Importance of improving mule deer populations

Authors: Clements, Darin; Harmon, Daniel; SCOTT, MIKE - Nevada Department Of Wildlife; JEFFRESS, MATT - Nevada Department Of Wildlife

Submitted to: Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts
Publication Type: Abstract Only
Publication Acceptance Date: 10/30/2024
Publication Date: 2/10/2025
Citation: Clements, D.D., Harmon, D.N., Scott, M., Jeffress, M. 2025. Importance of improving mule deer populations. Society for Range Management Meeting Abstracts. 78:48.

Interpretive Summary:

Technical Abstract: Mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) are the only declining big game species in North America. The decline of mule deer has occurred throughout the Intermountain West, resulting in the Nevada Department of Wildlife implementing a Mule Deer Enhancement Program to improve mule deer herds throughout the state of Nevada. At the time of European contact, mid-19 century, early explorers noted the scarcity of mule deer throughout their travels, yet by mid to late 20th century (1950-1990), thousands of mule deer were recorded where these early explorers once traversed. The accidental introduction of cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum) onto millions of acres of rangelands significantly transformed millions of acres of wildlife habitats, especially browsers such as mule deer. Cheatgrass not only provides a fine-textured early maturing fuel that increases the chance, rate, spread and season of wildfire, cheatgrass also outcompetes native perennial plant seedlings for limited soil moisture and nutrients virtually truncating succession. Habitats that once experienced wildfire intervals every 60-110 years are reported to experience wildfires every 5-10 years, so with each passing wildfire season more and more critical browse communities are destroyed. According to numerous authorities, habitat quality is the number one driving force behind increases and decreases in mule deer populations. Restoration and/or rehabilitation of mule deer habitats are critical in reversing this downward trend in mule deer populations. The aridity of the Great Basin, especially Nevada add to the challenges facing resource managers when attempting the restoration/rehabilitation of degraded habitats. Habitat conditions though are not the only piece of the pie, urbanization, agriculture practices, predation and migratory constraints (e.g. highway mortality) all lead to added mortality of mule deer herds and their ability to produce healthy mule deer populations. Engaging in this important topic and addressing all the pieces of the pie will result in improved mule deer populations.