Winter Range and Migration Initiative

Mule deer are among the great travelers of the American West, with some herds migrating hundreds of miles between summer and winter ranges. These ancient pathways passed down for countless generations are lifelines for survival. Migration allows deer to take advantage of nutritious spring vegetation as it gradually greens uphill with elevation and build fat reserves to sustain them through winters on valley floors.

Through initiatives like habitat restoration, brush planting, and wildlife-friendly fencing, we’ve helped improve over 2 million acres of critical mule deer range. Our work supports sustainable land management and benefits a wide array of species across the American West. For every dollar donated, $0.88 goes directly to conservation efforts helping ensure a future where mule deer thrive and our North American landscapes remain wild, resilient, and full of life. Join us in protecting mule deer and the lands they roam. Support science-based wildlife conservation. Support the Mule Deer Foundation, today!

Mule deer herd grazing in a snowy meadow with mountains in the background.

Today, these migration pathways face unprecedented threats. Development, roads, and fencing fragment winter ranges and sever historic corridors. Barriers on the landscape, changing weather patterns, and declining habitat quality all add pressure to mule deer populations. These challenges disrupt migration, limit food and shelter resources, and make it harder for deer to survive and thrive.

Since 2018, the Mule Deer Foundation’s Winter Range and Migration Corridor Initiative has worked to protect crucial migration landscapes. Using GPS collar research and habitat mapping, we learn where deer need help the most and take action. Our Priority Herds & Landscapes Initiative focuses resources where they can make the biggest impact, ensuring migration routes remain open and continuous. By protecting mule deer, we are safeguarding a legacy of movement, resilience, and connection that links wildlife, people, and the land across the West.