Mule Deer Foundation Pledges $50,000 to Help Wyoming Mule Deer

The Mule Deer Foundation (MDF) recently pledged $50,000 to the Wyoming Game and Fish Department’s Platte Valley Habitat Partnership (PVHP).

The PVHP was formed to establish partnerships and work collaboratively to improve habitat for mule deer and other wildlife in the area, as well as to address declining numbers of mule deer in the Platte Valley.

The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) approved $500,000 seed money for establishment of the Partnership, even while dealing with millions of dollars of cuts to their 2014 budget. It is anticipated that the seed money will trigger matching dollars, a projected $4 million, from private landowners, land management agencies, and conservation groups.

MDF President and CEO Miles Moretti said, “We feel the Platte Valley is important to Mule Deer Foundation members and Wyoming hunters, so we want to partner with this group to make sure projects in the region move forward.”

Moretti added, “The Partnership is developing a progressive habitat management plan for the Platte Valley, and we want to be a part of that effort. MDF funds, which will be distributed over the next three to five years, will be used for large scale habitat improvement projects to benefit mule deer.”

WGFD Director Scott Talbott concluded, “As mule deer populations in Wyoming face challenges, the Wyoming Game and Fish Department and Commission have committed to this iconic species in part through the Platte Valley Habitat Partnership.

“The Mule Deer Foundation’s contribution of $50,000 to this initiative shows how critical partnerships are in these lean budget times. Contributions like this, along with the incredible landowner support, are key to making these habitat enhancement efforts successful.”