Emergency winter-feeding of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) has been used to mitigate high mortality associated with severe winter conditions. The benefits and liabilities of such emergency winter-feeding programs continue to be debated. To address these issues, the Utah Wildlife Board adopted a winter-feeding policy to provide some standard guidelines on how and when to feed. In response to the concerns of Utah sportsmen organizations, the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources implemented this emergency winter-feeding policy in northern Utah during winter 2001-2002. 

To assess the effects of this emergency winter-feeding program, we monitored mule deer behavior and body condition over 3 years of varying winter severity. During this period, we monitored 81 radio-collared does on 4 treatment and 4 control sites to determine migration status and timing, mortality, and fawn production.