The Coconino sun., 1925-06-26
(By NJ. f. Musgrave)

The herd of mule tailed deer located
IN the kaibab national forest, north OF
the Grand Canyon, is divided in the
winter time, and for that matter to a
certain degree in the summer time
into two separate herds, the east and
west herd These deer during the
summer Craze along the top of the
mountain at an altitude of from seven
to nine thousand feet and the two
herds come together and intermingle
to certain extent but each keeps
fairly within its own territory, the
east herd coming up around Greenland
Point and Bright Angel Point and
using the ranges closer to the north
rim Of the Grand Canyon, while the
deer coming up from the west winter
range use the west side of the mgun.-
tain, " t. Park, Dry Park and the
ranges mostly west of the road be-
tween Jacobs Lake and Bright Angel
Point on the north rim. The west
herd of deer, or the deer that winter
on the west side of the mountains, is
much larger than the east herd, prob
ably because there is a larger range
for them to cover.
When the range was first set aside
by President Roosevelt deer were Win
tering in considerable numbers on the
area south and west of Ryan between
Kanab Greek and the foot of the rim
of the Buckskin mountains. There
had always been few deer north of
Ryan, but never so many as there
were south and west. These deer in
creased in number and kept going
back to the same winter range each
year. Naturally the forage on that
winter range was taxed heavier and
heavier each year. Even in 1919 a re.
port was made on the condition of the
west winter range, showing that it
was being eaten out very badly, but
people could not Believe that the con-
dition was so serious Therefore it
was allowed to drift on until a con-
dition now exists that might well be
described as deplorable and DANGER
Gus to the entire herd of mule deer
using that range, for in certain sec
tions they have eaten off the entire
stand of juniper and pinon trees as
high as they can reach, andtthey have
entirely killed out perhaps 80 per cent
of the cliff rose, their natural winter
feed When it is considered that deer
do not ordinarily eat pinon or juniper
browse the fact that they have eaten
the entire stand in some localities
should be evidence enough of the ser.
iousness of the situation as it now
exists.
The fawn crop last fall was esti-
mated at about so per cent, which |
would mean perhaps 40 per cent of
the entire herd. When we visited the
summer range in May this year, out |
of perhaps three or four hundred deer
that we saw close up there were but |
six last years fawns, indicating that
the death loss last winter on fawns
was enormous. These deer are in such /
poor condition that they are victims
Of ticks, some Of them found to be |
literally covered with woodticks along |
the neck and shoulders. If they are /
allowed to remain in such poor condi- I
lion it would mean that they would /
De very apt to fall victim to disease i
which might wipe out the entire herd. /
We photographed between so and I
100 head of deer that came in to salt |
at V. t. Park on top of the mountain /
and as we were hidden in a blind we I
got very good closeup Of the deer /
and their condition of flesh was pitt /
'ul. Bucks with enormous frames
would weigh perhaps 100 pounds.
What fawns we saw were about half I
.he size they should have been and re-
5embled very much the doggy" calf, !.
being large around the middle with
no shoulders and hams. The govern /
nent keeps out salt at short intervals
over the entire range and by visiting
.hese salt grounds and various water
1oles we were able to- determine to a
certain degree how many deer stayed
m the winter range all summer. II
vas surprising to note the number
If deer that did not move to the sum
ner range.
Conditions We're somewhat better III
he east herd. We saw a few deer that :
we're in fair condition, one or two that
lad shed their summer coat and we're
llre. | might state here that none
# the deer we saw from the west
Ierd had shed off. They were all red
md their coats were ragged. Gen.
rally. speaking the east herd is in
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