Bitterbrush also goes by the common name antelope brush or antelope bitterbrush. It is an important browse plant and is favored by deer and elk. Mule deer use of bitterbrush peaks in September, when it may compose 91 percent of the diet. Because it is such a favorite, its vigor is often used to gauge the condition of rangeland. Elk and deer are often found about bitterbrush during hunting season because they blend in well and are harder to detect. Bitterbrush is a shrub in the rose family and is usually from three to six feet tall, though it can grow even taller. There are two common ecotypes, both present throughout its range. There are decumbent plants and columnar plants. The decumbent, or prostrate form is more common at higher elevations.
