BISMARCK (AP) -- State wildlife officials say a fall survey has confirmed that the severe winter and spring reduced mule deer production in North Dakota.
Game and Fish Department biologist Bruce Stillings said observers in airplanes counted 1,528 mule deer in the October survey. While the buck-to-doe ratio of 0.54 was above the long-term average, the fawn-to-doe ratio of 0.74 was the second-lowest documented since 1975 and well below the long-term average of 0.95 fawns per doe.
Stillings said the only year with lower fawn production was 1997, following one of the worst winters on record.
The fall aerial survey covers 285 square miles in western North Dakota.
