MULE DEER MOVEMENTS IN RESPONSE TO MILITARY ACTIVITY IN SOUTHEAST COLORADO

During January 1986-September 1988 we studied the behavioral responses of 71 radiocollared mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) to military activ ity on the Pinon Canyon Maneuver Site in southeastern Colorado. Milita ry 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 po lygon and harmonic mean home ranges were larger in maneuver and previo us-maneuver areas than nonmaneuver areas (P < 0.002). During summer, f emale convex polygon home ranges were larger in maneuver than nonmaneu ver areas (P = 0.066). Fawn summer home ranges were larger in maneuver than previous-maneuver areas (P < 0.01). Male home range sizes differ ed only for 50% harmonic mean transformation annual home ranges (P = 0 .056); bucks in maneuver areas had larger home ranges than in nonmaneu ver areas. Female deer in maneuver areas exhibited significant home ar ea shifts (P = 0.049) between premaneuver and maneuver periods more fr equently (40.0%) than did deer in nonmaneuver (control) areas (12.5%). Mule deer in military training areas may have responded to human hara ssment, alteration of security cover, or destruction of the forage bas e. We suggest that deer may respond more intensely to unpredictable th an predictable human activity.