Wyoming

Absaroka/Gooseberry Creek Mule Deer Winter Range Conservation Project

The purpose of the Absaroka/Gooseberry Creek Winter Range Conservation Project is to protect and enhance critical mule deer and elk winter range and agricultural lands in the southeastern portion of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The project involves a broad partnership including three working ranch families, the Wyoming Stock Growers Agricultural Land Trust, the Conservation Fund, the Natural Resource Conservation Service, the Wyoming Wildlife & Natural Resources Trust Fund and others.

The Absaroka/Gooseberry Creek Winter Range Conservation Project is a long-term, collaborative program to permanently protect and restore critical habitat for mule deer, elk and pronghorn antelope in one of the most ecologically important areas of the United States, the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Using a combination of federal, state and local funding sources, the project seeks to protect and restore 34,500 acres of important habitat on private lands working in conjunction with almost a dozen contiguous private landowners, in a mosaic of public and private lands covering approximately 258,600 acres.

The project permanently protects critical mule deer winter range from fragmentation and inappropriate development in a cost-effective, collaborative manner. The overall project includes habitat restoration and noxious weed eradication, as well as perpetual conservation easements. This project will provide long-term benefits to numerous wildlife species, involves three long-time ranching families, and protects valuable open space. Additional benefits include protecting the Gooseberry Creek riparian corridor and numerous bird species.