ZONE:
Fescue-Wheatgrass Type
Sagebrush Park Type
Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype
Sprayed Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype
Aspen Type
Fescue-Whe atgrass Zone (Total)
D O UGLAS-FI R ZONE:
Douglas-fir Type
Lodgepole Pine Type
Logged Clear-Cut T ype•
Sagebrush'P^rk Type
Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype
Sprayed Shgebrush-Fescue Subtype
Sagebrush-Bluegrass Subtype
Sagebrush-Juniper Subtype
D o uglas-fi r Zone (Total)
S P R U C E - F I R ZONE:
Spruce-Fir T y p e ■
Fescue-Sedge Park Type
Sagebrush-Fescue Park T y p e .
Open Sedge Grassland Type
S p r u c e - F i r Zone (Total)
tx—
2
2
I
I
tr
2
I
I
2
-
-
-
4
4
-
10
4
tr
I
13
tr
5
16
I
7
6
I.
2
39
2
15
2
3
I
11
5
3
I
27
4
3
2
33
I
tr
tr
10
12
9
4
81
_
tr
4
I
I
tr
-
6
2
I
6
tr
2
I
tr
3
9
tr
tr
-
4
tr
2
4
-
No. Deer Observations
Percent Total Deer Observations
144
13
433
37
451
40
124
10
.1,152
100
No, Observation Trips
Percent Total Observation Trips
15
11
51
40
49
14
11
129
100
38
I/ Indicates less than I percent of the total deer observations.
IEEEKI
CATTLE CONCENTRATIONS—
OEER CONCENTRATIONS- - - - - OEER ANO CATTLE OVERLAP
ALLOTMENT BOUNDARY- - - - - - - FENCE- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - Scale
Figure 12,
Study area showing areas of deer and cattle concentrations and the
Crooked Creek and Mystic Allotments.
-26-
. Fir Zone were in July and August.
Deep snow on the higher areas and on
north slopes until the latter part of June apparently was responsible
for the light usage early in the summer;
Most observations were made in
the Fescue-Sedge Parks where food was available and escape.cover wasoffered by nearby timber stands.
Erosion resulting from past overgraz­
ing by livestock in certain areas of the Spruce-Fir Zone and present
heavy grazing by cattle in both the Spruce-Fir and Fescue-Wheatgrass
Zones have probably limited deer use of these zones.
CATTLE
Cattle observations were recorded to location (Figure•12), vege­
tation zone, type, and subtype during the summer of 1968 (Table I'll).
Two cattle allotments were located in the study area (Figure 12).
The
number of cattle and time spent on each allotment for both years are
shown in Table IV.
The Crooked Creek Cattle,Allotment was located in the FescueWheatgrass and Douglas-fir Zones.
When first placed on this allotment,
cattle concentrated on the drainage bottoms.
The "poison fence", a
drift fence running east of Tibbs Hollow, normally restricted cattle
movements north of this area until August 15 when the gates were opened.
A down fence allowed an exit for cattle into the northern portions of
the Crooked Creek Allotment in July and from the latter part of July
on, there was a gradual movement up from the drainage bottoms onto the
higher slopes of the Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone.
Stevens (1966) reported
I
-27-
TABLE III.
PERCENT OF TOTAL CATTLE OBSERVATIONS FOR THE SUMMER OF 1968
BY MONTH FOR EACH VEGETATION ZONE, TYPE, AND SUBTYPE.
Vegetation Type
July
August
September
Total
FESCUE-WHEATGRASS ZONE:
Fescue-Wheatgrass Type
Sagebrush Park Type
Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype
Sprayed Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype
Aspen Type
6
13
12
31
2
I
8
I
I
8
I
Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone (Total)
DOUGLAS-FI R ZONE:
12
23
22
4
20
2
57
Douglas-fir Type
Lodgepole Pine Type
Logged Clear-Cut Type
Sagebrush Park Type
Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype
Sprayed Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype
Sagebrush-Bluegrass Subtype
Sagebrush-Juniper Subtype
2
tr
-
3
I
-
3
I
tr
8
2
-
tr
2.
I
I
I
tr
-
I
3
I
-
2
6
2
-
5
9
6
20
tr
I
I
2
4
tr
3
I
5
tr
4
I
5
_
8
3
12
9
10
23
1,194
No. Cattle Observations
21
Percent Total Cattle Observations
2,303
41
2,112
5,609
100
13
22
11
46
28
48
24
100
Douglas-fir Zone (Total)
SPRUCE - F I R ZONE:
Spruce-Fir Type
Fescue-Sedge Park Type
Sagebrush-Fescue Park Type
Open Sedge Grassland.Type
Spruce - F i r Zone (Total)
No. Observation Trips
Percent Total Observation Trips
trl/
38
I/ Indicates less than I percent of the total cattle observations„
-28- ■
similar movements for the Crow Creek Drainage, Montana,
By the first
week of August a few cattle had moved up through the Douglas-fir Zone
and out of the allotment into the edges of the Spruce-Fir Zone,
Fifty-seven percent of the total cattle observations were on the
Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone,
The Fescue-Wheatgrass Type received the most,
use of any type in all three vegetation zones, due primarily to the
abundance of grass (Table I) which constituted the greater part of the .
cattle diet (Table VII),
Use on this type occurred mainly in the morn­
ings and evenings, with the mid-days spent resting in the nearby timber,
As cattle moved up from the bottoms during the latter portion of July,
use on the Fescue-Wheatgrass Type and Sprayed Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype
increased for the remainder of the summer due to their greater occurrence
in the northern and upper portions of the allotment.
The Douglas-fir Zone received the least amount of use of the three
vegetation zones.
The majority of use occurred in the Douglas-fir Type,
where cattle were observed resting and occasionally feeding during mid­
day.
The other types and subtypes received little use except for the
Sprayed Sagebrush-Fescue Subtype, where some feeding occurred on the
available grasses,
No monthly trends were evident.
The Mystic .Cattle Allotment was located on Bureau of Land Manage­
ment, State, and private lands in the Spruce-Fir Zone.
Twenty-three
percent of the total cattle observations were located here.
Use increased
from July through September as some cattle from the Crooked Creek Allot-■
-29-
TABLE IVo
CATTLE STOCKING RATES ON THE CROOKED CREEK AND MYSTIC
ALLOTMENTS .TN 1967 AND 1968.
Allotment
Period
Crooked Creek
Mystic
1968
1967
No. Animals
July I-Oct0 15
July 20-Sept. 28
497
190
ment moved up into the Spruce-Fir Zone.
Period
July !-Oct. 15
July lO-Oct. 4
No o Animals
425
150
Use was the heaviest during Au­
gust and September since cattle did not enter the allotment until well
into Julyo
The Open Sedge Grassland Type received the heaviest use.
This was quite evident from the appearance of heavily grazed areas and
erosion occurring in certain locations (Figure 13).
also occurred on some Fescue-Sedge Park Types.
Substantial grazing
In some areas the erosion
has been checked by contour furrowing by the Forest Service (Figure 14).
— 30-
Figure 13c
Erosion occurring on the Mystic Allotment in the Spruce-Fir
Zone c
Figure 14.
Contour furrowing by the Forest Service for prevention of
erosion in the Spruce-Fir Zone.
Food Habits
MULE DEER
A total of 7,540 instances of use were recorded on 70 feeding sites
during the summers of 1967 and 1968 (Table V).
Forbs were the predomiv
nant forage class in the diet constituting 89 percent of the total.
The
remainder consisted of 10 percent browse and I percent grasses (Figure
15).
Smith (1952) in Utah and Wilkins (1957) and Lovaas (1958) in Mon­
tana reported similar findings but with slightly higher browse use.
Scarcity of desirable browse species on the summer range in the Pryor
Mountains was perhaps responsible for the lower percentage of total
browse in the diet.
AvnLca OovdtLfoLrLa3 the most abundant species in the plant communi­
ties sampled at feeding sites, was the major forb.utilized by deer, com­
prising 16 percent of the total diet.
Other important forbs included
Gevanivm viseossissimum3 Tavaxaovm Laevigatvm3 Agosevis giauea3 DeLTphinivm DiooLov3 and BaLsamovvhiza sagittata,
DeLphinivm biooLov and
Gevanivm visoossissimvm appeared to be the most preferred items.
Both
composed a substantial amount of the diet but their occurrence in the
community was limited.
Spivaea DetuLifoLia3 .Ribes spp., and Symphovi-
oavpos aLDvs were the main browse species utilized.
seemed to be a preferred species»
Spivaea DetuLifoLia
Grasses and grass-like plants formed
an insignificant part of the diet.
MonthLy Use:
Use of forbs gradually decreased from 95 percent in
June to 83 percent in September while browse usage increased from 4
TABLE V.
PERCENT OF MULE DEER DIET OF VARIOUS PLANT SPECIES BY MONTH AND VEGETATION ZONE AS
DETERMINED BY EXAMINATION OF 70 FEEDING SITES DURING THE SUMMERS OF 1967 AND 1968,
I/
Taxa-
MONTH
FescueSept.
Aug,
Wheatgrass
June
July
12i sitesj 29 sites 25 sites 3 sites I site
3,098
40
190
2,814
1,438Summer
FORBS:
Agosevis glauca
Anemene patens
Avniaa covdifolia
Balsamovvhisa sagittata
Campanula votundifolia
Delphinium bioolov
Evigevon speaiosus
Eviogonum umbellatum
Gevavium visaossissimum
Geum tviflovum
H e d y s a v m sulphuvesaens
Helianthius nuttallii
Lithophvagma pavviflova
Lomatium montanum
Lupinus polyphyllus
Osmovhiza spp.
Pevidevidia gavvdnevi
Polygonum bistovtoides
Tavaxaoum laevigatum
Tvagopogon dubius
Valeviana dioiaa
Viola pvaemovsa
Mushroom
Unidentified Forbs
8(4)-/
2(1)
16(9)
6(3)
,
Ktr)7(2)
3(1)
2(1)
11(3)
1(2)
2(1)
3(1)
-(-)
-(-)
1(3)
2(1)
4(3)
K U
9(4)
2(tr)
K tr)
1(2)
Ktr)
5(3)
Total Forbs
89
9
11
6
I
I
14
-
23
4
12
2
8
3
-
I
95
4
22
4
13
2
10
I
4
3
4
13
3
I
I
2
12
16
9
I
6
3
7
4
6
2
2
I
6
2
I
8
11
19
3
I
I
34
14
87
86
83
-(6)
45(1)
-(2)
-(-)
-(-)
- (-)
- (-)
-(-)
33(14)
-(-)
-(-)
4(1)
-(-)
-(11)
-(-)
18(14)
-(-)
-(4)
-(-)
-(3)
-(")
-(5)
100
ZONE
Douglas- Sprucefir
Fir
58 sites 11 sites
5,890
1,610
7(3)
2(1)
20(10)
7(4)
Ktr)
4(2)
2(1)
2(1)
12(3)
-(tr)
-(tr)
3(1)
-(tr)
-(tr)
1(3)
2(1)
5(4)
-(tr)
10(5)
2(tr)
-(tr)
1(2)
2(tr)
4(4)
87
12(8)
-d)
-(I)
- (-)
-(tr)
30(4) I
4(4) %
6(3)
4(2)
4(11)
13(4)
11(2)
-(-)
Ktr)
-(2)
Ktr)
-(-)
4(6)
5(4)
-(-)
K-)
-(2)
-(-)
3(3)
99
TABLE V,
(CONTINUED).
Taxa
June
13 sites
Summer 1,438
BROWSE:
Hibes spp,
Rosa spp.
Spiraea betulifolia
Symphorioarpos albus
2(tr)
Htr)
5(2)
2(2)
Total Browse
GRASS AND GRASS-LIKE
PLANTS5/
10
I
3
-
4
ZONE
FescueMONTH
Douglas- SpruceSept.
Wheatgrass
Aug „
July
fir
Fir
29 sites 25 sites 3 sites I site
58 sites 11 sites
3,098
2,814
190
40
5,890
1,610
7
3
2
2
7
2
12
5
-
-(-)
- (-)
-(-)
-(2)
12
13
17
-
2
-
2(tr)
Htr)
6(2)
3(3)
12
-(-)
-(-)
-(-)
I
1(18)
LU
V
I/ Includes only those taxa with a mean value of I percent or more for at least I month or
vegetation zone.
Others are listed in Appendix Table XI.
_2/ Number of instances of use,
3/ Number in parenthesis is the percent of community as determined from measurements of canopy
coverage at each feeding site,
UJ Indicates values less than I percent,
5/ Seven species of grasses and grass-like plants, accumulating to I percent of the total diet,
— were utilized. They include: Agvoipyron spp. , Bromus marginatus, Carex spp. , Melica
Speotabilis3 Phleum alpinum3 Poa spp,, and Stipa spp,
-
1
MULE
DEER
CATTLE
|~] FORBS
Figure 15.
GRASSES
I BROWSE
Percent grasses , forbs, and
browse occurring in the diets
of mule deer and cattle as de­
termined from examination of
feeding sites during the summers
of 1967 and 1968.
-35-
percent in June to 17 percent in September (Table V).
This increased use
of browse was probably due to desiccation of fo.rbs as the summer pro­
gressed.
diet.
GevanyLvm VyLscossyLssimim composed nearly one-quarter of the June
Delphinium Dieolov3 Pevidevidia gaivdnevi3 Anemene patens3 and
Agosevis glauea were also important forbs„
Spivaea betulifolia was the
only browse species utilized in any significance.
During July, as it
became more available, use of Avniea eovdifolia increased to 22 percent
and was the most important species utilized.
Use on Delphiniim bieolov
was similar to that in June while Gevanium viseossissimum3 Anemene patens3
and Pevidevidia gaivdnevi dropped substantially in utilization due mainly
to desiccation.
Three browse species, Ribes spp., Spivaea Detulifolia3
and Symphovieavpos albus3 increased in use from June to July.
During
August Agosevis glauea increased in importance as it remained succulent
longer than most forbs.
July to August.
Usage of most other major forbs decreased from
Browse utilization increased slightly over July.
Al­
though only three feeding sites were examined in September, the trend
of a decrease in forb use and an increase in browse use was apparent.
Smith (1952) showed a similar but more apparent trend.in Utah.
Vegetation Zones:
Eighty-three percent of the deer feeding sites
were located in the Douglas-fir Zone (Table V ) .
Avniea Covdifolia3
Gevanium viseossissimum3 and Tavacsaeum laevigatum were the major forb
species utilized.
the three forbs.
Gevanium viseossissimum was the most preferred of
Spivaea betuli folia was the most important browse
— 36-
species and was utilized out of proportion to its abundance.
Sixteen
percent of the feeding sites were located in the Spruce-Fir Zone.
DeZ-.
iphinium b-icoZor was the most important species utilized and was.highly
preferred.
Other preferred forbs included Hedysarim suZphupeseens and
HeZianthus nuttaZZi-io
Agoseris gZauea was also a major forb in the diet.
There was no observed browse use in this zone due probably to its limited
abundance.
With only one feeding site examined in the Fescue-Wheatgrass
Z o n e .few conclusions could be drawn as to food preferences.
CATTLE
During the summers of 1967 and 1968, a total of 16,220 instances of
use were recorded on 59 cattle feeding sites (Table VI). . Grasses and
grass-like plants constituted 71 percent of the diet (Figure 15)=
Poa
spp. and Carex spp = were the two most important items and both appeared
to be preferred.
Forbs formed 28 percent of the diet with Taraxaeum
Zaevigatim the most important species.
Browse use was insignificant.
No forb appeared to be preferred.
Stevens (1966) found similar forage class
composition in the summer diet of cattle on the Grow Creek Drainage,
Montana.
MonthZy Use:
Use on grasses and grass-like plants increased from
56 percent in July to 90 percent in September (Table VI).
Conversely
forb use decreased from 42 to 9 percent during the same period, indi­
cating an increased use of grasses and grass-like plants as forbs be­
came desiccated during the summer.
During July Poa spp., Carex spp.,
TABLE VI.
PERCENT OF CATTLE DIET OF VARIOUS PLANT SPECIES BY MONTH AND VEGETATION ZONE AS
DETERMINED BY EXAMINATION OF 59 FEEDING SITES DURING THE SUMMERS OF 1967 AND 1968,
Taxalyf
July
17 sites
Summer 5,127—
MONTH
Aug.
Sept. Fescue-Wheatgrass
33 sites 9 sites
27 sites
9,071
2,022
7,439
ZONE
Douglas-fIr
23 sites
6,348
Spruce-Fir
9 sites
2,433
GRASS AND GRASS-LIKE PLANTS:
6(2)
2(1)
7(3)
4(2)
7(4)
K tr)
Agvopyron dasystaohyum 2(1)J/ 4
l(tr )± / 3
Agvopyron smithii
I
4(3)
Agvopyvon spp.
4(2)
3
Bvomus mavginatus
14
14(5)
Cavex spp.
Danthonia intermedia
1(1)
8(7)
4
Festuoa idahoensis
I
5(2)
Hesperoohloa kingii
2
Koelevia oris tata
1(1)
Melioa speotabilis
-(-)
2(1)
I
Fhleum alpinum
23
26(13)
Poa spp0
1(1)
Stipa spp.
2(1)
Unidentified Grasses
2
I
3
5
14
I
7
6
I
2
28
I
3
I
9
I
17
2
16
8
I
I
28
I
5
11(9)
8(2)
KD
K tr)
-(tr)
2(1)
26(13)
-(I)
3(1)
1(2)
1(1)
30(19)
l(tr)
Total Grass and
Grass-like Plants
56
74
90
78
64
9
3
I
2
5
-
I
I
I
-
71
K tr)
- (-)
2(2)
5(2)
15(8)
K tr)
3(4)
2(1)
KD
-(-)
-(-)
1(2)
- (- )
28(6)
2(-)
10(2)
-(-)
2(-)
-(-)
-(I)
15(2)
2 (tr)
2(tr)
62
FORBS:
4(3)
Agosevis glauoa
2(tr)
Allium textile
Campanula votundifolia -(-)
Civsium spp.
1(1)
3(2)
Evigevon speoiosus
EviogoniMn umbellatum
— (— )
Gaillardia avistata
- (-)
Geum tviflovum
— (—)
Hedysavum sulphuresoens-(-)
4
2
I
-
KD
-(tr)
KD
tr(tr)
5(2)
-(tr)
2(tr)
-(I)
-(-)
4(2)
4(1)
-(tr)
3(2)
4(3)
-(tr)
-(tr)
-(tr)
-(-)
16(7)
-(tr)
-(-)
tr(l)
2(1)
l(tr)
-(-)
1(8)
KD
TABLE VI,
(CONTINUED).
Taxa
July
17 sites
Summer 5 ,127
Lupinus polyphyllus
1(1)
Perideisidva gatrdneri 1(3)
Polygonum bistort aides — (— )
Taraxacum laevigatum 10(8)
Trifolium spp2(3)
Viola praemorsa
-(-)
Unidentified Forbs
4(3)
28
Total Forbs
2
18
MONTH
Aug,
Sept, Fescue-Wheatgrass
27 sites
33 sites 9 sites
9,071
2,022
7,439
-
-
9
I
I
5
4
42
25
3
2
-
I
9
K D
-(3)
-(tr)
6(4)
2(2)
-(tr)
3(2)
21
ZONE
Douglas-fir
23 sites
6,348
-(I)
1(4)
-(tr)
15(11)
1(5)
1(5)
2(4)
35
Spruce-Fir
9 sites
2,433
-(3)
"(-)
2(2)
12(12)
- (“)
"(“)
2(5)
37
BROWSE:
Ribes spp,
Total Browse
Ktr)
I
I
I
- (-)
—
-
Ktr)
I
-(tr)
-
I/ Includes only those taxa with a mean value of I percent or more for at least I month or
vegetation zone. Others are listed in Appendix Table XII.
2/ Number of instances of use.
3/ Number in parenthesis is the percent of community as determined from measurements of canopy
coverage at each feeding site,
4/ Indicates values less than I percent.
I
CO
“
-39-
Taraxacum Iaevigatim3 and Agoseris glauea formed the bulk of the diet.
In August the use on grasses increased.
Poa spp., Carex spp„ , and Fes-
■twsa iddhoensis all were utilized in significant amounts while the only
forb used substantially was Taraxaewn laevigatum.
Utilization during
September on Agropyron spp., Festuaa idahoensis3 and Hesperoehloa
kingii increased substantially over that of the previous two months.
Poa sppo and Carex spp. were also major items in the diet.
Forbs proved
to be insignificant.
Vegetation Zones:
Forty-six percent of the cattle feeding sites
were located in the Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone (Table VI).
Grasses and
grass-like plants comprised 78 percent of the diet while forbs formed
21 percent.
Poa spp., Festuea iddhoensis3 and Hesperoehloa kingii were
major grasses in the diet.
ferred items.
Poa spp. and Hesperoehloa kingii were pre­
Forb use was somewhat limited.
Thirty-nine percent of
the feeding sites were located in the Douglas-fir Zone.
Use on grasses
and grass-.like plants was less while forb use was greater in this zone
as compared to the Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone.
A greater variety and higher
percentage of forbs in the plant community probably accounted for this
greater utilization.
Taraxacum laevigatum was the most important forb
utilized. .The two major grass and grass-like'plant species utilized
most extensively were Poa spp. and Carex spp. respectively.
Fifteen
percent of the feeding sites were located in the Spruce-Fir Zone.
Preferred grasses and grass-like plants included Poa spp., Festuea
-40-
'Iddhoens-Ls3 and Cavex spp,
The various species of Cavex formed the
most important part of the diet.
F o r b .use was similar to that in the
Douglas-fir Zone with the exception of Agosev1Ls gtauoa3 which seemed
to be a preferred species.
important forb in the diet.
Tavaxaeum laevigatnm was the other
Forage Utilization
Forage use greater than 50 percent was considered by standards of
Forest Service personnel to be generally detrimental to the range
(McKittrick 1969).
They found that 5-year trends in forage utilization
have presented the best overall picture of percent utilization.
for this study are limited to two summers.
Data
The number of agronomy cages,
exclosures, and transects used was small (Table VII), .
CROOKED CREEK ALLOTMENT.
Forage utilization by cattle on the Crooked Creek Allotment was de­
termined by use of one agronomy cage and one exclosure during 1967 and
three cages, one exclosure, and two grazed plant transects during 1968
(Table VII and Figure I),
The average percent utilization appeared to
have increased during 1968 as compared to 1967 even though animal num­
bers were reduced (Table IV).
The grazing season in 1967 was shortened
by a heavy snowfall in early September,
Use of forbs, which seemed
quite heavy, exceeded that of grasses both years.
Results from cages
and exclosures at different locations indicated that as cattle moved
up from the drainage bottoms forage utilization generally increased.
This is contrary to the findings of Stevens (1966).
Forage utiliza­
tion was lowest at agronomy cage number 4 in the Crooked Creek drain­
age bottom, while at exclosure number 2, located well above the
drainage bottom in the Fescue-Wheatgrass Type, use had increased sig­
nificantly.
cage 4.
Utilization at cages 3 and 5 also increased over that of
Local areas throughout the allotment received fairly heavy
TABLE VII0
FORAGE UTILIZATION BY CATTLE ON THE CROOKED CREEK AND MYSTIC ALLOTMENTS AS' DETERMINED
BY USE OF AGRONOMY CAGES AND EXCLOSURES 0 USE OF FESTUCA I D MOENSIS WAS DETERMINED BY
THE GRAZED PLANT METHOD„
and
Allotment ,
Cage or
Exclosure ]NOo
1968
1967
Forbs
Festuoa
iCdahoens is
1,820/640/65
320/ 20/94
55
720/460/36
940/540/43
840/210/75
-
1,240/360/71
100/83
74
2,200/360/84
100/ 20/80
1,300/1,100/15
500/120/76
680/160/77
Forbs -
Grasses
Grasses
CROOKED CREEK:
Cage 3
Cage 4
Cage 5
Exclo 2
Ave= % Use
I,830/I,560/isl7
1,260/
-
-
-
2,410/
950/61
450/64
-
580/
38
57
80
-
58
57
MYSTIC:
Cage -I
Cage 2
Cage 6
Exclo I
Aveo % Use
300/
1,070/
180/40
480/55
1,810/1,030/43
-
780/
470/40
45
-
970/
740/24
27
220/ 80/64
380/100/74
73
I/ Pounds per acre inside/pounds per acre outside/percent utilization=
980/520/47
900/480/47
580/180/69
400/340/15
45
51
53
65
55
56
-43-
grazing as preferred species such as Poa spp„ and Cavex spp0 were
encounteredo
The grazed plant transects evaluated on Festuoa iddhoens-is at cage
3 and exclosure 2 indicated slightly heavier use than desirable for this
range.
Other grasses in these two areas were also utilized in excess of
50 percent as indicated by percent utilization from agronomy cage and
exclosure clippings„
MYSTIC ALLOTMENT
Utilization on the Mystic Allotment was determined by use of two
agronomy cages and one exclosure in 1967 and three cages, one exclosure,
and four grazed plant transects in 1968 (Table VII and Figure I)„
Cages
I and 2 and exclosure I were located in the Open Sedge Grassland Type of
the Spruce-Fir Zone in the general vicinity of a drainage bottom.
6 was in a Fescue-Sedge Park at a higher elevation.
Cage
Again utilization
increased slightly from the drainage bottoms to the higher locations.
Utilization of both grasses and forbs increased from 1967 to 1968.
Grass use was greater than that of forbs for both years.
During 1968
use of grasses was quite heavy and averaged well over 50 percent.
use was also higher than in 1967 but remained below 50 percent.
Forb
Many
areas within this allotment appeared to be heavily grazed by the latter
part of August.
The grazed plant transects evaluated on Festuoa idahoensis in con­
junction with the three agronomy cages and one exclosure showed slightly
— 44—
greater than 50 percent utilization.
Festuoa 'idahoensts was a preferred
species in the cattle diet in the Spruce-Fir Zone (Table VI).
Usage
above the drainage bottom at cage 6 was greater than that found in the
vicinity of the other cages and the exclosure, indicating increased
utilization with elevation=
Mule Deer Physical Condition and Productivity
PHYSICAL CONDITION
The physical condition of mule deer as determined from general ap­
pearance during summer observations appeared below average.
Hog-dressed
weights were recorded from 48 hunter-killed deer taken from the study
area and surrounding areas (Table VIII).
"Weights of deer from the Pryor
Mountains taken from October through December appeared below average
when compared with those of Mackie (1964), who averaged the weights of
over 2,500 mule deer by sex and age class between 1948-1963 from vari­
ous parts of Montana.
Weights from Mackie's study for females averaged
4, 14, and 7 percent more, 5 percent less, and 12 percent greater than
weights from the Pryor Mountains for age classes %, llg, 2%, 3%-6%, and
7% plus respectively.
Weights of males for all age classes averaged
from nearly equal to, to 38 percent greater than those from the Pryor’s.
Most of the deer Mackie used were collected from October through Decem­
ber.
Fall weights of mule deer from a good summer range in southern
Idaho (Julander et a Z-. 1961) also exceeded those from the Pryor
Mountains.
TABLE VIII.
AVERAGE HOG-DRESSED WEIGHT, BY SEX AND AGE CLASS, OF 48
MULE DEER FROM THE PRYOR MOUNTAINS.
Ih
h
M
54(7)1/
F
.50(8)
M
F
99(12) 78(3)
AGE CLASS
2%
M
F
130(2) 95(1)
I/ Number in parenthesis is the sample size.
M
3^-6%
F
M
7^+
F
154(9) 106(4) 115(1) 115(1)
— 46—
PRODUCTIVITY
I
Fifty-four and 32 fawns per 100 does were recorded during the summers of 1967 and 1968, respectively (Table IX)„
.
This difference possibly
was due to the greater number of deer classified in 1968, particularly
during early summer,,
The number of observations of fawns generally in­
creased as the summer progressed.
activity of the fawns.
This was apparently due to the greater
These fawn:doe ratios are quite low compared to
those of other studies„
Julander e£ al,
(1961) found 51 fawns per 100
does on a poor summer range in Utah and 146 fawns per 100 does from a
good summer range in Idaho.
Nellis (1968) reported 143 fawns per 100
does on the National Bison Ranges, Montana, on what he considered an
average summer range.
Records of deer classification from the Montana
Fish and Game Department on the Rryor Mountain winter range have shown
a definite decrease of 48 to 29 fawns per 100 does during the past 5
years (Foss 1969).
Age class and sex of 165 hunter-killed deer from the study area and
nearby locations were as follows: % year, 15 males and 13 females; 1%
years, 29 males and 12 females; 2% years, 13 males and 14 females; 3% to
6% years, 33 males and 26 females; 7% years plus, 4 males and 6 females,
These sex. ratios, contrary to the summer observations, show a greater
number of males than females„
This difference was probably a result of
hunter selectivity, especially noticeable during the early part of the
season.
-47-
TABLE IXo
Time
Interval
June 14-30
1967
1968
July 1-15
1967
1968
July 16-31
1967
1968
Aug. 1-15
1967
1968
Aug. 16-31
1967
1968
Sept. 1-15
1967
1968
TOTALS
1967
1968
SEX AND AGE CLASS QF MULE DEER FROM FIELD OBSERVATIONS DURING
THE- SUMMERS OF 1967 AND 1968.
Adults
M
F
3
47
7
80
I
-
5
I
13
37
30
64
7
6
23
69
48
81
28
-
24
-
24
41
41
69
27
29
31
50
41
52
19
27
3
26
11
34
15
30
97
270
178
380
97
121
Fawns
Unci.
-
3
-
-
-
5
-
9
No. Obso
Total M a les:100 Fawns:
Observed Females 100 Does
Trips
2
13 ,
11
133
43
59
14
6
8
11
50
HO
43
58
23
9
13
19
174
48
85
58
30
12
14
139
58
59
66
42
14
9
91
129
76
46
96
52
4
10
29
95
27
136
76
88
53
76
372
780
54
71
. 54
99
92
32
Examination of reproductive tracts and ovaries from six hunterkilled females revealed no structures indicative of breeding.
These
animals were obtained during the last of October and first of November
which is somewhat early for recognition of^foetuses^in the uteri.
Corpora lutea resulting from ovulation should be recognizable in early
ovulating females at this time.
Discussi on
Cole (1958) mentioned four conditions necessary for competition be­
tween big game and livestock as follows:
(I) that game and livestock use
the same range areas, (2) that game and livestock use the same forage
plants, (3) that the forage plants are an important source of forage for
either game or livestock, and (4) that the forage plants are in limited
supply or deteriorating in production as a result" of- combined use.
These
criteria were used to help determine if competition between mule deer
and cattle existed=
There appeared to be little overlap of range use between mule deer
and cattle (Tables II and III).
Eighty-one percent of the deer observe-?
tions were made in the Douglas-fir Zone, the zone utilized least by cat­
tle.
Eighty percent of the total cattle observations were made in the
Fescue-Wheatgrass and Spruce-Fir Zones.
These zones were lightly used
by deer, indicating perhaps an avoidance of the cattle by deer in areas
of cattle concentrations as found by McMahan (1966) in Texas.
Deer may
have used these zones to a greater extent if cattle numbers were limited.
For example, Lovaas (1958) found heavy use by mule deer of the spruce
type (Engelmann spruce and Alpine fir) in summer in the Little Belt
Mountains, Montana.
Little direct competition for food occurred between deer and cattle.
Grasses and grass-like plants, which composed the major portion of the
cattle diet) formed an insignificant part of the mule deer diet (Tables
V and VI and Figure 15).
The only forb which formed a substantial part
in the diet of both deer and cattle was Taraxacum laevigatim*
Use on
— 49—
this forb by both was considerable during July in the Douglas-fir Zone,
Forage utilization by cattle was quite heavy in several locations
in both allotments .(Table VII)=
The majority of the Mystic Allotment
appeared heavily overgrazed by the end of each summer.
Animal numbers
were reduced in both allotments from 1967 to 1968 (Table IV).
Further
reductions should perhaps occur at least on the Mystic Allotment, until
the forage supply and numbers of cattle balance.
The low productivity of deer could possibly be attributed to heavy
use by cattle on this summer range.
The general poor condition of the
summer range probably impaired the physical condition of the deer.
Deer were largely confined to the Douglas-fir Zone and utilization of
certain plant species in the other vegetation zones where cattle con­
centrations occurred was limited.
limited reproduction.
This below normal physical condition
Julander &t at*
(1961) attributed similar causes
to low production of mule deer from a poor summer range in Utah.■
APPENDIX
TABLE X.
TAXA WITH LESS THAN I PERCENT CANOPY COVERAGE IN ANY VEGETATION TYPE OR SUBTYPE AS DETERMINED BY EXAMINATION OF
TWENTY 2 X 5 DECIMETER PLOTS ON EACH OF 27 SITES.
Taxa
Fescue-Wheatgrass Zone
Douglas-fir Zone
Sagebrush Type
Sagebrush Park Type
FescueSagebrushSprayed
SagebrushSprayed
Fescue
Sagebrush-Fescue
Fescue
Sagebrush-Fescue
Wheatgrass
5 sites
3 sites
4 sites
2 sites
2 sites
Spruce-Fir Zone
FescueSedge
6 sites
SagebrushFescue
3 sites
Open
Sedge
Grassland
2 sites
GRASS AND GRASS-LIKE PLANTS
Muhlenbergia spp.
Phleum pratense
-
-
-
-
-
X
-
X
X
FORBS
X
Allium textile
Arabia holboellii
Arenaria spp.
X
Artemisia frigida
X
Claytonia lanoeolata
Collinsia parviflora
Gaillardia aristata
Hedysarum sulphuresoens
X
Lithospermum spp.
Mertensia spp.
Pedioularia aystopteridifolia
Ranunculus glaberrimus
Sedwi stenopetalum
X
X
Tragopogon dubius
Viola adunoa
X
Zygodenus venenosus
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
X
-
-
X
X
-
-
~
-
-
X
-
-
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
X
-
-
-
-
X
-
-
X
X
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
X
X
X
X
X
-
X
-
X
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
X
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
X
SHRUBS
Berberis repens
-
'
X
X
TABLE XI.
TAXA OCCURRING AT LEVELS OF LESS THAN I PERCENT BY MONTH AND VEGETATION ZONE IN THE
SUMMER DIET OF MULE DEER.
Taxa
June
13 sites
FORBS:
Aohillea millefolium
Allium textile
Arnica sororia
Balsamorrhisa inoana
Cerastium arvense
Collinsia parviflora
Dodeoatheon
oonjugens
Erythronium
grandiflorum
Fragaria virginiana
Galium boreale
Mentha spp.
Fedioularis
aystopteridifolia
Ranunculus spp.
Thaliotrum venulosum
X
X
X
MONTH
Aug,
July
29 sites 25 sites
X
X
X
X
X
-
-
-
ZONE
Sept. Fescue-Wheatgrass Douglas-fir
I site
58 sites
3 sites
-
-
-
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
-
-
X
X
,
"
X
X
X
—
X
X
X
X
X
X
-
X
X
X
X
—
-
X
-
X
X
-
-
-
X
X
X
-
BROWSE:
Berberis repens
Spruce-Fir
11 sites
X
X
ho
TABLE XII.
TAXA OCCURRING AT LEVELS OF LESS THAN I PERCENT BY MONTH AND VEGETATION ZONE IN THE
SUMMER DIET OF CATTLE.
Taxa
July
17 sites
GRASS AND GRASS-LIKE PLANTS
X
Phlevm ipvatense
FORBS:
Aehillea millefolium
Antennaria rosea
Arnica aordifolia
Arnica soroia
Astragalus miser
Balsamorrhiza sagittata
Cerastivm arvense
Delphinivm hi color
Fragaria virginiana
Galivm boreale
Geranivm viscossissimvm
Osmorhiza spp.
Thaliotrvm venulosm
Tounsendia spp.
Tragopogon dubius
Valeriana dioica
Zygadenvs venenosus
BROWSE:
Rosa spp,
Spiraea betulifolia
Symphoricarpos albus
X
-
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
MONTH
Aug.
33 sites
Sept.
9 sites
X
—
—
X
-
-
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
-
X
X
”
x
X
X
X
X
-
—
X
X
X
X
X
X
X
-
X
Spruce-Fir
9 sites
-
—
-
ZONE
Fescue-Wheatgrass Douglas-fir
27 sites
23 sites
-
"
-
X
X
-
-
X
X
X
-
-
-
-
Ui
y
LITERATURE CITED
Bibles, D« D„ 1968.= Personal communication, District Manager, Bureau
of Land Mgmt., Billings, Montana.
Booth, W. E. 1950. Flora of Montana, Part I, Conifers and Monocots.
Research Foundation at Montana State College, Bozeman.
232 pp„
_____ and J. C. Wright.
1959. Flora of Montana, Part II, Dicotyledons.
Montana State College, Bozeman.
280 pp.
Cole, Go F. 1958. Big game-livestock competition on Montana's mountain
rangelands. Mont. Wildl. April:24-30.
■
1963. Range survey guide. U. S . Dept0 of the Interior,
National Park Service.
22 pp.
Daubenmire, R. F. 1946. The life zone problem in the northern inter­
mountain region. Northwest Science.
20(2):28-38.
. 1959. A canopy-coverage method of vegetational analysis.
Northwest Science.
33(1):43-64.
Foss, A. J. 1969. Personal communication, District Game Manager,
Montana. Fish and Game Dept. , Billings.
Julander, 0., W. L. Robinette, and D. A. Jones.
1961. Relation of
summer range condition to mule deer herd productivity. J . Wildl.
Mgmt. 25(1):54-60.
Knowlton, F. F. 1960. Food habits, movements and population structure
of moose in the Gravelly Mountains, Montana.
J. Wildl. Mgmt.
24(2):162-170.
Lovaas, A. L. 1958. Mule deer food habits and range use. Little Belt
Mountains, Montana.
J. Wildl. Mgmt. 22(3):275-283.
Mackie, R. J.
1964.
Montana deer weights.
Monfc= Wildl. Winter:9-14.
Martin, A. C., R. H. Gensch, and C. P. Brown.
1946. Alternative methods
in upland game bird food analysis.
J. Wildl. Mgmt. 10(1):8-12.
McKittrick, G. D. 1969. Personal communication, Range Technician,
Custer National Forest, Red Lodge, Montana.
McMahan, C. A. 1966. Suitability of grazing enclosures for deer and
livestock research on the Kerr Wildlife Management Area, Texas.
J. Wildl. Mgmt. 30(1):151-162.
-55-
Nellis, Carl H. 1968. Productivity of mule deer on the National Bison
Range, Montana. J. Wildl. Mgmt. 32(2):344-349.
Smith, J. G. 1952.
16(2):148-155.
Food habits of mule deer in Utah.
J. Wildl. Mgmt.
Stevens, D. R. 1966. Range relationships of elk and livestock, Crow
Creek drainage, Montana. J. Wildl. Mgmt. 30(2):349-363.
USDA, Forest Service.
1967-1968. Weather data.
National Forest, Montana. ■ UnpubI.
Red Lodge, Custer
Wilkins, B. T . 1957. Range use, food habits, and agricultural rela­
tionships of the mule deer, Bridger Mountains, Montana.
J. Wildl.
Mgmt. 21(2):159-169.
'vuiy/OS I
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Firebaugh, John Edgar
Relationship of mule
deer to livestock on
suwner range. . .
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