Adult Doe Mule Deer Survival
All Study Areas

In 2005 Fish and Game biologists and volunteers collared 261 adult doe mule deer with radio collars in Southern Idaho. Since that time we have been tracking the animals to monitor their survival. To date overall survival among the collared deer has been high. The causes of death have come from a variety of sources.

When healthy predator populations exist, mortalities due to predation normally make up the majority of deaths. Wildlife managers are more concerned with the rate of survival than the percentage of animals killed by predators. Adult doe survival over 80% is generally considered normal and sustainable.