Radio-collaring and Tracking

Dr. Peter Gogan of U.S. Geological Survey-Northern Rocky Mountain Science Center initiated a mule deer study in the winter of 1993 to: 1) determine the summer range of deer utilizing the Gardiner basin winter range and describe summer habitat types; 2) describe habitat use and migration patterns of deer, and document repeated use of localized sites; and 3) determine deer abundance and age and sex structure of the population. Sixty adult does were captured and radio-collared in March 1993. Radio-collared deer were periodically relocated through June 1998, with an additional 25 does collared in March 1995 to increase the sample size. An assessment of timing of mortality and survival rates of marked does has been completed and a written report is in preparation .