MuleDeerWinterRange is an ESRI SDE Feature Class showing that part of the overall range where 90% of the individuals are located during the average five winters out of ten from the first heavy snowfall to spring green-up, or during a site specific period of winter as defined for each Date Analysis Unit. Winter range is only delineated for migratory populations. On the Eastern Plains winter range is defined as areas that provide thermal cover for deer. Examples are riparian areas dominated by trees and shrubs, areas of pinyon/juniper, topographic cover such as gullies, draws, canyons, shelter belts and CRP fields that provide adequate cover.

This information was derived from field personnel. A variety of data capture techniques were used including drawing on mylar overlays at 1:50,000 scale USGS county mapsheets and implementation of the SmartBoard Interactive Whiteboard using stand-up, real-time digitizing at various scales (Cowardin, M., M. Flenner. March 2003. Maximizing Mapping Resources. GeoWorld 16(3):32-35).