Conservation
Removing extra trees and vegetation can create healthier forests that provide better habitat for wildlife like mule deer and help prevent catastrophic wildfires.
From supporting wildlife crossings to retrofitting fences and improving habitat, MDF is helping mule deer move safely across the lands they’ve relied on for centuries.
Colorado’s conservation story relies on the cooperation of Mother Nature and state and agency partners.
The Mule Deer Foundation is proud to share an incredible opportunity for those who dream of hunting the legendary giants of Sonora, Mexico. Known for producing some of the biggest mule deer bucks in North America, Sonora offers the perfect combination of rugged desert landscapes, prime winter rut timing, and expert local guides who know exactly where to find world-class animals.
If you want to understand the pressure mule deer are under these days, don’t look to the Rockies or the high sage basins of Montana — head straight into the heart of the Great Basin. This sprawling region covers much of Nevada and western Utah, and while it may look vast and empty, for mule deer it’s ground zero for one of the most dramatic population declines in the West.
Following the WAFWA (Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Associations) conference here’s what we know about mule deer and black-tailed deer populations.
Every hunter who purchases a license or tag plays a part in conserving mule deer. Conservation tags, and the revenue they generate, are the lifeblood of state wildlife agencies and the foundation of mule deer management across the West.
In the backcountry, gear either works or it slows you down. That’s why Tricer was created by hunters who needed lightweight, durable, and reliable gear that performs in real hunting conditions.
“People call this the Mule Deer Factory of Colorado!” she laughs. It’s an apt title: Mule deer in Rio Blanco County outnumber people by many thousands. They are surely hidden in the landscape here, along with many other creatures that depend on healthy sagebrush habitat—like greater sage-grouse, an enormous and ornate grouse species that is entirely limited to sagebrush.
Contrary to the past where these exclusive tags have been all but unattainable behind a pay to play auction system in 2025, we are hosting an open raffle with a price tag that makes this opportunity available to all who are interested. This tag was open residents and non-residents alike.
Wildfire is a powerful and often misunderstood force on the Western landscape. For mule deer, fire can be both a threat and a benefit. While flames may scorch winter range, destroy cover, and reduce food availability in the short term, fire also plays a regenerative role—creating lush, nutritious vegetation that deer depend on.
Understanding how wildfires affect mule deer habitat is critical to long-term conservation efforts. As wildfires increase in size and frequency, land managers and wildlife professionals must carefully weigh the risks and benefits to ensure mule deer populations remain healthy and resilient.
As the hot afternoon sun beat down on my face, a burning bead of sweat rolled its way down my forehead and found its way into my eye. It was a very unseasonably warm mid-May afternoon in Idaho. I had just hustled home from work, jumped into my camo ninja suit, and practically ran up the mountain to my honey hole, where I hoped to bag a late season gobbler. It was hot and dry, and to be honest, I was very much doubting the likelihood of success.