Download mule deer, elk, and whitetails: recent trends and future

Abstract No. 4
MULE DEER, ELK, AND WHITETAILS: RECENT
TRENDS AND FUTURE MANAGEMENT IN AN
ECOSYSTEM CONTEXT
RICHARD J. MACKIE, Professor Emeritus, Montana
State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-0346
Absfmct: The past 50 years have been marked by
general maeases in diaribution and abundance of elk
(Gem elaphus) and white-tailed deer (Odocoilacs
virginianus), while mule deer (Odocoileus haionus)
populations have k e a s e d or fluauated across much
of the West. These trends apparently reflect
individual species responses to environmental change
in an ecosystem context as well as differential harvest
and other wildlife management prauices that
influ&
niche dimensions for the 3 species.
This paper reviews species trends since d e m e n t , the
environmental and management factors influencing the
trends, and implications for the future in light of
increased emphasis on rebuilding and maintaining
complete, biologically diverse ecosystems. It suggests
that unless management intervenes, elk will continue
to inaease their distribution and abundance as they
continue to recapture and fa more of their historical
niche that remains available in foothills and other
prairie border environments. The niche of whitetailed deer a h continues to expand as emphasii on
restoration and maintmce of riparian environments
combines with agriculture and other land uses to
provide favorable habitat in places they could not
occur historically.
Conversely. mule deer, which came to occupy a
greatlyapanded niche in the absence of major
predatofi and competing ungulates during the mid20th m,
will doubtless become inaeasingly
d a e d in diaribution and fewer in number. They
continue to shrink from habitats being reclaimed or
claisned by elk, whitetaiis, bighorn sheep, and even
bison and imtelope in some areas. Rebuilding major
predator populations and land management practices
that favor elk and white-tailed deer will also work
against mule deer under "Ecosystem Management."