Mule deer fawns captured and marked to assess winter survival

JEROME - Mule deer in the Magic Valley Region are in good physical condition and after trapping and radio collaring 26 fawns in the South Hills, biologist will be able to monitor their survival throughout the winter. "The deer look to be in very good shape," said Randy Smith, Magic Valley Region Big Game Manager for the Idaho Department of Fish and Game. "We captured 13 doe and 13 buck fawns that averaged just over 77 pounds each. They appear to be in very good physical condition which should result in good survival this winter." Each of the fawns captured were fitted with a radio collar, each with a different frequency. Idaho Fish and Game wildlife technicians will monitor the fawns every other day for the next five months. As long as the fawn is alive the technicians will hear a beep every two seconds on their receiver, if the fawn dies they will get a mortality tone or a beep every second. If the mortality tone is heard, the technician will then find the animal and determine the cause of death. At the conclusion of winter, biologists are able to track these fawns back to their summer ranges. The radio collars are attached with surgical tubing allowing the collars to drop off and be used for as many as four winters. The study helps biologists assess the status of deer populations and understand what factors are important in driving deer numbers. This information combined with hunter harvest data, public input, and aerial surveys is used to determine hunting seasons for the upcoming fall. The South Hills is one of 10 study areas in the state the Idaho Department of Fish and Game uses to monitor mule deer winter survival across southern Idaho. For more information, call 324-4359.