Water use patterns of mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and the effects of human disturbance

To aid the effectiveness of water developments, patterns of deer visiting water sources and the responses of deer to disturbance were examined. Deer visited water sources day and night, but not all deer at water sources drank. Thus, the assumption that radio-telemetry locations within arbitrary distances of water indicate drinking events may lead to overestimates of watering frequency. Human disturbance did not preclude or seriously impede use of water by deer. Deer reacted by adjusting the amount of time spent at water sources, moving away from water to return later and/or increasing the frequency with which they drank