Improving Mule Deer Populations: MANAGEMENT PART 3 OF 3
By Charlie D. Clements This is the final part of a three-part series addressing the importance of management in improving mule deer population densities and their habitat.
According to numerous researchers, habitat quality is the number one driving force behind increases and decreases in mule deer populations.
Mule deer are native to North America and are the primary big game species in Nevada and other western states. Mule deer are a valuable economic resource for State, County and local communities through their recreational opportunities.
The use of radio-collaring mule deer herds is critical in identifying summer, transitional and winter ranges. Following this identification, it is then possible to quantify the condition of these habitats and address limiting factors such as stand decadence (older less nutritious browse species), loss of habitat due to wildfires, Pinyonjuniper encroachments, and migratory issues.
Management of mule deer is critical to provide and continue recreational and hunting opportunities which requires the understanding of population dynamics driven by a complexity of biotic and abiotic factors such as climate, fire, habitat conditions, predation and highway vehicle collisions. Wildlife managers are tasked with the complexity of these factors that are continually changing and intermixing with each other.
The better quality and nutrition of the plant species the healthier condition the animals are to conceive, produce and recruit fawns back into the population (Figure 1) as well as reduce predation, disease and winter mortality.
Amount and periodicity of precipitation is the main driving force behind a plants ability to provide nutrition, flower, produce seed and recruit seedlings back into the environment. Being that Nevada is the driest State in the Union, the State receives more dry years that wet years, thus we have average precipitation zones that may only receive the average or above average precipitation about 40% of the time. The cold desert of the Great Basin receives the majority of its precipitation during the winter months in the form of snow which results in increased soil moisture for the coming spring, but periodicity of spring and summer precipitation are critical in continued nutritional value as well as recruitment of seedlings of desirable species.
Once habitat limitations are identified, the challenges begin. In the case of stand decadence, depending on the potential of the plant community, deliberate manipulation of habitats will need to be conducted to improve stand vigor (Figure 2). The higher elevations that receive more favorable precipitation respond very well to disturbances that set back succession, add edge effect and improve the stand age of perennial grasses, forbs and shrubs. One of the problems with these higher potential habitats, mountain brush communities, is that they account for a smaller percentage of the overall mule deer habitat. Wyoming big sagebrush/bunchgrass habitat types make up more than 50% of Great Basin rangelands followed by nearly 30% of very arid salt desert shrub communities.
Figure 1. The recruitment of mule deer fawns is critical in the sustainability and recovery of mule deer populations.
18 APRIL 2021
The Progressive Rancher
www.progressiverancher.com
