Mule deer survival over this past winter promises to be better than average. Mule deer populations require good overwinter survival of does and fawns, and a high doe:fawn ratio going into winter. The quality of habitat, particularly summer habitat in conjunction with winter severity drive mule deer population growth.
| Mule Deer Fawn Mortality Summary | ||||
| May 31, 2013 | ||||
| Study Fawns | Total Dead | % Mortality | ||
| Weiser-McCall | 32 | 11 | 34% | |
| Central Mountains | 37 | 19 | 51% | |
| Mountain Valley | 36 | 22 | 61% | |
| Boise River | 23 | 7 | 30% | |
| Smoky-Bennett | 35 | 6 | 17% | |
| South Hills | 20 | 7 | 35% | |
| Bannock | 0 | |||
| Caribou | 0 | |||
| Palisades | 0 | |||
| Island Park | 0 | |||
| Total | 183 | 72 | 39% | |
| Mule Deer Doe Mortality Summary | ||||
| May 31, 2013 | ||||
| Study Does | Total Dead | % Mortality | ||
| Lower Salmon | 11 | 0 | 0% | |
| Weiser-McCall | 37 | 0 | 0% | |
| Middle Fork | 26 | 0 | 0% | |
| Central Mountains | 84 | 6 | 7% | |
| Mountain Valley | 52 | 4 | 8% | |
| Boise River | 47 | 2 | 4% | |
| Smoky-Bennett | 54 | 1 | 2% | |
| South Hills | 47 | 4 | 9% | |
| Bannock | 54 | 5 | 9% | |
| Caribou | 26 | 1 | 4% | |
| Palisades | 17 | 1 | 6% | |
| Island Park | 28 | 2 | 7% | |
| Total | 483 | 26 | 5% | |
