Coastal Rain Forest

California Woodland Chaparral

Southwest Deserts

Great Plains

Colorado Plateau Shrubland and Forest

Intermountain West

Northern Forest

No two mule deer populations are alike because where they live differs from one part of their range to another. Biologists refer to the different areas as “ecoregions”. By studying each ecoregion, biologists can better identify the factors that are limiting the growth of mule deer populations, and predict responses by mule deer populations to changes in habitat. Habitat quality has an effect on survival of fawns, the most important factor in determining how well a population fares from season to season, and year to year.

Biologists have identified seven ecoregions that mule deer call home. Each ecoregion is briefly summarized including a physical description, a description of the deer, the climate, limiting factors that reduce the productivity of deer, and recommendations to improve mule deer populations.

All ecoregions are subject to the limiting factors such as urbanization, fire suppression and drought described in this publication. The limiting factors listed for each ecoregion in this article are some of the most important, but certainly not the only factors, limiting mule deer populations.

Although each region is ecologically different, some common factors exist:

- Generally, habitats conditions that are less productive for mule deer.

- Human caused factor such as fragmentation of habitat, changes in fire regimes, livestock management and changes in plant communities have limited deer populations.

- Return to higher mule deer numbers will require stronger land use planning and restoration efforts on a large scale.

- Climate and weather play an important role in habitat quality in each region.