CONDITION AND REPRODUCTIVE-PERFORMANCE OF FEMALE MULE DEER IN THE CENTRAL, SIERRA-NEVADA

I determined reproductive performance in relation to age and physical condition of 58 female Rocky Mountain mule deer, Odocoileus hemionus h emionus, collected from the West Walker winter range in northern Mono County, California, and southwestern Douglas County, Nevada during Mar ch 1993 and March 1994. Among adult females, pregnancy and fetal rates were 86% and 1.52 fetuses/female in 1993 and 88% and 1.56 fetuses/fem ale in 1994, Bled carcass weights, eviscerated carcass weights, and ki dney fat indices of adult females were greater in 1994, Indicating tha t deer were in better condition than in 1993. Litter category was not related to age or female body condition, The overall sex ratio of fetu ses was 107 males:100 females. Reproductive potential in the West Walk er deer herd was comparable to that reported for other nutritionally s tressed mu le deer populations. My study suggested that low productivi ty was in response to drought-induced changes In habit at quality.