Strategies in the Statewide Deer Management Plan 1.Continue to monitor all mule deer populations annually to evaluate fawn production, herd composition, and habitat use. 2.Implement a method to collect annual adult doe and fawn mortality estimates on representative units statewide. 3.Use standardized, reliable population models to evaluate herd size and population trends over time.

Specific Items Discussed How data are collected on individual units within a region What information, derived from field observations, goes into a population model Present a simplified deer model

What is the Herd Composition on a Given Unit? 1.Continue to monitor all mule deer populations annually to evaluate fawn production, herd composition, and habitat use. Classify deer when congregated on winter ranges (often during rut) Representative sample areas of entire unit Consistent sampling year after year

La Sals Sampling areas

Methods Daily peaks of activity: 1-2 hours after dawn and 1-2 hours before dusk (no spotlight counts) 200 doe minimum (may vary by population size) Partial classifications discarded

Methods One count per area Avoid interference events (storms, full moons, weekend events) Consistent observers (fall / spring counts)

What are we Quantifying Post Season (November) –Buck:Doe ratios –Fawn:Doe ratios –Fawn:Adult ratios Spring Classification –Fawn:Adult ratios –Fawn survival estimate

Fawn Survival 2.Implement a method to collect annual adult doe and fawn mortality estimates on representative units statewide. Comparing (s) from collar data vs spring classification (preliminary) –Within 6% on 2 units

How/When are Data Collected June, fawn production Fall, buck harvest Jan, population estimate April-May, survival estimates Fall class – F:D ratio Check stations, mandatory reporting, harvest surveys All ratios collected in spring and fall Collars, F:A ratios, range rides, habitat assessment

Data Used in Models All data used in models are derived from field observations from individual units –Fawn:Doe ratio’s –Survival rates of adult deer and fawns –Harvest of bucks and does

UnitSUUnitSubunit buckdoebuck_huntersdoe_huntersbuck_daydoe_day harvesthuntersdays 11BNine MileRange Creek ASan Rafael North BSan Rafael South ALa SalLaSal Mtn BLa Sal Dolores Triangle ASan JuanAbajo BSan JuanElk Ridge AHenry Mountains Henry Mountains A Central MountainsNebo B Central MountainsNorth Manti C Central MountainsSouth Manti

DATA USED FOR HUNT RECOMMENDATIONS BUCK DEER 3 year average buck/doe ratio age data on PLE units ANTLERLESS DEER Population status relative to objective (model estimate), range condition, and depredation

Utah is not Unique in Data Collection Every western state collects: –Buck:Doe ratio –Fawn:Doe ratio –Abundance or population size Most states collect: –Fawn recruitment

Models Simplified 3. Use standardized, reliable population models to evaluate herd size and population trends over time. Population growth is driven by survival of adult does and production and survival of fawns

JAN DEER MODEL 158 BUCKS (30B:100D) 526 DOES 316 FAWNS (60F:100D) 1,000 TOTAL SPRING CLASSIFICATION 134 BUCKS (S=0.85) 447 DOES (S=0.85) 221 FAWNS (S=.70) 802 TOTAL SUMMER RECRUITMENT 245 BUCKS 557 DOES PRODUCTION FAWNS 802 ADULTS + FAWNS NOV. CLASSIFICATION 31 B:100 D 60 F:100 D 46 F:100 A HARVEST -75 BUCKS -10 DOES 0 FAWNS -85 TOTAL JAN DEER MODEL 170 BUCKS 547 DOES 328 FAWNS 1,045 TOTAL DEER

Recommendations are a Year Round Process Every piece of data we collect revolves around what are we going to recommend in the future Biologists literally spend hundreds of hours geared towards recommendations and herd management for individual units

Models are Nothing More than Calculators They allow us to estimate populations quickly for individual units They are driven by data collected from the field (ratios, harvest, etc.) They get better with time They are exceptional at detecting and presenting trends in population status

SUMMARY Methods for data collection are sound and replicable Models are driven by data collected from the field All hunt recommendations must reflect action towards management plans Biologists are working hard to meet strategies in the management plan for mule deer

Thank You