This is influenced by time of year, activity, and the kind of forage the deer is eating. The average lifespan of bucks is shorter than does, especially in areas of heavy hunting pressure. Bender, L.C., L.A. Lomas, and J. Browning. He earned his Ph.D. from Michigan State University. New Road Updates: MyTopo GMU maps now contain updated National Forest and public land roads sourced directly from the US Forest Service and These changes have driven deer populations down because they have greatly reduced both the amount and quality of mule deer habitat. Uncertainty still lingers over exactly how CWD is spread and even the causative agent, which is likely an abnormal protein called a prion. Predators kill deer in New Mexico each year. Guidelines for management of habitat for mule deer: Piñon-juniper, Chihuahuan desert, arid grasslands, and associated arid habitat types [Circular 662]. Fawns depend upon hiding and lying still for survival during their first few weeks. other government agencies. Although HD can be enzootic (always present in low frequency), in mule deer it is most commonly seen in infrequent epizootics (outbreaks), which can result in a large number of deaths when deer and vector conditions are conducive to outbreaks. College Station: Texas A&M University Press. When a deer browses, a characteristic stub remains (Figure 5). However, they do prefer sites around water, and free water may be required during droughts or while raising fawns. Desert mule deer are usually lighter or paler than Rocky Mountain mule deer. Bender, L.C., J.C. Boren, H. Halbritter, and S. Cox. Hoenes, and C.L. There is little actual fighting between bucks because dominance hierarchy has usually been established before peak rutting periods occur. Hunting is the main source of mortality for adult bucks, and control of hunting seasons is used to manage mule deer populations in New Mexico. 2006. Bender, L.C. Interactions between predators and mule deer are complex and highly variable across distance and time; the key to understanding predation is differentiating between the act of predation and the effect of predation. Despite declines, mule deer are still present in all 33 counties in New Mexico. Piñon and juniper may be used during dry seasons and winter months despite plant toxins, the effects of which can be minimized by mixing these with other plant species. Everything you need to plan your New Mexico hunting trips for 2020. Fawns get up on their feet only hours after birth, but they are rather unsteady and very susceptible to predation. These supply the protein and minerals needed for the growth of antlers, which are the fastest-growing tissues in the animal kingdom. Lomas, L.A., and L.C. Fort Collins: U.S. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Research Station. ), Mule deer conservation: Issues and management challenges (pp. The reddish-brown fawns are spotted and depend on their protective coloration for safety. The selected Access district and public hunting land maps. This, combined with a faster metabolism than elk or cattle, is what drives their need for high-quality, easily digestible foods. Land use policies developed by land management agencies are an important component of mule deer management. State hunt unit or game management unit boundary is overlaid on the BLM base. MyTopo Hunt Area / Game Management Units (GMU) Maps are 1:100,000-scale maps using the Bureau of Land Management Land Status base maps. Availability of water can influence deer use of a particular area. The does are receptive for about three days. They lose their spots two to three months after they are born. HD is a viral disease that affects deer, pronghorn, and bighorn sheep; it is spread by biting gnats or midges (Culicoides spp.). Because of this, most populations contain only 25–50 bucks for every 100 does. After about age seven the number of fawns will decrease again. Most fawns are weaned by October or November, after which they are dependent on their competitive ability to obtain adequate nutrition. (Print friendly PDF). GMU 2A: That portion of GMU 2 west of the Los Pinos River (Pine Arm of Navajo Reservoir) and north of the San Juan River. The Rocky Mountain mule deer is larger; the average field-dressed weight of mature (6 years or older) males (bucks) is around 195 lb, with larger deer weighing more than 250 lb. Clements, C.D., and J.A. Common foods in northern New Mexico include aspen, chokecherry, oaks, bearberry, bitterbrush, mountain mahogany, and most other shrubs in the rose family (Rosaceae). Between feedings, the food is regurgitated and rechewed as cud. Malnutrition is the most common cause of death (excluding hunting) in studied mule deer populations in New Mexico. Habitat changes resulting from extensive logging, initial overgrazing of grasslands, and large wildfires greatly favored mule deer by creating large areas of shrublands and early successional (saplings) forests. Bender, L.C., B.D. For more information on all aspects of mule and white-tailed deer ecology and management, see Deer of the Southwest (Heffelfinger, 2006). The breeding class is usually the prime-aged mature bucks, plus a few younger bucks who are exceptionally large-bodied or aggressive. Bender, L.C. They take a bite and move on, spending little time in one spot, selecting the best foods that are available. Mule deer have extremely large ears, hence the name. In general, mule deer have been declining in numbers in New Mexico since populations peaked around the 1960s, similar to declines seen throughout the West (Heffelfinger and Messmer, 2003). All other rights reserved. The actual diet of deer is very diverse and reflects what is available. Normally, a doe has one fawn the first time she gives birth. Peaks in mule deer populations in the mid-1900s resulted from obvious and subtle landscape changes associated with human settlement (see, for example, the history in Clements and Young, 1997). Bartos, T.J. Stohlgren, and L.G. The scarred and broken branches and bark are easily observed about 18 inches above the ground. Original author: James E. Knight, Extension Wildlife Specialist. Factors influencing survival of desert mule deer in the greater San Andres Mountains, New Mexico. Game Management Unit 24 Maps for GMU 24 BLM Maps: Deming Quad, Hatch Quad, Mogollon Mountains Quad, Silver City Quad, and Truth or Consequences Quad. NMSU and the U.S. Department of Agriculture cooperating. The Bureau of Land Management – New Mexico (BLM) and the New Mexico Department of Game and Fish (NMDGF) partnered to offer free maps of Big Game hunting units and recreational opportunities on public land using the CarryMap application.. This continued movement ensures a properly balanced diet if sufficient plant species are present.

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