Important Notice: Protecting Mule Deer During Critical Winter Survival Period!

By: Mule Deer Foundation Conservation Team

Important Notice: Protecting Mule Deer During Critical Winter Survival Period

As part of our ongoing efforts to protect wildlife and ensure the survival of mule deer, we ask for your cooperation in respecting the winter range closures and restrictions that are in place during their critical winter survival period.  Shed hunting is becoming a larger recreational pastime and it can be tempting to go out early especially as the weather gets better. However, the Mule Deer Foundation urges you to wait because now is an important time for mule deer and other wildlife trying to survive the last bits of winter. Late spring is when they are in the worst shape they will be in all year and any extra energy expenditure can be life threatening.

Winter Range Closures and Timing: From late November/early December through late April/early May, many areas implement closures or restrictions on motorized vehicles, including snowmobiles and electric bicycles, to protect mule deer during their migration and winter survival period. We urge all our members and supporters of mule deer conservation to stay out of the winter range during these times.

Why This Is Important: This period is crucial for mule deer, as they migrate to lower elevations in search of more favorable conditions. Disturbances during this time can increase their energy expenditure, making it much harder for them to survive the harsh winter conditions. 

What You Can Do: To support mule deer conservation efforts, please observe the following guidelines: 

1. Motorized Travel: Avoid using motorized vehicles, especially in areas with high mule deer concentrations. 
2. Recreational Travel: Limit recreational travel in winter ranges, particularly during peak mule deer activity (within 3 hours of sunrise and sunset). Please follow all state and federal legal restrictions in the area you plan to recreate in.
3. Group Size: If you must enter the winter range, limit your group size to 4 people or fewer. 
4. Dawn and Dusk: Avoid activities during dawn and dusk, as these are prime times for mule deer foraging and feeding. 
5. Dogs: Please leave your dogs at home to minimize disturbance to wildlife. 

*In short if anything you are doing is causing deer to move unnecessarily you should reconsider.

Best Practices for Collaboration and Mitigation: We also encourage coordination with local land management agencies and wildlife authorities to manage access and mitigate potential disturbances. Where necessary, habitat enhancement projects may be implemented to reduce any adverse impacts. 

Mule Deer Winter Range Definition: Mule deer winter range is defined as the area where 90% of the individuals are located during the average five winters out of ten, from the first heavy snowfall to spring green-up. 

Thank you for your cooperation in helping protect mule deer during this critical time. Your efforts make a significant difference in their survival and overall well-being. 

If you have any questions or need additional information, feel free to reach out to [email protected]  

Thank you for helping the deer during this critical time.

Remember to send any success pictures or stories from the field to [email protected]. You could be featured on our website or in our magazine. If this article or any of our articles have helped you become a better hunter or conservation steward, become a member of the Mule Deer Foundation or Blacktail Deer Foundation for only $35 dollars a year. Click here to join: https://muledeer.org/product-category/membership/