2012 Map of Deers Ears Butte North

About this map

Deers Ears Butte rises as a prominent landmark in the southeastern corner of this rangeland landscape, serving as a focal point for the surrounding high plains of Butte County. The area is defined by a dendritic drainage network where the S Fork Moreau River gathers waters from numerous seasonal tributaries. These waterways, including Warren Cr and Spring Cr in the west and Flat Cr and Horse Cr to the east, create a complex topography of draws and ridges typical of the Western South Dakota shortgrass prairie. Human presence is sparse, represented primarily by the winding track of Erk RD and a light network of local roads that follow the natural contours of the land. The mapping of numerous small stock ponds suggests a landscape deeply tied to cattle ranching, where water management is critical for the survival of livestock across the wide-open intervals between permanent creek flows.