Mule deer were not abundant then, even in the high mountains of extreme northeastern Nevada. On some years, the entire party was lucky to get a single shot at a buck. Shrubs that provided forage for browsing deer were increasing on the sagebrush/grasslands, especially in the aftermath of the winter of 1889–90, and mule deer populations were responding to this increase, but populations had not yet increased to the point where deer were abundant.
