Understanding Deer Migration and Habitat
We all know that deer move a lot across our vast western landscapes and that seasonal habitat like winter range is a critical part of their annual lifecycle. These movements, often called migrations, can be obvious or not so obvious depending on time, route, and number of animals using a certain area. Historically, deer managers relied on professional observation and historic records to identify these movement and migration routes but lacked specific information on how many animals used certain routes, how the routes were used by moving animals, and how animals reacted to impacts to these routes. However, over the last decade, scientific knowledge has increased dramatically about how significant migrations are to the health of mule deer and black-tailed deer herds.
Policy Development and Conservation Efforts
Conservation efforts to improve big game migration corridors and seasonal ranges in the West took a major leap in February 2018, when then-Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke signed Secretarial Order 3362 at MDF’s Western Hunting and Conservation Expo. In the first two years of the SO 3362 implementation, the U.S. Department of the Interior and partners like MDF facilitated 73 projects across 11 states with more than $47 million being invested from federal and matching grants in state-identified priority research projects, data analysis and mapping assistance, habitat-related projects, and other activities. Even more work has happened on the ground since the first progress report was released in 2020.
MDF’s Leadership and Initiative in Habitat Conservation
Shortly after SO 3362 was signed, MDF created its Winter Range and Migration Corridor Initiative, to assist with the implementation of the order and to partner with agencies, landowners, and others to ensure conservation of these important areas. MDF has been a leader in both the policy efforts to implement the secretarial order as well as coordinating habitat conservation and restoration efforts. Making sure that mule deer and black-tailed deer have quality habitat in the areas where they need it the most throughout the year will always be a top priority for our organization. Since the inception of the Winter Range and Migration Corridor Initiative, MDF has received over $2 million in grants to help with capacity and on-the-ground projects.
Navigating Access Challenges Without Cutting Corners
Between checkerboard land ownership, changing property boundaries, increased hunting pressure, and growing development across the West, getting to public land often requires as much planning as the hunt itself. Recent debates over corner crossing in Montana and other western states have only highlighted how complicated access has become. While courts and legislatures continue to sort out the legal questions, hunters should remember one simple principle: know the law where you’re hunting and err on the side of respecting private property. Laws surrounding public access vary from state to state and continue to evolve.
Hunting Pressure and How Mule Deer Respond
Every hunter has a story about the buck that seemed to disappear overnight.
You glass him feeding on an open hillside for three evenings straight. Opening morning rolls around, another truck parks at the trailhead, and suddenly that buck has vanished. It can feel like he evaporated into thin air.
The truth is, he probably didn’t go very far. He just became a different deer.
Why Mule Deer Hunting Is About More Than Antlers
I’m going to say this the way it’s been rattling around in my head for a while now: we’ve made mule deer hunting smaller than it used to be.
Not physically, if anything, I am covering more country than ever. But in how we define success. In how we talk about it. In what we choose to celebrate.
Somewhere along the line, “trophy hunting” got reduced to inches of antler and a number you can type into a caption.
And that’s a problem.
Combating Cheatgrass to Support Mule Deer on Colorado’s Eastern Plains
MDF has supported more than 8,800 acres of targeted cheatgrass removal treatments in Colorado since 2024.