Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus), white-tailed deer (Odocolieus virginianus), and pronghorn antelope (Antilocapra americana) use of 6 agricultural land use categories in southeastern Montana were monitored to identify use patterns at specific sites. Alfalfa (Medicago sativa L.), bottom rangeland, Conservation Reserve Program (CRP) lands, upland rangeland, wheat (Triticum aestivum L.) stubble, and growing wheat were observed during dawn, day, dusk, and night hours over a period of 12 months. Mule deer densities on alfalfa peaked in fall and again in spring. The CRP lands were selected in all seasons. Rangeland sites were most heavily used in winter and summer. White-tailed deer used CRP lands in all seasons except fall. Alfalfa was selected in fall, spring, and summer. Antelope densities on alfalfa were highest in spring and fall, while growing wheat fields were used most in spring. Antelope in the northern study area selected CRP land in all seasons except fall. Densities of animals and patterns of use observed during this study would be unlikely to produce significant impacts on forage or crops at most of our study sites. The Journal of Range Management archives are made available by the Society for Range Management and the University of Arizona Libraries. Contact lbry-journals@email.arizona.edu for further information. Migrated from OJS platform August 2020
Scholarly peer-reviewed articles published by the Society for Range Management. Access articles on a rolling-window basis from vol. 1, 1948 up to 5 years from the current year. Formerly Journal of Range Management (JRM). More recent content is available by subscription from SRM.