We studied the diets of desert mule deer (Odbcoileus hemionus crooki Mearns) at 3 sites in Arizona and collated this information with that of previous diet studies of desert mule deer across their range in the United States. We documented 96 browse, 69 forb, 14 succulent, and 6 grass species that each constituted 2 1% of the diet during 2 1 season. The occurrence of individual plant species varied spatially and temporally. Changes in nutrient levels and climatic influence on relative

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... y and phenology of plant species likely influenced diet. Desert mule deer rely heavily on browse and forbes, which make up the majority of their diet (> 90%). Grasses and succulents were generally c 5% of the diet. Rangeland managers should strive to keep desert rangelands productive with a diversity of forage so animals have opportunities to exercise free choice of diet. Desert mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus crooki Meams) are endemic to desert shrub and chaparral areas of the southwestern United States and northern Mexico (Wallmo 1981). In the United States their range extends from south of the Gila River, Arizona eastward into central New Mexico and the Texas Panhandle (Hoffmeister 1962). The abundance and distribution of a species within its range is influenced by environmental components necessary for existence including food (Litvaitis et al. 1994 ). We reviewed the diet studies of desert mule deer that have been conducted; most were confined to small areas and few plant species were found in the diet when compared to the number of plant species eaten throughout their range. The objectives of our study were to provide new information on desert mule deer diets obtained from 3 sites in Arizona and to collate this information with existing information to obtain a comprehensive list of plant species eaten by desert mule deer in Research was funded by the United States Bureau of Reclamation under Contract 9-07-30-X069 and the Arizona Agricultural Experiment Station. Authors thank M. Murphy for carrying out the micro-histological analysis of fecal samples.