DESERT MULE DEER AND FORAGE RESOURCES IN SOUTHWEST ARIZONA

We measured digestible protein consumed by four captive desert mule de er (Odocoileus hemionus crooki) on a diet of native forage collected f rom the Belmont Mountains, Arizona. We measured the amount of forage a vailable to deer in the Belmont Mountains. Intake of forage differed ( P < 0.05) between sexes in every season. Intake of digestible protein for both sexes was highest in fall. Males and females consumed the lea st amount of digestible protein in spring and summer, respectively. We recorded differences (P < 0.05) of forage biomass among all vegetatio n associations, sites, and seasons. The most forage biomass was availa ble in winter, and the least in spring.