Though it would be nice to think that wildlife conservation is not a political issue, the truth is that decisions made by federal, state, and local elected officials impact mule deer and black-tailed deer.
MDF senior staff works closely with elected officials and policymakers to ensure that conservation and habitat restoration remain a priority. We have a strong relationship with the U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Department of Agriculture, and state wildlife agency directors, working together on a variety of issues that impact western deer. This includes the implementation of federal migration corridor/seasonal range policy and state mule deer plans, as well as Chronic Wasting Disease and other cross-boundary issues that require even greater coordination with our partners.
Latest on Policy
Following a keystone agreement on September 2023, the Tonto National Forest and the Mule Deer Foundation committed to restoring 1000 acres of landscape through lop and scatter-type projects
In 2024 MDF launched its Private Lands Conservation Program in the Great Plains. The Mule Deer Foundations mission focuses on sharing the conservation of these deer species through innovative land and wildlife management practices, partnerships with various stakeholders, and public education
Coloradans stood up for science and sound wildlife management by voting against Proposition 127,” Dan Gates, chairman of the opposition group Colorado Wildlife Deserves Better, said in a statement Wednesday morning. “This result reflects the voices of those who recognize the importance of letting wildlife experts, not the ballot box, guide decisions on the conservation of Colorado’s big cats.”
The Bass Pro shops, and Cabela’s outdoor fund grant was generous enough to award the Mule Deer Foundation $250,000 that we can leverage with an additional $1.4 million in funds from other partners and internal sources. By combining these funds, we are implementing more than 27 projects on working lands and ranches across the Great Plains states resulting in improvements to over 55,000 acres of wildlife habitat.