Despite efforts to replenish the number of mule deer in the Platte Valley herd, the population of the local animal is still in decline.
Around 30 people showed up at Saratoga Town Hall March 3 for an update from Wyoming Game and Fish (WGFD) on the Platte Valley Mule Deer Initiative. The main presenter was WGFD Regional Wildlife Supervisor Rick King, who spoke about past progress and what the next steps should be.
The effort to increase the Platte Valley mule deer herd made with other agencies, landowners and the public began in 2011. The herd population, found in parts of eastern Wyoming and northern Colorado, is estimated to be around 11,000, but the target goal is 20,000.
WGFD Saratoga Wildlife Biologist Will Schultz said that with herd numbers dropping, he was happy to keep moving forward with plans. He said the goal of the meeting was to let the public know what has been going on since the collaborative effort began.
“It’s not sitting on a shelf collecting dust, and we’re actually implementing what we said we’re going to try and do in there and see what people think of the progress we’re making,” Schultz said. “From our perspective, it’s great having the opportunity to check in with the public and let them know how we’re progressing on various aspects of the mule deer initiative, like the Platte Valley Habitat Partnership and some of the changes made in hunting season structure. We’re relaying that information to them, and then getting some feedback on what they think of things so far.”
Schultz said he was pleased to have such a big audience last week.
“This was a great turnout and it still demonstrates the interest that the residents of the Platte Valley have in their mule deer herd,” he said. “These people are very passionate about wildlife, but more specifically about mule deer. I think we had about 30 people, and that’s a great turnout for a public meeting.”
As part of the effort to increase mule deer, pending projects include Big Creek Ranch mountain shrub and aspen treatments; SERCD/BLM fence conversions and water developments to improve riparian areas; USFS French Creek fence conversion, modification and replacement; and ZN Ranch riparian and mountain shrub enhancements for 6,100 acres. The Big Creek Ranch project would include renovating and reseeding more than 8,000 acres of range, while the SERCD/BLM project would involve 10 spring developments and converting 21 miles of old woven wire sheet fences into ones more suitable for deer and antelope migration.
“The next steps are getting those habitat projects that were recently funded rolling this summer, with some actions out on the ground,” Schultz said. “Obviously, we’ll just continue to monitor the mule deer population and also just try to provide information and education to the public. We’ve got some more specific meetings coming up in March to talk about all our hunting season proposals for the 2014 hunting seasons. Later that night we’ll also be having a meeting to review the population objective for the Platte Valley Deer, as well as Big Creek pronghorn and Elk Mountain pronghorn.”
The total cost of the projects is more than $700,000, but the state’s cost is only around $100,000. The rest will come from a variety of partners, including wildlife foundations.
Jim States, vice chairman of Voices of the Valley said he was pleased with the information learned and feedback given from audience members.
“I think it’s hard to digest all that information and understand what it really means to our mule deer herd,” he said. “The important thing is that Game and Fish is keeping track of the commitments they’ve made, and they’ve acknowledged where they haven’t been able to do it yet. They’ve reported back on cases where they have been able to get something done.”
A question raised by States regarded how all the information discussed would reach the wider public.
“Maybe we all have some responsibility for that, because I do know there’s a lot of misinformation and lack of understanding about what’s being done here,” he said. “Now we’ve got some answers, and I’d like to see those answers get spread around a little so people at least know what’s been learned so far. It’s a littler group than we get with the habitat partnership, but we get a lot more hunter and outfitter participation here, though we haven’t had so much in the habitat improvement effort. That is kind of understandable, and this is the end they’re concerned about.”
States said people need to realize there are two major elements to what is trying to be done for mule deer.
“One is how do we manage the population through hunting and predator control and so on, and the other is how do we improve the number and quality of mule deer through their food supply,” he said. “Basically, the way deer live is that they build up a reserve through the summer and into the fall, and then the rest of the year until there’s new forage available in the spring, they’re running off whatever they’ve been able to store.”
More meetings concerning the mule deer are scheduled this month, including a hunting season public meeting March 26 to discuss results of last season and what hunters would like to see this coming fall. That meeting takes place at 6 p.m. at Saratoga Town Hall.
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