Migration Routes of Mule Deer in the South Wind River Herd in Wyoming

Mule deer within the South Wind River herd make short- and medium-distance migrations from the foothills near Lander, Wyoming, into the Wind River Range and around its southern flanks (fig. 31). The longest migration in this herd is a 75-mile (121-km) route originating south of Lander near Twin Creek. Deer following this long-distance route traverse the southern edge of the Wind River Range and summer in the mountainous terrain at the head of the Big Sandy River. Some deer make medium-distance migrations, traveling 14–51 mi (23–82 km) northwest of Sweetwater Station to summer range in the northern Great Divide Basin. Meanwhile, other deer in this population make short- and medium-distance migrations of 7–59 mi (11–95 km), moving along the Lander foothills and up into the Wind River Range. Challenges for South Wind River deer include navigating rugged terrain, crossing U.S. Highways 789 and 28, and navigating development in and around Lander. These data provide the location of migration routes for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the South Wind River herd in Wyoming. They were developed from Brownian bridge movement models using 65 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 28 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2-8 hours.

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  "010:12"
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  "geospatial"
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