Mule Deer in Nebraska National Forest

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Abstract
In Nebraska National Forest, an afforested area, over-populations of native Rocky Mountain mule deer (Odocoileus h. hemionus) appeared in the late 1930''s. Pre-hunt studies indicated one buck to two does among adults, and 71 fawns per 100 does. 448 hunters in 1945 killed 154 male and 207 female "deer, including 30 male fawns, 31 female fawns, and two white-tailed (O. virginianus) does. Successful hunters avgd. over four hrs. of hunting time. Avg. wts. of does increased little beyond the 2.5-yr.-old class; avg. wts. of bucks increased rather evenly up to the 7.5-yr.-old class. Antler measurements showed considerable increments in successive age classes up to the fourth yr., smaller increases during the next 3 yrs. and small changes after that. Wts. and measurements are given for various age-classes in both sexes; antler measurements are given for males. Avg. lengths of hind feet were higher for bucks than for does in all age classes. All yearling does were dry; 41% of the does 2.5 yrs. old or older were wet, 29 deer were ear-tagged in the area in the two yrs. before hunting; 4 of these were bagged. Fall observations, plus examination of bagged males, indicate Nov. and early Dec. as the chief breeding period. Stomach samples from 78 deer indicated the importance of Symphoricarpos occidentalis, Pinus banksiana, Rosa sp., and Helianthus spp. as deer foods, Symphoricarpos being the leading item in winter. Post-hunt studies show lighter use of the forage plants generally, but heavy use on some areas. Relatively few specimens of the following parasites were found: Moniezia benedeni, Thysano-soma actinoides, Setaria cervi, Cephenemyia pratti, and Trichodectes sp.

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