Habitat use by female mule deer in north central California

Summer habitats used by 17 female mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) near McCloud, California, were estimated using radio telemetry.Deer from two vegetatively distinct sub-regions within the study area displayed differences in home range behavior.Six out of 9 deer from the Porcupine Butte sub-region moved 3.7 to 19 km to second summer home ranges.In contrast, 7 out of 8 mule deer in the Hambone Butte sub-region occupied single home ranges throughout the summer.Home ranges estimated from minimum convex polygon method, averaged 197 ha for the 8 deer at the Hambone Butte sub-region and 130 ha for 9 deer at the Porcupine Butte sub-region for first home ranges.research is needed to determine what elements are missing from the Porcupine Butte sub-region so that land managers conducting habitat improvements to benefit deer populations could then incorporate this knowledge when designing their management strategies.