Antelope Bitterbrush Seedling Transplant Survival

Abstract

Antelope bitterbrush is one of the most studied western range shrubs. The browse of this species is a highly preferred and highly nutritional forage for native ungulates and domestic livestock. Antelope bitterbrush occurs from British Columbia to Montana, and south to New Mexico, and California. Using records from the U. S. Forest Service, August Hormay estimated that antelope bitterbrush occurred on over 340 million acres of rangeland in 11 states. It is found on 7.5 million acres in California alone. Arthur W. Sampson, one of the fathers of range management, reported in 1924 that antelope bitterbrush is a strong feed that produced a solid fat on lambs. This is the first report describing antelope bitterbrush as an important browse species, and as an important shrub on winter ranges for mule deer, elk and antelope. In the late 1930s and early 1940s studies of key browse species began as it was recognized that browse species contributed to the forage base of rangelands, and were essential in the diet of mule deer. Joseph Dixon studied the food habits of California deer in different regions of the state and reported that antelope bitterbrush was very important to mule deer in northeastern California; thus the management of antelope bitterbrush was deemed critical for mule deer habitat.