An evaluation of annual migration patterns of the Paunsaugunt mule deer herd between Utah and Arizona

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We studied the migration of the Paunsaugunt mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) herd from 1995 to 1997 to aid in its cooperative management by Utah and Arizona. Our objectives were to determine the direction, distance, timing, and duration of migration; movement corridors; fidelity to winter and summer use areas; and proportion and extent of mule deer movement into Arizona. Secondarily, we also sought to determine causes of radio marked mule deer mortality. We captured and radiomarked 83 (71 F, 12M) adult mule deer and monitored their movements over 3 years. Twenty-four mule deer were captured on summer range in Utah, whereas 59 were captured on winter range in Utah and Arizona. In autumn, most mule deer that occupied summer habitat on and around the Paunsaugunt Plateau migrated an average 50.9 km southsoutheast to winter near or on the Buckskin Mountains in Utah and Arizona. Autumn migration began in late September-early October and ended by early November. Spring migration began in late March and was completed by mid-May. Arizona mule deer tended to migrate about 4 weeks later than Paunsaugunt mule deer, arriving in the Buckskins later in autumn and returning to summer range later in spring. Autumn and spring migration periods lasted 6-7 weeks for both herds. Based primarily on movements of mule deer captured on Utah summer range, we believe that only 20-30% of the Paunsaugunt herd uses winter range in Arizona. Mule deer that moved from Utah to Arizona (Interstate mule deer) typically ranged s 13 km (x=7.1 km) into Arizona. Interstate mule deer were hunted in Utah prior to and during migration. Most Interstate mule deer entered Arizona before the end of October, and these Interstate bucks were also hunted in Arizona during late October and November. A portion of the Paunsaugunt herd and Arizona mule deer shared the Buckskin Mountains winter range in Arizona and showed strong fidelity to winter use areas. Of the radiomarked mule deer captured on the winter range of the Buckskin Mountains, none were resident mule deer. All (n = 26) radiomarked Paunsaugunt mule deer using Arizona's Buckskin Mountains winter range migrated north to Utah and all (n = 19) radiomarked Arizona mule deer sharing this winter range moved south to the Kaibab Plateau summer range. Predation, deer-vehicle collisions, and sport hunting were the 3 most common sources of mortality. Annual female survivorship for the Paunsaugunt herd was 0.745, whereas annual male survivorship was 0.512. Genetic interchange likely occurs between the Paunsaugunt and Arizona herds because they are sympatric during the breeding season. Arizona winter range is important to a portion of the Paunsaugunt mule deer herd. Cooperative programs by Utah and Arizona would optimize management of the interstate portion of the Paunsaugunt mule deer herd.

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Reference Code: U99CAR01IDUS

Full Citation: Carrel, W. K., R. A. Ockenfels, and R. E. Schweinsburg. 1999. An evaluation of annual migration patterns of the Paunsaugunt mule deer herd between Utah and Arizona. Research Branch Tech. Rep. No. 29. Arizona Game and Fish Department, Phoenix. 44 pp.

Location: ImageQuest

Keywords: Arizona, interstate, Kaibab, migration, mortality, movements, mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus, Paunsaugunt, summer range, Utah, winter range