Mule Deer Movements in Response to Military Activity in Southeast Colorado

Abstract

During January 1986-September 1988 we studied the behavioral responses of 71 radiocollared mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) to military activity on the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site in southeastern Colorado. Military training was initiated on the site during August 1985 and recurred about 3 times yearly for periods of one month. During a maneuver, 3/7 of the site was used for training in accordance with a rotational land use schedule. During the nonsummer seasons, female seasonal convex polygon and harmonic mean home ranges were larger in maneuver and previous-maneuver areas than nonmaneuver areas (P < 0.002). During summer, female convex polygon home ranges were larger in maneuver than nonmaneuver areas (P = 0.066). Fawn summer home ranges were larger in maneuver than previous-maneuver areas (P < 0.01). Male home range sizes differed only for 50% harmonic mean transformation annual home ranges (P = 0.056); bucks in maneuver areas had larger home ranges than in nonmaneuver areas. Female deer in maneuver areas exhibited significant home area shifts (P = 0.049) between premaneuver and maneuver periods more frequently (40.0%) than did deer in nonmaneuver (control) areas (12.5%). Mule deer in military training areas may have responded to human harassment, alteration of security cover, or destruction of the forage base. We suggest that deer may respond more intensely to unpredictable than predictable human activity.