Mule Deer: Changing Landscapes, Changing Perspectives
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LT Mule Deer_2006.Lynx 8/31/06 2:29 PM Page 1 ince 1922, the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) has served as a leader promoting management and protection of fish and wildlife in the western United States and Canada. An organization represented by 17 states and four Canadian S provinces, WAFWA has faced the difficult challenge of sifting through the ever-changing societal, economic, political and scientific issues that define natural resource management in a West that has undergone many changes. WAFWA is particularly concerned about mule deer, a species that lives in every North American habitat except for the tropics, arctic and extreme deserts. Mule deer numbers and distribution have been declining throughout the West since the latter third of the 20th century. To address this concern, the Mule Deer Working Group was established at the midwinter meeting of WAFWA in 1998. The group was charged with finding “solutions to our common mule deer management problems,” expanding “cooperative research and management in the Western states and provinces,” and sharing information with agency directors and administrators on mule deer issues. To achieve its goal, the working group set out to improve communication about mule deer, and make it easier for agencies to share information on mule deer management and research. Mule Deer in the West, Changing Landscapes, Changing Perspectives, is one of the outcomes of the working group. The goals of this publication are to share research and technical information on mule deer in an easy-to-read format, and to generate informed discussion on a species that defines the West and is of tremendous importance to many people. This publication sheds light on the single greatest factor that has caused declines in mule deer—loss and degradation of habitat. It offers an overview of mule deer, and looks at ways deer, elk, livestock and people inter- act. Feature articles expose issues affecting mule deer populations such as fire, disease, changes in habitat and predator-prey relation- ships, and the challenges biologists face in surveying big game animals. It explores a Gary Herron, Nevada Department of Wildlife Department of Gary Herron, Nevada concept called adaptive resource manage- ment, a relatively new method of managing Changing Landscapes, Changing Perspectives wildlife throughout the world. It concludes with a look to the future, and A Publication by the offers additional sources of information for you to learn about mule deer. Western Association It is our hope that this publication builds of Fish and Wildlife a foundation to generate informed discussion, and enhances understanding of the competing Agencies Mule Deer promises and visions for responsible manage- Working Group ment of mule deer. WAFWA Mule Deer Working Group MULE DEER LT Mule Deer_2006.Lynx 8/31/06 2:29 PM Page 2 MULE DEER WORKING GROUP MEMBERS AND CONTRIBUTORS Steven Huffaker Barry Hale Director Sponsor, Idaho Department of Fish and Game New Mexico Department of Game and Fish What's in a Name? Jim deVos Bill Jensen Chair, Arizona Game and Fish Department North Dakota Game and Fish Department ooks aren't everything, of variation within each species, Jim Heffelfinger Bruce Stillings but if you're a deer in some mule deer and white-tailed Chair, Arizona Game and Fish Department North Dakota Game and Fish Department the West, looks play an deer cannot be quickly identified. Matt Kirchhoff Dan Edwards Alaska Department of Fish and Game Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife important role in deter- Black-tailed deer further cloud the Bill Glasgow Tom Thornton mining whether you're identification issue because they Alberta Environment and Natural Resource Service Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife Lcalled a mule deer, black-tailed Bruce Treichel Peter Test display characteristics similar to both Alberta Fish and Wildlife Division Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife deer or white-tailed deer. Behavior white-tailed deer and other mule Ron Bjorge Syd Barber and habitat contribute, as well. deer subspecies. Alberta Fish and Wildlife Division Saskatchewan Department of Environment Brian Wakeling and Resource Management When used alone, some of the Arizona Game and Fish Department Dennie Mann Species and Subspecies identifying characteristics can be Steve Rosenstock South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department confusing. Thus, it is important Arizona Game and Fish Department Ted Benzon Subtle variations in characteris- Ted McKinney South Dakota Game, Fish and Parks Department to use several characteristics to Arizona Game and Fish Department Clay Brewer tics such as size, behavior and identify species. Ian Hatter Texas Parks and Wildlife Department appearance in deer occur because British Columbia Ministry of Environment Mike Welch of local habitat, food or weather Ken Mayer Utah Division of Wildlife Resources California Department of Fish and Game Steve Flinders conditions. There have been as Craig Stowers Utah Division of Wildlife Resources many as 11 subspecies of mule California Department of Fish and Game Steve Cranney deer and 30 subspecies of Mary Sommer Utah Division of Wildlife Resources California Department of Fish and Game Jim Karpowitz white-tailed deer described – all Eric Loft Utah Division of Wildlife Resources of these subspecies belong to two California Department of Fish and Game Craig R. McLaughlin recognized species of deer in the Rick Kahn Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Colorado Division of Wildlife Lou Bender West; mule deer and white-tailed John Ellenberger Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife deer. Black-tailed deer are also Colorado Division of Wildlife Jerry Nelson Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife found in the West, but they are Bruce Watkins Mule deer (foreground) and white-tailed deer Colorado Division of Wildlife Daryl Lutz actually a subspecies of mule deer. (background) foraging together. Note the difference in Thomas Kaiakapu Wyoming Game and Fish Department All deer are members of the metatarsal glands and tails. By Pat O’Brien. Hawaii Division of Forestry and Wildlife Dan Stroud Cervidae family, hoofed mammals Jim Unsworth Wyoming Game and Fish Department Idaho Department of Fish and Game Doug McWhirter that have antlers such as elk, Lonn Kuck Wyoming Game and Fish Department moose and caribou. Tails Idaho Department of Fish and Game Thomas Jung Tom Keegan Yukon Department of Environment Mule deer were first described Idaho Department of Fish and Game Rob Florkiewicz in North America in 1817 based White-tailed deer have a wide, Brad Compton Yukon Department of Environment on field notes made by Charles Le flattened tail that is broad at the base Idaho Department of Fish and Game Len Carpenter and narrower at the tip. A darker Lloyd Fox Wildlife Management Institute Raye while he was held captive by Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks Carlos Alcalá-Galván the Sioux tribe on the Big Sioux backside contrasts the pure white Glenn Erickson Instituto Nacional de Investigaciones Forestales, underside. The darker tail is edged Agricolas, y Pecuarias, Mexico River in South Dakota (see sidebar Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks with white fringe hairs that are an Dave Pac Nevelyn Headrick article). The scientific name of the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks Utah State University species, hemionus, literally means extension of the white underside. Gary Hammond Todd Black White-tailed deer lack a large, con- Utah State University "half-mule,” because the ears are Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks spicuous white rump, and have tails Kit Hams Terry Messmer similar to those of a mule. Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Utah State University that are at least 7 1/2 inches long. Bruce Morrison Warren Ballard Mule deer tails appear cylindrical, Texas Tech University Differences Nebraska Game and Parks Commission or rope-like, and are usually white Mike Hess William Miller Nevada Department of Wildlife Arizona State University Between Species on the backside, with a distinctive Mike Cox Michael Conover black tip surrounded by a large, Jack H. Berryman Institute Nevada Department of Wildlife There are several ways to tell a obvious white rump. Some mule Tony Wasley Archie Reeve mule deer from a white-tailed Nevada Department of Wildlife PIC Technologies, Inc. deer may have a thin dark line run- deer, a critical need for hunters Darrel Weybright ning down the back surface of the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish who must be able to identify tail. Mule deer tails are less than species in areas where both exist. 7 1/2 inches long. Mule deer differ from white-tailed Mule Deer, Changing Landscapes, Changing Perspectives, is a series deer in several ways, but because of non-technical articles based on technical papers from the book, “Mule Deer Conservation: Issues and Management Strategies” Published by The Berryman Institute, Utah State University This publication was produced and edited by Creative Resource Strategies, West Linn, Oregon. Publication Design by Frey Design of Portland, Oregon This publication may be photocopied or reprinted in its entirety for noncommercial purposes. Financial assistance for publication provided by The Mule Deeer Foundation www.muledeer.org. 2nd Printing 2006 Suggested Citation: Mule Deer Working Group. 2003. Mule Deer: Mule Deer White-tailed Deer Changing landscapes, changing perspectives. Mule Deer Working Group, Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies. 1 LT Mule Deer_2006.Lynx 8/31/06 2:29 PM Page 3 Antlers those of a mule deer are 3/4 the gland of a white-tailed deer is very length of the head. small, appearing as a small slit Of Shipwrecks and Antlers are the least reliable with a maximum depth of 3/8 characteristic to use when trying to Alarm Behavior inch. The preorbital gland of a Captives – A Name differentiate mule deer from white- mule deer is comparatively large, tailed deer because of the variation When alarmed, a white-tailed forms a substantial pocket with a in the Making in antler shape and form in both deer usually raises its tail, expos- depth averaging 3/4 inch, and Giving an animal a scientific species.