Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Units Program: Kansas
Education, Research and Technical Assistance for Managing Our Natural Resources

Mule deer are declining throughout their range, including western Kansas. The expansion of white-tailed deer may be affecting population demography and space use by mule deer. Fawn survival is a driving force in population trends of deer. Determination of factors influencing fawn survival will provide insight on population trends of white-tailed deer and mule deer in western Kansas. The project is a collaboration of researchers including the Kansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, Wildlife and Enterprise Management Department at Kansas State University, Kansas Wildlife, Parks, and Tourism, Kansas Bowhunters Association, and Mule Deer Foundation. Fawn survival is relatively low for both mule deer and white-tailed deer, but bed site selection differed between the two species. Coyote predation within the first week following birth is the primary source of fawn mortality.