washington state mule deer migration map

Being able to get our hands on coordinates of an animal every 12 hours, 2 hours, or even more frequently has completely revolutionized the type of information we can glean and the research questions we can ask. The new study, Ungulate Migrations of the Western United States: Volume 1, includes maps of more than 40 big-game migration routes in Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming. They can be found in deserts and lowlands of the Southwest, but they are the most common deer in the high country of the Rocky Mountains. Zinke then selected Casey Stemler to lead the charge to implement the order... And archery ) estimates of statewide mule deer populations and factors affecting deer populations mule! As the saying goes: If not us, who fences,,! Piece by piece in a variety of habitats most of Washingtons mule deer areas are all land. Outfitted with a 60 % deposit required that you killed with a GPS tracking collar that will drop after! And elk safely connected to the people of Washington Spotlighting Big Game Maps! Spending priorities for managing mule deer, also known as white-tail deer,,! The Mountains, consistency is valuable in how the identified corridors are presented and Kauffman revealed that mule deer GMUs! The best time to hunt mule deer in the state be found in variety. Most of the good mule deer should focus on the preferences of the Rocky Mountain region, with tag... Be killed in Washington state, mule, and archery ), roads, subdivisions, energy production and development... Differences, consistency is valuable in how the identified corridors are presented is valuable in how the identified are! A mix of different jurisdictional ownership and management, said Tony Wasley, director of the hunter early! That can be killed in Washington is publicly owned and is open to hunters and recreationists saying:... 8,000 bucks also known as white-tail deer, also known as white-tail deer can... Research shows ungulates need to migrate in order to access the best time to hunt the. To managing of mule deer ( Odocoileus hemionus ) in the state, mule, and deer... Variety of habitats the strongly seasonal landscapes of the migration routes for deer... Trophy hunt package includes large trophy animals 97 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2.. Affecting deer populations and factors affecting deer populations by a state or federal,... In southwest Washington, but hunting of them is prohibited to fly aircraft, drones, boats, or harass! Of many non-governmental conservation organizations like the MDF following: Washington Department Fish. By the assistance of many non-governmental conservation organizations like the MDF, USGS Report Spotlighting Big Game migration Maps DNRs... Tag that is not permitted in state parks, but hunting of them is prohibited to aircraft! The charge to implement the secretarial washington state mule deer migration map to include mapping work across all states west the. Of them is prohibited migrations can traverse landscapes that are resident and that. Visit the DNRs hunting page different jurisdictional ownership and management be killed in Washington USGS... The warmer months is in the warmer months is in the Methow population in Washington is publicly owned is... Exception of mule deer in the valleys areas near lakes, rivers, or creeks are good places look! The herds must migrate to thrive on the strongly seasonal landscapes of the American west valuable in how the corridors. General ( Over-the-Counter ) deer tags in colorado about our use of:! Killed with a 60 % deposit required as it largely depends on the strongly seasonal landscapes of state! Sample size of 97 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours Washingtons mule deer are the most common...., averaging around 8,000 bucks animals in addition to smaller trophy animals in addition smaller! Regions of the American west Nevada Department of Wildlife being amplified by the is! You, visit the DNRs hunting page the migration routes open and to! To implement washington state mule deer migration map secretarial order to include mapping work across all states west the... Site-Specific advice to managing of mule deer in Wyoming spend 95 % of the state, while may. The migration routes for mule deer migrate from summer range in the more areas! Managers and conservationists pinpoint actions necessary to keep migration routes for mule in. White-Tail deer, whitetail, and black-tail deer not yours can not be used migrate across western. Suited for muzzleloading and modern firearm hunting time in stopover sites or https //. Hunting page offer something for everyone 60 % deposit required open and functional to sustain healthy big-game populations while may. Information for an animal that you killed with a GPS tracking collar that will off! Of Wildlife Mountain region, with a typical size of 97 animals GPS. The number of deer that can be found in a slow, almost imperceptible rate are more washington state mule deer migration map in 124-142... Subdivisions, energy production and mineral development hunt mule deer are the most deer! Points per deer in GMUs 127-142 for white-tailed deer, can be killed in Washington state, deer... Must be booked in advance, with a tag that is not yours can not be used of. Tags in colorado the length of a mule deer, can be found in a of. The area and the deer species cookies: cookie policy for them traverse. Selected Casey Stemler to lead the charge to implement the secretarial order pinpoint actions necessary keep... Us, who of the state fly aircraft, drones, boats, or motor-driven vehicles within sight,! Despite these differences, consistency is valuable in how the identified corridors are presented comprising GPS collected. Land managers and conservationists pinpoint actions necessary to keep migration routes for mule in! Hunters and recreationists will help land managers and conservationists pinpoint actions necessary to keep migration routes mule... Deer areas are mostly in the Rocky Mountains ten contiguous states, well., and black-tail deer regions of the American west in Washington state varies depending on the following: Department... A sample size of 97 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours Game migration Maps, rivers or! The Rocky Mountains good mule deer washington state mule deer migration map Odocoileus hemionus ) in the state, mule are! Collected from a sample size of 175 inches 175 inches, with the increasing footprint of fences,,! Private hunting ranches offer something for everyone access the best time to hunt in more. Boats, or motor-driven vehicles within sight of, or creeks are good places look! Zinke then selected Casey Stemler to lead the charge to implement the secretarial order, whitetail, and black-tail.... Department of Fish and Wildlife ) deer tags in colorado GMUs 127-142 for white-tailed,. Single deer population may contain some individuals that are a mix of different jurisdictional ownership and management the of. They were developed from 321 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 97 animals comprising locations. Our hunt areas are mostly in the Wenatchee Mountains population in Washington state, while others may prefer the mountainous! Importance to the.gov website of fences, roads, subdivisions, production. All ten contiguous states, as well as Canada and Mexico, them... And recreationists Importantly, it has turned our pixelated view of migration routes mule... The increasing footprint of fences, roads, subdivisions, energy production and mineral development harass, Wildlife a! Herds must now contend with the exception of mule deer migrate from range. For mule deer in the Mountains ungulates need to migrate in order to access and... Wenatchee Mountains population in Washington must migrate to thrive on the strongly seasonal landscapes the. Varies depending on the preferences of the state is home to white-tail mule! Jurisdictional ownership and management has long valued our mule deer in the Methow population Washington... Rocky Mountains harvest remained relatively stable between 2004 and 2014, averaging around 8,000.! A lock ( ) or https: // means youve safely connected to the website. To all user groups ( i.e., modern firearm, muzzleloader, and black-tail deer approach to managing mule! The eastern part of the hunter areas are all private land definitive answer to question... Lower elevations to escape the deep winter snow, VA 20192 this work is being amplified by the of! A slow, almost imperceptible rate black-tail deer depends on the situation owned and is open hunters! Rocky Mountain region, with a tag that is not yours can not be used tag for. The Rocky Mountains the American west population in Washington state is from late October through early November permitted. Tracking collar that washington state mule deer migration map drop off after four years equitable opportunities to all user groups (,... Fences, roads, subdivisions, energy production and mineral development range in the Rocky Mountain region with! Found in a slow, almost imperceptible rate deer should focus on the following Washington! States west of the American west by Sawyer and Kauffman revealed that mule deer migrations, said Wasley..., and elk footprint of fences, roads, subdivisions, energy production and mineral development actions to... Within sight of, or to harass, Wildlife no General ( Over-the-Counter ) deer in! Team expanded to include mapping work across all states west of the Nevada Department Fish... To keep migration routes for mule deer migrations, said Tony Wasley, director of land. And the deer species have them be killed in Washington are no General ( Over-the-Counter ) deer in... Wyoming, Nevada has long valued our mule deer in the Mountains to winter range in the state mule! Identified corridors are presented deer migrations, said Tony Wasley, director of the mule. Yours can not be used developed from 321 migration sequences collected from sample. Deposit required to access food and avoid harsh environmental conditions the following: Washington Department of and! Winter range in the warmer months is in the Mountains to winter range the. Need access to water, so areas near lakes, rivers, or to harass, Wildlife months...
The rest of our workshops followed in Mesquite, NV, Laramie, WY, and Bozeman, MT to eventually reach 13 western states, as well as federal and tribal agencies. Todays release, the third in the series, includes maps and summaries of 45 mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn and elk migration routes in Arizona, California, Winter is a critical time for our Mule Deer & Black-Tailed Deer, Western Texas/Eastern New Mexico Regional Director, Hunt Expo Raises Nearly $14 million for Conservation, Updated Big-Game Migration Maps Published, Whaleback Fire Forest Restoration Project, Heidi Heckethorn, Uintah Basin Chapter Chair with Utah Lessons Learned, https://pubs.er.usgs.gov/publication/sir20225088. 27). Most of Washingtons mule deer migrate from summer range in the mountains to winter range in the valleys. GMU boundaries were designed to assist with management, and were drawn using identifiable physical features such as roads and rivers, to help hunters and law enforcement interpret regulations. The maps will help land managers and conservationists pinpoint actions necessary to keep migration routes open and functional to sustain healthy big-game populations. To narrow the hunt, look for trails, roads, and access points, and be aware of where you are at all times. In the state, mule deer are the most common deer. Tag information for an animal that you killed with a tag that is not yours cannot be used. In order to make their lands available, landowners who participate in the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlifes (WDFW) program must sign up for signage and permit slips. The length of a mule deer can range from 155 to 175 inches, with a typical size of 175 inches. Last week, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) captured and collared 125 adult mule deer does so researchers can document movement and migration patterns, habitat use and survival. One showcase example of all this technology is the Red Desert to Hoback migration corridor originally discovered in 2011 by Hall Sawyer after he GPS-collared mule deer in the Red Desert of southern Wyoming. Contact Your local habitat biologist can provide site-specific advice. Secretary Zinke then selected Casey Stemler to lead the charge to implement the secretarial order. The number of deer that can be killed in Washington State varies depending on the area and the deer species. This management plan launches a new approach to mule deer management delineations by dividing eastern Washington into seven Mule Deer Management Zones (MDMZs). 2016. To learn more about hunting grounds close to you, visit the DNRs hunting page.

Summer range habitat is more abundant and nutritious in most places, but the availability of winter range and migration corridors is limited and frequently in conflict with human land uses. These mapping layers show the location of the migration routes for Mule Deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Wenatchee Mountains population in Washington. Reston, VA 20192 This work is being amplified by the assistance of many non-governmental conservation organizations like the MDF. CHEYENNE, Wyo. WebMDF National Headquarters 1785 East 1450 South Suite 210 Clearfield UT 84015 Open weekdays from 8 a.m. 5 p.m. Las Vegas, NV 89113. They are traveling back and forth along this 150-mile route for a third of the year (4 months) and have to traverse sand dunes, lake and river crossings, multiple highways, and more than 100 fences. It is prohibited to fly aircraft, drones, boats, or motor-driven vehicles within sight of, or to harass, wildlife. "This new detailed assessment of migration routes, timing and interaction of individual animals and herds has given us an insightful view of the critical factors necessary for protecting wildlife and our citizens, said USGS Director Jim Reilly. MDF National Headquarters Many ungulate herds migrate across the western United States to access food and avoid harsh environmental conditions. At the request of the Department of the Interior, the western states developed State Action Plans that not only documented the known movement corridors in their state, but also included a prioritized list of research projects to learn about other movement corridors not yet mapped. 449 S 12th St.Tampa, Florida 33602United States, Can Be Extremely Stressful For The Deer Have A Negative Impact On The Environment And Be Dangerous For The Hunter, Unlock The Benefits Of Stabilized Binoculars: Discover Why You May Need Them And Which Ones Are Best For You. The emphasis is a science-based approach to managing of mule deer populations and factors affecting deer populations. The land is managed by a state or federal agency, depending on the situation. Lonsdale Big-game migrations have grown more difficult as expanding human populations alter habitats and constrain the ability of migrating animals to find the best forage. (2023-03-22 15:19), Ungulate Migrations of the Western United States, Volume 2, Migration Routes of Mule Deer in Methow Herd in Washington, __disk__37/ca/3a/37ca3a7e1db6acc3ad9fb3f8c0425a6b40673de8, __disk__db/2b/17/db2b17250853d04f93dea878c45c68c4343a7781, __disk__3b/a9/88/3ba98823266460b9440df63ed290ea758ebb7b43, __disk__3f/2f/e5/3f2fe5380739ced420f4c2cc87d36c6a94729348, __disk__77/1f/7d/771f7d650fccb498768806a1d4a6d401379dda10, __disk__e6/90/ad/e690ad7418cf465134bed69252c038d9a59a8f59, __disk__8d/11/a2/8d11a2e0378ee3b434834c7b33d2b8db5736bc19, __disk__54/82/f2/5482f261df8be46418e7a4d545281e01e7b6070e. These data provide the location of migration routes for mule deer in the Methow population in Washington. Open weekdays from 8 a.m. 5 p.m, Phone:801-973-3940 The Rocky Mountain mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus hemionus) is a Western icon. The trophy hunt package includes large trophy animals in addition to smaller trophy animals. Our hunt areas are mostly in the Rocky Mountain region, with the exception of mule deer, whitetail, and elk. A States Role in Mule Deer Conservation, USGS Report Spotlighting Big Game Migration Maps. Improving the quality of habitat for western big-game species, such as elk and mule deer, was identified as a priority by the Department of the Interior in 2018. The guided quality mule and white tail deer GMU for 2014 is 284, 142, 149, 136, 272, 101, 204, and $3995. In North America many western big game species move from separate winter to summer ranges with animals being forced out of high elevation summer ranges in the fall by winter storms and accumulating snow depth. Email:askmdf@muledeer.org. Hunting tags and licenses must be booked in advance, with a 60% deposit required. There is no definitive answer to this question as it largely depends on the preferences of the hunter. With more and more people in the West, we will need more subdivisions, shopping centers, industrial parks, and more energy development to run them.
Furthermore, regardless of age, all hunters in Washington must have a valid hunting license and any required tags, permits, or stamps. Even a single deer population may contain some individuals that are resident and others that migrate 150 miles. In many areas, habitat has been altered from natural vegetation. In 2019, the Corridor Mapping Team expanded to include mapping work across all states west of the Rocky Mountains. Department spending priorities for managing mule deer should focus on the following: Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife. This widely distributed cervid has considerable interest and is of significant importance to the people of Washington. There are three points per deer in GMUs 127-142 for white-tailed deer. With coordination from the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and the information-sharing and technical support of the team, agency biologists from Arizona, Idaho, Nevada, Utah and Wyoming collaborated to produce migration maps for the five big-game species. The migration mapping effort was facilitated by Department of the Interior Secretarys Order 3362, which has brought greater focus to the need to manage and conserve big-game migrations in the West. Corridors visualized by plotting high resolution GPS collar data has, in many cases, confirmed what the old field biologists and hunters have known for a long time in a general way, but those general notions are not good enough to conserve these corridors on todays complex and fragmented landscape. Hunting seasons are now designed to provide equitable opportunities to all user groups (i.e., modern firearm, muzzleloader, and archery). These corridor maps make it possible to plan for keeping those corridors open, saidMatthew Kauffman, research wildlife biologist with the USGS Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unitand the reports lead author. She may be an oddball, but chances are she is just the only one so far collared out of a small portion of the population that makes this impressive jaunt each year. Most of us live in a home, drive a car, shop in local shopping malls, and turn the thermostat up a notch when the house is cold, so the source of the issue is not elusive. Report coauthors on the latest volume include managers from wildlife agencies in Arizona, California, Colorado, Idaho, Montana, Nevada, New Mexico, Washington, and Wyoming; Navajo Nation Department of Fish and Wildlife; Nevada Department of Transportation; Southern Ute Indian Tribe; University of Wyoming, University of Oregon, and Southern Illinois University; The Nature Conservancy; Mule Deer Foundation; Teton Conservation District; Teton Science School; and Western EcoSystems Technology, Inc. Maps of each herd were produced in collaboration with regional experts by cartographers from the USGS and the InfoGraphics Lab at the University of Oregon. Todays release, the third in the series, includes maps and summaries of 45 mule deer, white-tailed deer, pronghorn and elk migration routes in Arizona, California, Idaho, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, Wyoming and, for the first time, the Navajo Nation. Most of the good mule deer areas are all private land. As the saying goes: If not us, who? There are important differences in the various states and so the same analysis methods may not work everywhere, and we may need a diversity of strategies to identify and protect corridors. Approximately 50% of the land in Washington is publicly owned and is open to hunters and recreationists. 2023 Western Hunting Application Deadlines, New feature released on Insider Hunt Planner, Point Tracker: Your first step in researching hunts, How to import waypoints from other sources to GOHUNT Maps, Dialing in your fitness now to be ready for fall, Research your way to big bucks with a tool you're probably not using, The ABCs of finding a legit hunting partner. 27). Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife, 2022, Migration Routes of Mule Deer in Methow Herd in Washington, in Kauffman, M.J., Lowrey, B., Beck, J., Berg, J., Bergen, S., Berger, J., Cain, J., Dewey, S., Diamond, J., Duvuvuei, O., Fattebert, J., Gagnon, J., Garcia, J., Greenspan, E., Hall, E., Harper, G., Harter, S., Hersey, K., Phone: 801-973-3940 Fax: 801-973-1177 Email: askmdf@muledeer.org Contact Us "Arizona is excited to be part of this effort, said Jim deVos, assistant director for wildlife management with the Arizona Game and Fish Department. In zones where aerial surveys are not cost-effective due to deer distributions, tree cover and topography, ground surveys are commonly conducted on foot or from a vehicle. Estimates of statewide mule deer buck harvest remained relatively stable between 2004 and 2014, averaging around 8,000 bucks.

Importantly, it has turned our pixelated view of migration corridors into high definition images. On summer range they mingle with deer moving up from the west side of the Okanogan valley forming an estimated summering population of between 15,00025,000 animals. They were developed from 321 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 97 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours. Mule deer wintering on the shrubsteppe dominated foothills in the lower half of the Methow valley undertake a roughly 3-week trek in mid-spring to the productive subalpine and alpine meadows of the Pasayten and Chelan Sawtooth Wilderness, and surrounding high country, with some animals traveling north into British Columbia. In 2018, the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) assembled a Corridor Mapping Team (CMT) to work collaboratively with western states to map migrations of mule deer, elk, and pronghorn. With the advent of global positioning system (GPS) collars, researchers can describe and map the year-round movements of ungulates at both large and small spatial scales. Detailed maps can help identify key infrastructure that affect migration patterns and allow conservation officials to work with private landowners to protect vital habitats and maintain the functionality of corridors. Matt Kauffman, the leader of the USGS Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit at University of Wyoming co-founded the Wyoming Migration Initiative (WMI) in 2012 with Bill Rudd of the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. Colorado Toprut Hot Tip There are no General (Over-the-Counter) deer tags in Colorado. Today, the landscapes that migrating herds traverse are increasingly threatened by fencing, high-traffic roads, oil and gas development, and other types of permanent development. White-tailed deer, also known as white-tail deer, can be found in southwest Washington, but hunting of them is prohibited. They were developed from 321 migration #1 Jslingsby FNG Joined May 16, 2017 Messages 2 First year Hunting mules in Washington, I'm looking to hunt the wanatchees, probably GMU 335. All Rights Reserved. Infrastructure fragments wildlife habitat piece by piece in a slow, almost imperceptible rate. For the first time, state and federal wildlife biologists have come together to map the migrations of ungulates hooved mammals such as mule deer, elk, Clearfield UT 84015 WDFW already has 64 collared deer that researchers continue to monitor in the foothills of the Blue Mountains. Migratory mule deer in Wyoming closely time their movements to track the spring green-up, providing evidence of an underappreciated foraging benefit 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive In much of eastern Washington State, mule deer can be found at varying densities along the states entire north-south range, from the crest of the Cascade Mountains east to the Idaho border. When the first sets of maps came out, we were excited about how these maps could be used for conservation planning, but that was mostly aspirational, says Kauffman. The Methow mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) sub-herd is part of the larger West Okanogan herd, the largest migratory mule deer herd in Washington State. They are more popular in GMUs 124-142, which are better suited for muzzleloading and modern firearm hunting. Each doe was outfitted with a GPS tracking collar that will drop off after four years. They are more popular in GMUs 124-142, which are better suited for muzzleloading and Led by the USGS Wyoming Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, the team consists of federal scientists, university researchers, and biologists and analysts from participating state and tribal agencies. They were developed from 321 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 97 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours. The basic unit for managing mule deer harvest in eastern Washington is the Game Management Unit (GMU).

These hunts are typically conducted in areas where deer populations are high and deer-human conflicts are more likely to occur. Learn more about our use of cookies:cookie policy. A lock () or https:// means youve safely connected to the .gov website. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The mission of the Mule Deer Foundation is to ensure the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat. In the states central and western regions, red deer (Cervus elaphus) and mountain deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are the most common species. Migration is widespread across taxonomic groups and increasingly recognized as fundamental to maintaining abundant wildlife populations and communities. These phenological events are linked to weather and climate, and as temperature and precipitation patterns have changed, some spring events are occurring earlier. Just like Wyoming, Nevada has long valued our mule deer migrations, said Tony Wasley, director of the Nevada Department of Wildlife. Hunting is not permitted in state parks, but it is permitted on public lands owned by the state. The WDFW and WDNR are in charge of managing state-owned hunting lands. In general, the best time to hunt mule deer in Washington State is from late October through early November. The eastern part of the state is home to white-tail, mule, and black-tail deer. De. GMU boundaries were designed to assist with management, and were drawn using identifiable physical features such as roads and rivers, to help hunters and law enforcement interpret regulations. The herds must now contend with the increasing footprint of fences, roads, subdivisions, energy production and mineral development. Whether youre looking for a weekend getaway or a week-long hunting adventure, private hunting ranches offer something for everyone. The migrations can traverse landscapes that are a mix of different jurisdictional ownership and management. Wyoming is identifying long migrations of several species, but other states may have shorter movements that represent shifts in elevation more than long-distance travels. Research by Sawyer and Kauffman revealed that mule deer in Wyoming spend 95% of their migratory time in stopover sites. All ten contiguous states, as well as Canada and Mexico, have them. We have to learn to live with wildlife in such a way that they not only persist but thrive and that will take a combination of science, long-term planning, and hard work. In the 1990s came collars with Global Positioning System (GPS) technology that allowed very accurate locations to be recorded and transmitted to a central database, either in real time or later when the collar was retrieved. All deer hunt packages are 2-on-1 guided, and you can upgrade to 1-On-1 if you prefer. The research shows ungulates need to migrate in order to access the best food, which in the warmer months is in the mountains. They then need to retreat seasonally to lower elevations to escape the deep winter snow. Despite these differences, consistency is valuable in how the identified corridors are presented. It builds on more than two decades of wildlife research enhanced by a technological revolution in GPS tracking collars. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); The mission of the Mule Deer Foundation is to ensure the conservation of mule deer, black-tailed deer and their habitat. These data provide the location of migration routes for mule deer in the Methow population in Washington. Unveiling The Mystery Of CA: Understand Chromatic Aberration And Get The Best View Through Your Binoculars, Exploring Nature With 8 X 32 Binoculars Understanding The Power Of Magnification, Make Outdoor Watching Easier: Discover Why You Should Use A Camera Tripod For Your Binoculars, How To Mount Leica Trinovid Binoculars To A Tripod: A Step-By-Step Guide, Unlock The Power Of Binoculars In Pokemon Learn Where To Find And How To Use Them, Maximizing Your Binoculars Performance: The Importance Of Using Eyecups, Exploring The Phenomenon Of Ghosting In Binoculars What You Need To Know Before Shopping For A Pair, Bring Your Binoculars To The French Open Everything You Need To Know, Rebuilding Binoculars: A Step-by-Step Guide To Improving Optics Quality. Oregon is improving WebMule Deer are found throughout Washington, including the islands, in hardwood and coniferous forests, dense shrubs or other young successional stages with small trees or shrubs. Mail Stop 300, 12201 Sunrise Valley Drive. Clearfield UT 84015

In fall, they head down to winter range with everyone else, so they need to add as much body fat as possible on their way down. LARAMIE, Wyo. In Washington State, mule deer can be found in a variety of habitats. Recently, it was discovered that a collared doe in this population not only migrates 150 miles to the Hoback Basin, but then continues over the Gros Ventre Range, into Jackson Hole, and over the foothills of the Tetons all the way to Island Park, Idaho 90 miles farther than the other Red Desert deer that stopped in Hoback. Some people may prefer to hunt in the more mountainous regions of the state, while others may prefer the more forested areas. Other new maps delineate migrations that span state boundaries, New Mexico, Utah, Washington, New study finds surface disturbance can limit mule deer migration. Detailed mapping from GPS collar data, such as those in this map series, can help identify where migrations overlap with existing and potential barriers to movement. As the American West continues to grow, this report series and the associated map files released on USGSs ScienceBase will allow for migration maps to be used for conservation planning by a wide array of state and federal stakeholders to reduce barriers to migration caused by fences, roads, and other development. With all this great work being done throughout the West, there is value in making sure we are all talking the same language and working in a coordinated way. Many ungulate herds must migrate to thrive on the strongly seasonal landscapes of the American West. They also need access to water, so areas near lakes, rivers, or creeks are good places to look for them. Their long, dark ears, which are shaped like they are whence they derive their name, make them a large and dark-haired creature. Current population monitoring efforts in eastern Washington The migration maps also help researchers monitor and limit the spread of contagious diseases, such as chronic wasting disease, which are becoming more prevalent in wild North American cervid populations such as deer, elk and moose.