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Show Pape 20- - UINTAH BASIN STANDARD. April 13.1399 Mule deer & the importance of quality winter habitat selves more and were more spread The importance of mule deer finding quality habitat in the winter -was preferably in a rural area highlighted during two presentations given at the western state's Deer and Elk Workshop March 4. Sponsored by the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies, the workshop is held every two yean. This year it wca held at the Salt Palace Convention Center in Salt Lake City. The workshop pro14 vide wildlife professionals fr-rwestern states, and the Canadian provinces of British Columbia, Alberta and Saskatchewan, an opportunity to meet and share the relatest in deer and search. The importance ef deer finding quality winter habitat in rural areas was the focus of a presentation by Mark McClure, a doctorate student at Utah State University McClure's presentation focused on his January 1994 through January 1997 Cache Valley, Utah study that examined the differences between deer wintering in urban areas versus those wintering in rural out - when it was time in the spring to migrate from winter back to summer ranges, deer on the urban area left two to three weeks earlier than those on the rural area. 40 percent of rural deer re, mained on their winter range as compared to only 8 percent of the urban deer. McClure theorised that at least part of the reason the urban deer behaved and migrated this way was because ofharasament from humans and dogs, which made it harder for them to find adequate forage and increased the risk of living in the urban area. This show s the need to conserve open spaces and winter ranges, McClure said. The quality of habitat mule deer find on winter ranges was the subject ofa presentation by Dan Stroud, habitat coordinator with the Wyoming Game and Fish Department. While mule deer habitat has suf-- , fered some set backs in western Wyoming's Wyoming Range Mule Deer Herd Unit in the last several . year-round- a d areas. In his study he monitored mule deer wintering within a 30 square kilometer area in Logan, and another group wintering in a rural area near Richmond, about 13 kilometers to the north. McClure said his study turned up some significant differences. Among them: the ratio of fawns to does was lower on the urban area, with 40 fawns to 100 dot's compared to 70 per 100 on the rural area. the urban deer tended to cluster around a few key areas that were always assoc.at-.- wiih hiding cover. Rural deer separated them . decades, Strouds presentation showed that habitat projects art helping swing habitat back in the mule deer's favor. Stroud said studies in the unit in the 1960s, 1970s and 1980s revealed a die-otrend in the types ofshruba most preferred by deer. Studies also indicated little new growth, to replace that which was lost, was taking place among its aging shrub community. The suppression offices, overuse ofthe habitat hy livestock and deer, oil and gas development, drought and the old age of the unit's plant community were cited by Shroud as ff reasons for the decline. To reverse the trend, habitat improvement projects were started in 1990 to improve the habitat and to determine which projects were most effective. Chai rung and ing, prescribed burns and sagebrush mowing are among projects that have been undertaken since 1990. Stroud said the projects have met with mixed results but all have helped. Among the advantages documented have been shruba most preferred by deer coming hack, a greater diversity of shrubs and forbs, of grasses, and quicker green-u- p the comeback of aspen tree stands. Stroud said the philosophy of the projects is overall vegetative health and diversity by providing a multiage vegetative community, and that the program is not focused exclusively on helping a single wildlife species. Stroud said that mule deer are benefits from this approach, though, and that foil benefits to mule deer could be realized with about 15 to 20 years of continued work. The challenges Wyoming has faced with its mule deer habitat an not unique to that state. Jim Davis, who leads Utah's Range Study Trend Program for the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources, said his groups work indicates that the overall shrub component of Utahs habitat, especially sage- brush, seems to be declining. In an interview after the March 4 morning session, Davis said the reason for this is open to speculation and varies from area to area in Utah. Factors could include weather, which can harm sagebrush in various ways, Davis said. For example, heavy precipitation in Utah from Roosevelt 1st ward Wcbelos came and took a tour last Tuesday of the Standard. They Rozclla Chatw in particularly enjoyed the press and the photo editing. Pictured from left to right are the instructors: Trevor Hunt, Reed Thomas, Chatwin. Simon Joseph and Gayla Hicken. Scouts: Greg Page, Fresqucz, Taylor Page. A GRAND TOUR-T- he 1982 through 1984 saturated the soil and stressed sagebrush, leading to fungus and other diseases that killed sagebrush in different areas of the state. ' Drought is another factor that can cause sagebrush to wilt and die, Davis said. The prevalence of cheat grass and other weeds in northern and central Utah also can choke sagebrush out, he said. Aa in Wyoming, continued habitat projects in Utah can help provide its mule deer with habitat they need. .v CHECK OUT., i conservation position in Utah end their habitat other wildlife elk, Founded in 1984, the Foundation now has nearly 110,000 members 3,000 in randum of understanding that cre- more than - who have helped generate Utah ates a shared staff position to adS85 million to conserve and enhance dress wildlife habitat conservation more than 2.5 million scree of wildand open space issues throughout life habitat across North America. Utah. Elk Foundation has contributThe Native Utahn, Dwight Bunnell, to 142 projects a DWR employee for 29 years who ed almost $5 million the in protectstate, permanently has worked with the Foundation on more than 100,000 acres end acveral projects, was selected to staff ing another 86,000 acres of the Utah Wildlife Lands Project in enhancing wildlife habitat. Utah January. Bunnell will work with The Elk Foundation is headquarlandowners and the public to proin Missoula, Montana. tered vide information about conservation easements and other land transactions that benefit landowners and wildlife. The pilot program will otter landowners an opportunity to explore acveral methods for protecting their property from fragmentation and development while easing Major farmranch activities for some tax burdens. During the term the week ending April 4. 1999 in-of the two-yea- r, renewable MOU, eluded shearing sheep, lambing, Bunnell will work closely with the calving, spring planting and tillElk Foundation Utah Field Direcage, and spraying and pruning fruit, tor Bill Christensen to reach aa according to the Utah Agricultural many landowners and wildlife enStatistics Service. thusiasts as possible in Utah. Springwheatphistadwas47 perCooperation and partnerships cent complete and 13 perrent are becoming increasingly essenemerged. Barley was 42 percent tial to conserve wildlife habitat, planted and 12 percent emerged. said Bunnell. 'Agency budgets are Oats were 23 percent planted and 6 shrinking, issues an mors complex percent emerged. and private landowners art faced Apricots were 96 percent full with increasing pressure to break bloom or past, 20 percent higher up large parcels of land that have than 1998. Cows calved were 69 traditionally helped define theWesL percent complete. 6 percent below By forming cooperative agreements last year. Ewes lambed on the farm like this MOU, the groups involved was 60 percent complete, and ewes can leverage their own resources to lambed on the range was 24 percent provide more opportunities for pricomplete. Sheep sheared on the farm vate landowners and the public to waa 49 percent complete and sheep find solutions for alleviating these sheared on the range was 25 perpressures. The Quality Growth Act, cent complete, both of which were recently passed by the 1999 legislaabove last year. ture and signed by Governor Leavitt, Both foil barley and winter w heat provides a new and important opwere mostly undamaged or lightly portunity for partnering with local damaged due to freeze this winter. interest groups to protect wildlife The condition of the two crops was habitat. primarily fair to excellent throughThe Rocky Mountain Elk Founout the state. Subsoil and topsoil dation is an international, nonprofmoisture were about 75 it conservation organisation whose adequate with the remainingpercent either mission is to ensure the future of short or The Utah Division of Wildlife Resources an Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation have signed a memo- Crop weather for week ending " " Elk Foundation fund land April 4, 1999 " I 5000 ' t - ,, , jtivt Lptf'1 if ' . t Series Tractors SEE US FOR FINANCE OPTIONS surplus. SEE AT BIG B EQUIPMENT Best Turning radius in the Industry High Torque r UINTAH BASIN APPRECIATION MONTH Because so many people of the Uintah Basis respected my posted property west of Duchesne, near the Tzbiona Junction, this last winter, I would like to invite any one im .vJc a in viewing large herds ofelk utilizing my 14,000 acres ofimproved range to feci free to enter these lands for wildlife viewing free of charge. This invitation will be available front April I to May 10, 1999 at which time cattle with young calves will again be utilizing this range.Tbc permission to eater these properties wiUagain be by written penaosion only. r- - - Sincerely, AUse E. Smith Fuel-Efficie- nt engines - Hydraulic , Reverser option Dn. 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