Medcraft and Clark looked at the dietary composition of mule deer and pronghorn on reclaimed mine land and how cattle grazing can have an effect on when and where these big game animals forage. Mule deer and pronghorn diets were similar throughout the year (61%), with the highest point being in September (86%) when they were both consuming high amounts of alfalfa. The lowest point of dietary overlap occurred in March (40%) when deer consumed primarily fourwing saltbush and pronghorn consumed sagebrush. Pastures grazed by cattle were completely avoided by both species while cattle were present, but immediately occupied by the game species once cattle were removed. Medcraft and Clark believed that the cattle grazing enhanced forage quality for deer and pronghorn by removing grass and litter build up that covered their main forage.
Citations and enhanced abstracts for journals articles and documents focused on rangeland ecology and management. RSIS is a collaboration between Montana State University, University of Idaho, and University of Wyoming.