Parowan Deer Transplant #2

E

elkfromabove

Very Active Member
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2,104
LAST EDITED ON Jan-15-14 AT 02:34PM (MST)[p]Let me start this thread with some disclaimers:
1) I'm not a biologist. I just ask a LOT of questions.
2) Some of the answers I receive may or may not reflect the latest up to date knowledge.
3) These transplant are NOT for the primary purpose of increasing the herds elsewhere in the state. They are done to remove doe deer from winter range that is being over-utilized. But since the deer have to be moved somewhere similar to their home range, these studies and any herd increase in the release areas are beneficial, but important side notes.
4) I've been told by those in charge of the transplant and studies that, except for the DWR salaries and use of DWR equipment, SFW is still paying for these projects.
5) As this thread progresses with updates there may be other questions you may want to ask. Feel free to do so and I'll answer them as best I can, but realize not even the biologists have all the answers yet, thus the studies.
6) We may have to combine the updates from the two studies into one thread depending on how we receive the updates. We'll decide that down the road. (The other updates are on the thread "Will it work?".)
7) LET'S KEEP IT CIVIL PLEASE!

This 1st post will be my brief account of the actual transplant.

On Monday we picked up 33 deer, but 2 of them died and both of them were necropsied (autopsied). One (#1) died on the processing table from a broken rib lung puncture that happened during the capture. She also happened to have low body fat which probably would have killed her in the next month or so. The other deer (#21) had to be put down in the trailer at the release site east of Holden because she wouldn't/couldn't get up due to capture myopathy (104* temp and shock).

Tuesday's capture was slower due to the increased wind. It makes it hard to eyeball the trajectory of the net shot from the moving helicopter at a moving/dodging target and it also keeps the animals in the trees. So we brought in our last deer (#52) at 4:35.

On the processing table we did basically what we did last year except for the pregnancy ultra sound. We still did the weighing, body measurements, body fat measurements, taking 2 blood samples and a snipet of anal tissue for pregnancy, mineral, white cell count, CWD test. We also did the teeth aging, collaring, ear tagging (white tag), and temperature.

That's it in a nutshell, but if there are any further questions regarding the process I'll try to answer them or get the answer for you.

Thanks for reading and until our 1st update from the BYU crew, I remain yours truly, (That's too d*** formal)
Lee Tracy (United Wildlife Cooperative Southern Region Chair)
[email protected]
 
Can you explain the live teeth aging process?

Yelum

Theres logic, and theres women. They don't go together.
 
Kudos to whomever is paying for these projects, much to be learned. I'd have to imagine if 50 of us were plucked from our homes/offices by an unknown power in the sky, at least two of us would literally be scared to death. Seems like a good mortality rate. Do you know the numbers from the first capture?
 
Basically, what they do is open the mouth wide enough (using an expansion clamp-like device) to see, with a flashlight, the wear on the back teeth and then make an experienced judgment of it's age based on the wear. As deer (and other ungulates) chew their cud, they tend to grind the food and that wears out the back teeth at a normal yearly rate and most wildlife biologists can tell the age by that yearly rate.
 
I've decided to post all future updates on the Parowan Front deer transplants on this thread because the updates are too hard to separate into the 2013 and 2014 transplants as you'll see below. I've left a note on the other thread (Will it work?) directing readers to this thread, so if you haven't been following the updates thus far you may go to that other thread to get caught up. Thanks for understanding.

Mule deer translocation update for January 5 - January 31.

It has been a very busy several weeks. Thanks to all for help with a successful start to the second year of captures and releases associated with the Parowan Front transplant project. We captured and radio-marked 20 new resident deer on the Pahvant (control group) as well as recapturing 20 translocated deer from 2013 to evaluate body condition. We also captured 48* (sic) new deer along the Parowan Front and released them near Holden.

Mortality rates have slowed dramatically since deer returned to winter range during Fall of 2113 as none of the transplants from 2013 have died within the past 4 weeks. We picked up 2 translocated deer mortalities from the new translocation and 3 resident deer mortalities in January. We suspect one of the newly translocated deer mortalities to have been cougar predation; the other newly translocated deer appears to be capture related (capture myopathy or related cause). Of the 3 resident deer, 1 mortality was capture related and we suspect the other 2 resident mortalities to be predation by coyotes (1) and a young cougar (1) based on teeth marks in collars and tracks in the snow.

One of the initial questions with the transplant was whether or not transplanted deer would suffer increased risk of capture myopathy (death due to stress** associated with capture). To date, there has been no difference between translocated and resident deer in terms of percentage that died due to capture-related causes. Eight of 153* translocated deer (5.2%) have died as a result of capture-related causes (e.g., injuries from capture or capture myopathy). By comparison, 8 of 163 (4.9%) resident deer captured as part of this project and the Monroe Mountain fawn survival project have died due to capture. The majority of these deaths have been to injuries sustained during capture(e.g., broken backs, punctured lungs, etc.).

Now that a full year has passed since the initial transplant, we've summarized the mortality information. Eight of 50 (16%) resident deer died during 2013 compared to 26 of 51 (51%) transplanted deer from January of 2013 and 21 of 51 (41%)
transplanted deer from March of 2013. There may be another mortality or two before the March 2013 deer reach a full year and thus we do not expect to find a significant difference in survival between January and March transplants.

Average body fat estimates were 9.37% for resident Pahvant deer, 8.08% for 2013 transplants that were recaptured, and 7.97% for newly captured deer from the Parowan Front.

During the capture of resident deer and recapture of transplanted deer from 2013 on the Pahvant we were able to capture a missing deer with a failed radio. We've replaced the radio on this female and expect regular contact with here moving forward. The recapture of the female underscored one of the big discoveries from the initial year. That discovery is the very high fidelity of transplanted deer to the winter range where they were released. Despite ranging far and wide during the summer, the vast majority of transplanted deer from 2013 have returned to the winter range (and often the very same couple of square miles) where they were released and spent the last winter. For a few of these deer, it would have been easier (and closer) to return to the Parowan Front. Translocation of mule deer to unused winter range may be a way to re-establish use of these ranges.

We are currently missing 5 translocated deer and 2 resident deer. Three of these deer have been missing for several months.

In summary, we've had 62 total mortalities (10 of 70 resident deer, 52 of 153 translocated deer) and 6 slipped collars (4 resident, 2 translocated). Fifty four resident deer and 94 translocated deer were alive and accounted for at the end of this week.

Thanks to all for continued interest and support.

David Smedley and Randy Larsen (BYU)


*I believe the numbers are a bit off because I missed a couple of hours toward the end of the transplant of the second day because I had to pick up 3 grandkids from school and by the time we got back to the transplant site they were just dropping off the last deer, so the grandkids and I got to watch the processing and I thought the last deer was tagged with the number 52. However, since I wasn't helping this time I could have been mistaken. Also, there were 2 deaths from the previous day. One died on the processing table from a broken rib punctured lung per the necropsy (autopsy) and the other deer wouldn't/couldn't get up off the trailer floor at the release site due to capture myopathy and had to be put down. In any case, we'll probably get things cleared up with the next update.

**Stress can cause high temps, high blood pressure, rapid heartbeats, rapid and shallow breathing, and shock among other things.

Well, we'll write to you again when we get our next update. Thanks for reading!

Lee Tracy
Southern Region Chair
United Wildlife Cooperative
 
LAST EDITED ON Feb-24-14 AT 01:45PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Feb-24-14 AT 01:42?PM (MST)

LAST EDITED ON Feb-24-14 AT 01:06?PM (MST)

LAST EDITED ON Feb-24-14 AT 12:38?PM (MST)

With this latest update things begin to get complicated. Dave and Randy are now including the recent Antelope Island transplants and some tables showing the various data from all of the transplants. I think I've been able to sort it out in an understandable form, so I'll just include the Antelope Island data with the Parowan Front data. In any case, feel free to ask questions if you don't understand my methods. Lee

Mule deer translocation update for February 1 - February 17

Mortality rates have remained low during February with only 2 translocated deer mortalities so far. Both of these deer were from the 2013 March translocation. One deer was found in the foothills between Fillmore and Holden, and appeared to be coyote predation. The other deer was found partially consumed, with the carcass cached, suggesting cougar predation. With these 2 mortalities, it appears that annual survival of transplanted deer released in January of 2013 will be almost identical to that of deer released in March of 2013 at around 50% (after excluding the missing deer from the sample).

During the first week in February, we participated in the capture of mule deer on Antelope Island. thanks to everyone for helping move 99 deer off of Antelope Island. These deer wour released on the Oak Creek and the San Juan Mountain Ranges. These deer appear to be doing well with no mortalities to date other than 1 deer that died due to capture-related trauma (internal bleeding, broken ribs, etc.). We (including Dustin Mitchell and Riley Peck) have observed many of these deer integrated into the groups with resident deer.

We are currently missing 5 translocated deer and 2 resident deer. Three of these deer have been missing for several months. In an effort to help everyone keep track of the alive, missing, and dead deer information we will provide data in tabular format (see tables below; thanks for the suggestion Greg).

In summary, 53 resident deer and 91 translocated deer (from Parowan) were alive and accounted for on the Pahvant Range. Forty nine of 49 deer were alive and accounted for on the San Juan at last check and 46 of 47 deer on the Oak Creek Mountains were also alive and accounted for (1 missing).

Thanks to all for continued interest and support. Pleas forward to anyone else interested and let us know if there is additional information you would like reported in our regular updates.

David Smedley and Randy Larsen. (BYU)


Below are my versions of the tables Thanks, Lee Tracy (UWC)

Parowan to Pahvant transplant & Pahvant resident control deer:
Jan'13-res-50captured/35alive/9dead/4slippedcollars/2missing
Jan'13-trans-51captured/23alive/26dead/2missing
Mar'13-trans-51captured/23alive/23dead/2slippedcollars/2missing
Jan'14-res-20captured/18alive/2dead
Jan'14-trans-52captured/45alive/7dead

Causes of death:
Jan'13-res-9total/1cougar/5coyote/2unknown/1disease
Jan'13-tran-26total/9cougar/2coyote/1bobcat/3vehicle/1poacher
/6unknown/2capture/2disease
Mar'13-trans-23total/7cougar/5coyote/2poacher/5unknown/2capture
/2disease
Jan'14-res-2total/1cougar/1capture
Jan'14-trans-7total/1cougar/6capture


Antelope Island to Oak Creek transplant;
Feb'14-trans-47captured*/46alive/1missing


Antelope Island to San Juan transplant;
Feb'14-trans-50captured**/49alive/1dead

Causes of death;
Feb'14-trans-1total/1capture

*49 actually captured, 2 fawns returned to island w/o collars.
**51 actually captured, 1 fawn returned to island w/o collar.


Until next update,
Lee Tracy
United Wildlife Cooperative
Southern Region Chair

Edited; Sorry, but the website won't let me post the tables as written on my screen.
 
in for the updates

avatar_2528.jpg


who farted?
 
Thanks for the updates, seem like the odds are holding on the transplanted deer.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
 
LAST EDITED ON Feb-25-14 AT 11:12AM (MST)[p]Interesting stuff. Thanks for the updates.

Very telling info on the causes of mortality that you list. 13 are unknown. Just for the sake of argument, let's say that 3 or 4 of those unknown mortalities are predatory. That brings total mortalities due to predation to half of the total mortalities. Interesting.
 
Thanks again. That's quite a breakdown and a lot more deer to keep track of . I wish them the best of luck those guys have there work cut out for them.
 
Wow a lot of predation going on! Between poachers, cats and dogs that accounts to almost half the mortalities. crazy!
 
This might be a dumb question, but why do you relocate deer in the winter? Seems they would be weaker this time of year. Thanks.
 
Fantastic information! I'm sure glad you share it. I like hearing this stuff. Good for SFW for making it happen. Regardless how it all turns out, it's great information that can be used by so many wildlife biologists. Great use of auction tag dollars in my opinion.
Thank you a bunch for sharing it here in these forums. It's the only place I have time to read, so thanks.

Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
Will you
LIKE MonsterMuleys.com on Facebook! I need a friend....
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-03-14 AT 09:54AM (MST)[p]GVH, The reason we did it in the winter is because the actual primary reason for this transplant, in spite of what we seem to be focused on, is NOT TO INCREASE the herd at the release site, but to REMOVE deer using the winter range at the capture site. There are about 500 too many deer wintering on the narrow Parowan Front winter range and we need to remove the ones actually wintering there. If we captured does on the unit during the summer, we can't be sure if they are the ones using that winter range or whether they are using some other surrounding winter range.
 
Thanks for the updates. I hope this project bears fruit. I'm glad to see the efforts, and if the transplants turn out to be a success it will be a huge win for mule deer.
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-03-14 AT 08:49PM (MST)[p]The next session of this year's transplant will be this coming Saturday and Sunday (March 8th & 9th) beginning at 8:00 am both days. We're not yet sure of the starting location, (probably the Parowan Airport) so call the DWR Southern Region Office as we get closer to the dates.
Lee Tracy (UWC)
 
Are the results of this transplant surprising to biologists, or is it on par with other transplants? I've always heard you couldn't transplant mule deer.
 
>LAST EDITED ON Mar-03-14
>AT 08:49?PM (MST)
>
>The next session of this year's
>transplant will be this coming
>Saturday and Sunday (March 8th
>& 9th) beginning at 8:00
>am both days. We're not
>yet sure of the starting
>location, (probably the Parowan Airport)
>so call the DWR Southern
>Region Office as we get
>closer to the dates.
>Lee Tracy (UWC)

It's at the Parowan Airport beginning at 7:30 am!
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-05-14 AT 09:50AM (MST)[p]>Are the results of this transplant
>surprising to biologists, or is
>it on par with other
>transplants? I've always heard
>you couldn't transplant mule deer.
>

It isn't on par with past transplants and is surprising a lot of people, including yours truly. However the reasons for the success are still a matter of study and may have as much to do with issues that are nature related and cyclic as it is with any improved technics. There were a lot of changes made in these transplants regarding the handling, testing, and monitoring of these does and those changes are likely to be a major part, but we're still losing 5 times the percentage of transplanted deer versus the resident deer, so there's still something (or some things) we're missing.

Additionally, we have to factor in the costs in money, time, manhours and safety when we talk about success and whether or not it's worth it.

AND, we're focusing so much on the success at the release site, we're ignoring the success (or lack thereof) at the capture site. The original and real purpose of these transplants is to help remove 500 surplus deer off the Parowan Front winter range and we haven't done that. What's to be gained if we increase the Pahvant herd by transplanting only to risk losing 80% of the Panguitch Lake herd to a tough winter, fire or drought because we refuse to remove enough does through hunting and transplants to allow the winter range to recover?
 
>>LAST EDITED ON Mar-03-14
>>AT 08:49?PM (MST)
>>
>>The next session of this year's
>>transplant will be this coming
>>Saturday and Sunday (March 8th
>>& 9th) beginning at 8:00
>>am both days. We're not
>>yet sure of the starting
>>location, (probably the Parowan Airport)
>>so call the DWR Southern
>>Region Office as we get
>>closer to the dates.
>>Lee Tracy (UWC)
>
>It's at the Parowan Airport beginning
>at 7:30 am!

Sorry, but it's changed! They are running late on the Monroe projects due to wind and rain and the Parowan transplant won't start until either Saturday afternoon or Sunday morning and will go through Monday. Since no-one will be in the DWR office this weekend, you'll either have to keep your eye on this forum or call me for more up to date info. 435-592-1150. (I'll update ASAP) BTW, don't forget to set your clock for Daylight Savings.
Lee Tracy
(UWC)
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-11-14 AT 05:28PM (MST)[p]This update will be a summary of the latest transplant session we did on Sunday (Mar 9th).

The volunteers started a few minutes after 8:00am with finishing up the setup that the DWR personnel had started earlier. The helicopter crew (DragonFly) had already gone out and were in the process of capturing the first batch. That first batch was our second smallest of the day with only 3 deer. In total, we captured 48 deer with only a single in the last few minutes of daylight. All the other batches were 5 to 6 deer.

The original goal for the day was 40 deer, but they came in faster than anticipated. And the original goal for this session was 50 mature does, but 2 of the deer captured were fawns and the DRW decided at the end of the day that it wasn't worth coming back the next day to capture the other 4 does needed to fill the quota.

In any case, we did the normal testing, measuring, weighing, tagging, collaring, and injecting of the does. But this time about a dozen of them were also given vaginal inserts like the Monroe does, so that the spring fawns could be studied as well. The 2 captured fawns (1 doe and 1 buck) were tagged and collared, but not measured or tested as much.

I haven't heard about the release, but I'll get that info later today and edit this update if needed (or possible).

All in all, this transplant went well and rather quickly even though there were far fewer volunteers than we've seen in the other sessions. Maybe the Sunday schedule had a lot to do with it. Also, again, SFW came up with a marvelous breakfast and lunch for which we were grateful.

I'll get back to you as soon as we get another update!

Thanks for viewing,
Lee Tracy (UWC)

Edited: All of the deer seemed to be ok at the release site. They were released at night and thus were reluctant to leave the trailers because of the darkness. Teresa said several of them sprawled on the ground for a few seconds or minutes as if to hide, but eventually bounded off in different directions.
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-12-14 AT 03:26AM (MST)[p]>LAST EDITED ON Mar-11-14
>AT 05:28?PM (MST)
>
>This update will be a summary
>of the latest transplant session
>we did on Sunday (Mar
>9th).
>
>The volunteers started a few minutes
>after 8:00am with finishing up
>the setup that the DWR
>personnel had started earlier. The
>helicopter crew (DragonFly) had already
>gone out and were in
>the process of capturing the
>first batch. That first batch
>was our second smallest of
>the day with only 3
>deer. In total, we captured
>48 deer with only a
>single in the last few
>minutes of daylight. All the
>other batches were 5 to
>6 deer.
>
>The original goal for the day
>was 40 deer, but they
>came in faster than anticipated.
>And the original goal for
>this session was 50 mature
>does, but 2 of the
>deer captured were fawns and
>the DRW decided at the
>end of the day that
>it wasn't worth coming back
>the next day to capture
>the other 4 does needed
>to fill the quota.
>
>In any case, we did the
>normal testing, measuring, weighing, tagging,
>collaring, and injecting of the
>does. But this time about
>a dozen of them were
>also given vaginal inserts like
>the Monroe does, so that
>the spring fawns could be
>studied as well. The 2
>captured fawns (1 doe and
>1 buck) were tagged and
>collared, but not measured or
>tested as much.
>
>I haven't heard about the release,
>but I'll get that info
>later today and edit this
>update if needed (or possible).
>
>
>All in all, this transplant went
>well and rather quickly even
>though there were far fewer
>volunteers than we've seen in
>the other sessions. Maybe the
>Sunday schedule had a lot
>to do with it. Also,
>again, SFW came up with
>a marvelous breakfast and lunch
>for which we were grateful.
>
>
>I'll get back to you as
>soon as we get another
>update!
>
>Thanks for viewing,
>Lee Tracy (UWC)
>
>Edited: All of the deer seemed
>to be ok at the
>release site. They were released
>at night and thus were
>reluctant to leave the trailers
>because of the darkness. Teresa
>said several of them sprawled
>on the ground for a
>few seconds or minutes as
>if to hide, but eventually
>bounded off in different directions.
>

I forgot to mention that per the ultrasound, 25 of the 26 mature does were pregnant, most with twins.
 
Very interesting, and thanks for keeping us updated on these studies. Seems like there is a ton of information to be gained through this process. Now I just need a way to bookmark this topic so I can go back an read it later...
 
LAST EDITED ON Mar-15-14 AT 05:20PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Mar-15-14 AT 05:18?PM (MST)

>Very interesting, and thanks for keeping
>us updated on these studies.
>Seems like there is a
>ton of information to be
>gained through this process.
>Now I just need a
>way to bookmark this topic
>so I can go back
>an read it later...

Thanks! Now, the latest.

Mule deer translocation update for February 18-March 12.

Project background/goals: Only limited information is available fro which to judge the efficacy of transplanting mule deer. As a consequence, SFW initiated and funded the current project with BYU, UDWR, and now Utah State Parks as partners. Project goals consist of evaluating the movements(including site fidelity), reproduction, and survival of transplanted mule deer. We initially elected for a hard release (capture, transport, and immediate release) as opposed to a soft release (holding pens for acclimation period) because of the less practical and more costly nature of soft releases for broad-scale management. We chose to release deer in early (January) and late (March) winter because ungulate movement potential is often related to condition such that animals in better condition (early winter) may travel more than animals in poorer condition (end of winter). This line of thought suggested that deer released towards the end of winter (March) may be more likely to stay near the release sites than deer released earlier in the winter. Moreover, we were interested in whether or not managers could use transplants throughout the winter to address management issues (e.g. under or overused winter range, urban deer conflicts, etc.) Specific information related to the most recent developments is outlined below.

Thanks to all for help in completing the March 2014 round of transplants from the Parowan Front this past week. We captured, radio-collared, and relocated 48 deer (1 fawn released without radio) from the Parowan Front to Holden in a duplication of last year's effort. There were no capture-related mortalities and all 48 deer left the trailer.

We've had 4 translocated deer mortalities in the last four weeks. Three of these mortalities occurred on the Oak Creek Mountains and 1 on the Pahvant. Two of the 3 mortalities on the Oak Creeks appear to be predation (! cougar, 1 coyote). We are unsure of the cause of the third mortality as only the collar (no carcass) was located. Blood on the intact collar, however, suggests the deer is dead (as opposed to a slipped collar) and the collar was likely carried away from the carcass. The dead deer on the Pahvant was almost completely consumed, but snow erased any sign of tracks and left little evidence to determine cause of death.

Of note, there have been no mortalities of January 2013 transplants (now in their second year post release) for nearly 3 months (last one occurred in the middle of December). In our view, the movements and survival of transplanted deer during their second year will be one of the most important pieces of information associated with this study.

In addition, Dustin Mitchell reports that only 1 of the deer transplanted from Antelope Island to the San Juan unit has died to date. As of last week, the majority of transplanted deer were near release sites with a few beginning to move towards higher elevations.

We were able to locate 3 of our missing deer during our flight yesterday (2 resident and 1 translocated) on winter range between Fillmore and Holden. All 3 of the collars have weak signals and may be difficult to locate from the ground as spring approaches and deer begin moving toward summer range. With these deer located, we are now only missing 4 translocated deer, all of which were released in 1013 and have been missing for many months.

In summary, 55 resident deer and 139 translocated deer (from Parowan) were alive and accounted for on the Pahvant Range. Forty four of 44 transplanted deer on the Oak Creek Mountains were also alive and accounted for (see updated and corrected table below for summarized information).

Thanks to all for continued interest and support. Please forward to anyone else interested and let us know if there is additional information you would like reported in our regular updates.

David Smedley and Randy Larsen (BYU)

From Lee: I'll need to edit to post the chart numbers because some numbers don't jive very well with the text. (Some fawns were captured, transported and released without collars and some deer died in the trailers or on site after being released but weren't counted as capture-related deaths. I'll just report collared deer and will report trailer and release site deaths as capture related.) It'll take a bit of time. If any of you want the original e-mail, please email me at [email protected] with your request.

PAROWAN TO PAHVANT TRANSPLANT & PAHVANT RESIDENT CONTROL DEER:
Jan'13-res-50captured/37alive/9dead/4slipped collars
Jan'13-trans-51captured/23alive/26dead/2missing
Mar'13-trans-51captured/23alive/24dead/2slipped collars/2missing
Jan'14-res-20captured/18alive/2dead
Jan'14-trans-52captured/46alive/6dead
Mar'14-trans-47captured/47alive
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Jan'13-res-9total/1cougar/5coyote/2unknown/1disease
Jan'13-trans-26total/9cougar/2coyote/1bobcat/3vehicle/1poacher/6unknown/2capture/2disease
Mar'13-trans-24total/7cougar/5coyote/2poacher/6unknown/2capture/2disease
Jan'14-res-2total/1cougar/1capture
Jan'14-trans-6total/1cougar/4capture/1disease


ANTELOPE ISLAND TO OAK CREEK TRANSPLANT:
Feb'14-trans-47captured/44alive/3dead
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Feb'14-trans-3total/1cougar/1coyote/1unknown

ANTELOPE ISLAND TO SAN JUAN TRANSPLANT:
Feb'14-trans-50captured/48alive/2dead
CAUSES OF DEATH
Feb'14-trans-2total/1unknown/1capture

Lee Tracy (UWC)
 
Sounds like it is going well. Thanks for the update.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
 
Lee,

Do you have any information on the deer that were captured in Bountiful during the month of February?

Where did they end up? Survival status?

Thanks for these updates!!
 
>Lee,
>
>Do you have any information on
>the deer that were captured
>in Bountiful during the month
>of February?
>
>Where did they end up?
>Survival status?
>
>Thanks for these updates!!

Sorry, but I don't know about the Bountiful deer, but I'll ask around and get back to you. I suspect those deer were just moved without a study or else I probably would have been notified.
 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-13-14 AT 09:34PM (MST)[p]It's been a while, but here's the latest update!
From Lee: As in previous update, the numbers on the tables include fawns that were not collared, and excludes some does that died before being released. I'll make those adjustments. Additionally, this update makes references to the annual report that was attached to the email sent to me, but it's basically a summary of all the updates and I don't have the computer skills or the time to include that report here. If any of you want it, just email me at [email protected] and I'll forward it to you. Thanks, Lee

Mule deer translocation update for March 13 - April 7.

Project background/goals: (From Lee, See prior update.)

We presented the first year's results at the Utah Chapter of the Wildlife Society meeting in March. Additionally, we completed a short article on year one results for "The Sportsmen's Voice" (SFW's magazine) and have now finished the annual report.

As part of the annual report, we completed some additional analysis of survival rates during year one and have found strong support for age as an important influence with younger deer surviving better than older transplants. Annual survival of 2-year old transplants, for example, was estimated at 65% compared to only 29% for 7-year olds. Additional details on this discovery can be found in the attached report.

There are no new mortalities to report over the last month for resident deer (control group) or for translocated deer currently in their second year (moved during 2013). It has been nearly 4 months (mid December) since any of the January transplants (now in their second year post release) have died. If this pattern continues to hold, translocated deer during their second year will be one of the most important pieces of information associated with this study.

We've had 11 translocated deer mortalities (all captured and released in 2014) since the last update. Three of these mortalities occurred on the Oak Creek Mountains and 8 on the Pahvant. We suspect 2 of the mortalities on the Oak Creeks to be predation (1 cougar, 1 coyote). We are unsure of the cause of the third mortality on the Oak Creeks as we found the deer mostly consumed, leaving very little evidence to determine cause of death. We suspect 2 of the 8 mortalities on the Pahvant to be cougar predation (tracks and cached), 2 to be coyote predation, 3 unknown (no carcass found for 2 of these deer), and 1 that we initially suspected had been poached. This deer had skeletal damage consistent with a high velocity impact. Cody Jones (local conservation officer) investigated, but could not locate a bullet and the cause of death remains unclear because the skeletal damage could have been caused by a vehicle collision or perhaps one of the weights from the net used to capture the deer. The mortality rate during the spring this year has been very similar to that observed in 2013 for the first transplant. In March and the first 10 days of April 2013, we lost 7 transplanted deer on the Pahvant compared to 8 this year.

We are currently missing 6 translocated deer and 2 resident deer. the 2 resident deer and 1 of the translocated deer were located on winter range during the last flight. All 3 of these deer have extremely weak signals and we were unable to locate them on the ground. One of the missing deer is from the March 2014 capture. The rest have been missing since early in 2011.

In summary, 53 resident deer and 129 translocated deer (from Parowan) were alive and accounted for on the Pahvant Range. Thirty eight of 41 transplanted deer on the Oak Creek Mountains were alive and accounted for (see updated and corrected table below for summarized information).

Thanks to all for continued interest and support. Please forward to anyone else interested and let us know if there is additional information you would like reported in our regular update.

David Smedley and Randy Larsen (BYU)

From Lee: Below is my edited version of the tables per my disclaimer at the beginning of this post.

Parowan to Pahvant transplant and Pahvant resident control deer:
Jan'13-res-50captured/35alive/9dead/4slipped collars/2missing
Jan'13-trans-51captured/23alive/26dead/2missing
Mar'13-trans-51captured/22alive/24dead/2slipped collars/3missing
Jan'14-res-20captured/18alive/2dead
Jan'14-trans-52captured/44alive/8dead
Mar'14-trans-47captured/40alive/6dead/1missing
Causes of Death:
Jan'13-res-9total/1cougar/5coyote/2unknown/2disease
Jan'13-trans-26total/9coug/2coy/1bcat/3road/1poach/6unk/2cap/2dis
Mar'13-trans-24total/7coug/5coy/2poach/6unknown/2capture/2disease
Jan'14-res-2total/1cougar/1capture
Jan'14-trans-8total/1coug/2unk/4cap (unable to resolve numbers)
Mar'14-trans-6total/2cougar/2coyote/2unknown

Antelope Island to Oak Creek transplant deer:
Feb'14-trans-47 captured/38alive/6dead/3missing
Causes of Death:
Feb'14-trans-6total/2cougar/2coyote/2unknown

Antelope Island to San Juan transplant deer:
Feb'14-trans-50captured/48alive/2dead
Causes of Death:
Feb'14-trans-2total/1unknown/1capture

Thanks for viewing! Until next update,
Lee Tracy (UWC)
 
Looks like it going well, How long does it take for the transplanted deer to become "resident " deer.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
 
It appears from the statistics that it takes about a year for the surviving transplants to fit in. Apparently, those does that "bond" into the existing herd rather quickly are much better off than those that are more independent. All herds have a pecking order and the ones that are lower in the pecking order and that are willing to follow a resident leader stay in safer and healthier areas and are more protected from predators, vehicles, poachers, accidents, hypothermia, starvation and diseases simply because they follow the older, wiser residents.

Also, it probably takes a complete migration and breeding cycle for them to become residents.
 
Just noticed this thread (even though it's been running for months.....). Good and interesting information here.

I've got a question regarding a post I saw from last month. elkfromabove, you made this reply on March 3rd: "LAST EDITED ON Mar-03-14 AT 09:54 AM (MST)

GVH, The reason we did it in the winter is because the actual primary reason for this transplant, in spite of what we seem to be focused on, is NOT TO INCREASE the herd at the release site, but to REMOVE deer using the winter range at the capture site. There are about 500 too many deer wintering on the narrow Parowan Front winter range and we need to remove the ones actually wintering there. If we captured does on the unit during the summer, we can't be sure if they are the ones using that winter range or whether they are using some other surrounding winter range."

Sorry to bring the question up so late, and please understand that I'm not asking it with any malice, but if the primary reason is to remove the deer and not build the herd elsewhere, wouldn't it be much more economical to simply have a doe hunt instead of spending all the money and effort to catch them?

Thanks,
S.

:)
 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-16-14 AT 02:15AM (MST)[p]>Just noticed this thread (even though
>it's been running for months.....).
> Good and interesting information
>here.
>
>I've got a question regarding a
>post I saw from last
>month. elkfromabove, you made
>this reply on March 3rd:
> "LAST EDITED ON Mar-03-14
>AT 09:54 AM (MST)
>
>GVH, The reason we did it
>in the winter is because
>the actual primary reason for
>this transplant, in spite of
>what we seem to be
>focused on, is NOT TO
>INCREASE the herd at the
>release site, but to REMOVE
>deer using the winter range
>at the capture site. There
>are about 500 too many
>deer wintering on the narrow
>Parowan Front winter range and
>we need to remove the
>ones actually wintering there. If
>we captured does on the
>unit during the summer, we
>can't be sure if they
>are the ones using that
>winter range or whether they
>are using some other surrounding
>winter range."
>
>Sorry to bring the question up
>so late, and please understand
>that I'm not asking it
>with any malice, but if
>the primary reason is to
>remove the deer and not
>build the herd elsewhere, wouldn't
>it be much more economical
>to simply have a doe
>hunt instead of spending all
>the money and effort to
>catch them?
>
>Thanks,
>S.
>
>:)

Maybe a short review of the initial range ride that started this project would answer your question better.

On March 31, 2012 we (3 UWC, 4 SFW, 2 DWR, 2 BLM and 1 NRCS reps.) went on a tour of some of the more damaged areas of the winter range on the Parowan Front. This is a strip of land about 1 mile wide and 25 miles long on the east side of I-15 from Cedar City north to State Road 20. About 80% of the Panguitch Lake deer herd lives on that strip from about the end of October to the end of March. Needless to say it is heavily over utilized and has been for many years. To complicate the matter, it is gradually being developed with homes and is being fenced with high fences to keep the animals out of the many alfalfa fields.

When asked point blank, we were told by both the DWR reps and the BLM reps that we needed to take 400 to 600 mouths off of that range each year for the next 5 years in order for that range to recover, but we were only issuing 150 antlerless tags at the time and had been since 2008 (while issuing ZERO antlerless tags from 2003 to 2007). When we (UWC) asked why we were only issuing 150 tags, the DWR reps said that we couldn't get any more than that through the RAC/Wildlife Board system and the SFW reps concurred. That's when the SFW reps offered to pay to transplant 100 deer along with keeping the 150 tags. Once that offer was made, we (UWC) couldn't persuade either party to increase the numbers. And that's where it now stands. UWC has made the proposal to add 200 more tags and to make them youth tags, but it wasn't accepted last year at the RAC's or Wildlife Board and hasn't been accepted so far this year. As a result of those lower numbers, the herd is now 3,200 deer OVER population objectives and growing. In other words there are 2,560 (80% of 3,200) more mouths on that range than the DWR wants and the damage is even worse than it was on the range ride. (I was being generously low with my 500 too many figure in the quote, because I wasn't aware of the latest classification.)

As for the cost and whether or not it's worth it, that's one reason for the study and my updates. Somewhere along the line, we'll have to make that decision, but let's complete the study in the next 2 years for the information we'll need.
 
LAST EDITED ON May-05-14 AT 02:52PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON May-05-14 AT 02:49?PM (MST)

>Good info. It answered my
>question. Thanks, and good
>luck on this initiative going
>forward!
>
>S.
>
>:)

While our initiative was considered and got close to passing in the Southern RAC meeting, it was not even considered nor discussed in the Wildlife Board meeting which was disappointing. We would much rather have heard a "no" with reasons than to just be ignored. And the ironic thing about this is that the proposal is based on DNR and BLM figures and recommendations, but neither of them have the desire to bring it up because they think it would be a bad PR move on their part. They'd rather we look like the "devil's advocate" (as I was once called) than themselves. However, we'll keep trying and hopefully it'll get done before Mother Nature with a bad winter, further increased population (we're already 3,200 over objective), drought, lighting strike or some idiot tossing a cigarette butt from the freeway makes our proposal mote! Maybe next year!

In any case, here is the latest update! I'm sorry it's a little late, but I've been busy and rather distracted this last month.

"Mule deer translocation update for April 8 - April 24

- Project background/goals: (From Lee, see previous update)

- We've had 4 translocated deer mortalities (2 Pahvant, 2 Oak Creek), 1 slipped collar (translocated), and 2 resident deer mortalities (all captured and released in 2014) since the last update.

- Pahvant (2 translocated deaths, 2 resident deaths, 1 slipped collar)
- 1 translocated deer and 1 resident deer are suspected coyote predation.
- 1 translocated deer mortality was caused by a vehicle collision on the east side of the mountain range (near highway 50).
- 1 resident deer was found mostly consumed leaving very little evidence to determine cause of death.
- 1 slipped collar found near a fence. The necklace material appears to have failed prematurely.

-Oak Creek (2 translocated deaths)
- 1 translocated deer mortality was a cougar predation (tracks and cached).
- 1 translocated deer mortality was found mostly consumed with very little evidence to determine cause of death.

- As of the last check, there have been 4 total mortalities from the deer translocated to the San Juan Unit (Thanks, Dustin). The table below has been updated to reflect these changes.

- It has been more than 4 months since any of the deer released in January of 2013 have died and now nearly 2 months since any of the deer released in March 2013 have died. If this pattern continues to hold, transplanted deer will have much higher survival in their second year following release.

- CWD results have come back negative for the January 2014 Parowan capture and the February 2014 Antelope Island capture (Thanks, Leslie).

- We are currently missing 7 translocated deer and 2 resident deer. The 2 resident deer and 1 of the translocated deer were located on winter range during the last flight. All 3 of these deer have extremely weak signals and we were unable to locate them on the ground. Two of the missing deer are from the 2014 translocations. The rest have been missing since early in 2013.

Thanks to all for continued interest and support. Please forward to anyone else interested and let us know if there is additional information you would like reported in our regular updates.

From Lee: Below are my reconfigured (but accurate) versions of the tables. See previous updates for an explanation.

-Parowan to Pahvant translocated and Pahvant resident (control) deer:
Jan'13-res-50captured/35alive/9dead/4slipped collars/2missing
Jan'13-trans-51captured/23alive/26dead/2missing
Mar'13-trans-51captured/22alive/24dead/2slipped collars/3missing
Jan'14-res-20captured/16alive/4dead
Jan'14-trans-51captured/43alive/7dead/1missing
Mar'14-trans-47captured/37alive/8dead/1slipped collar/1missing
-Parowan/Pahvant Causes of Death (cap=capture related)
Jan'13-res-9dead/2coug/4coy/2unk/1disease
Jan'13-trans-26dead/9coug/2coy/1bcat/3veh/1poach/6unk/2cap/2dis
Mar'13-trans-24dead/7coug/5coy/2poach/6unk/2cap/2disease
Jan'14-res-4dead/1cougar/1coyote/1unknown/1capture
Jan'14-trans-7dead/2cougar/1unknown/4capture
Mar'14-trans-8dead/2cougar/2coyote/1vehicle/3unknown

-Antelope Island to Oak Creek translocated deer:
Feb'14-trans-47captured/36alive/8dead/3missing
-Antelope Island/Oak Creek Causes of Death:
Feb'14-8dead/3cougar/2coyote/3unknown

-Antelope Island to San Juan translocated deer:
Feb'14-trans-50captured/44alive/6dead
-Antelope Island/San Juan Causes of Death:
Feb'14-trans-6dead/1cougar/1vehicle/2unknown/2capture

David Smedley and Randy Larsen (BYU)

From Lee: Until next time!
Lee Tracy (UWC)
 
So I'm no biologist either, but this is what I see. Taking out capture related mortality would give the best indication of what the herds are facing. This shows tangible data about how our deer are dying, granted limited to one study, but still data versus opinion. Lots of TALK about predators, winter range, development encroachment, fire suppression, pinion/juniper, drought, etc, as cause of the population decline...what does this say to you?

7175mortality.jpg




One assumption made with this chart. Of those mortalities reported as unknown, how many would actually have been predator caused but unidentifiable? 50%? The data clearly shows that greater than 50% of the identifiable deaths were due to predators, so it's not a far stretch to assume 50% of the unidentified were also predators. With that assumption, nearly 75% of the heard is being taken out by lions and coyotes!

258capture_pie.jpg
 
LAST EDITED ON May-05-14 AT 06:27PM (MST)[p]>So I'm no biologist either, but
>this is what I see.
>Taking out capture related mortality
>would give the best indication
>of what the herds are
>facing. This shows tangible data
>about how our deer are
>dying, granted limited to one
>study, but still data versus
>opinion. Lots of TALK about
>predators, winter range, development encroachment,
>fire suppression, pinion/juniper, drought, etc,
>as cause of the population
>decline...what does this say to
>you?
>
>
7175mortality.jpg

>
>
>
>One assumption made with this chart.
>Of those mortalities reported as
>unknown, how many would actually
>have been predator caused but
>unidentifiable? 50%? The data
>clearly shows that greater than
>50% of the identifiable deaths
>were due to predators, so
>it's not a far stretch
>to assume 50% of the
>unidentified were also predators. With
>that assumption, nearly 75% of
>the heard is being taken
>out by lions and coyotes!
>
>
>
258capture_pie.jpg


I'm no biologist either, but here's what I see.

Because the transplanted deer are exhibiting unusually unsafe behavior as evidenced by their much higher rate of mortality and because the resident deer are already an established herd as is the rest of Utah, I discounted the mortalities of the transplanted deer as uncommon and count only the resident deer deaths.

And of the 70 resident deer captured and collared, we have only 10 predator mortalities thus far (including your assumed 1/2 of the unknowns) which means only 14% of the herds thus far are being taken out by lions and coyotes.
 
>So I'm no biologist either, but
>this is what I see.
>Taking out capture related mortality
>would give the best indication
>of what the herds are
>facing. This shows tangible data
>about how our deer are
>dying, granted limited to one
>study, but still data versus
>opinion. Lots of TALK about
>predators, winter range, development encroachment,
>fire suppression, pinion/juniper, drought, etc,
>as cause of the population
>decline...what does this say to
>you?
>
>
7175mortality.jpg

>
>
>
>One assumption made with this chart.
>Of those mortalities reported as
>unknown, how many would actually
>have been predator caused but
>unidentifiable? 50%? The data
>clearly shows that greater than
>50% of the identifiable deaths
>were due to predators, so
>it's not a far stretch
>to assume 50% of the
>unidentified were also predators. With
>that assumption, nearly 75% of
>the heard is being taken
>out by lions and coyotes!
>
>
>
258capture_pie.jpg



Cougars eat deer? Would have never thought of that.
 
It is difficult to make assumptions with respect to predation. If you have fawns that are low birth weight due to the health of the doe (she did not get the resources she needed to have higher birth weights, or any such combination of factors) then they are predisposed to higher rates of predation. So was it the predator or the lack of nutritious feed that ultimately led to their deaths? It is a complicated system with many parts interacting. High predation one year but not the next (heavy winter leaving does in poor condition) wet spring making fawns susceptible to disease, and on and on. Lots of factors can lead deer to being more vulnerable to predators, yes the predator may be the killing stroke but was it the ultimate cause? I am just trying to say, one should look at all the factors related to predation and look at them for more than one short time period. The difference between the survival of resident deer and translocated deer in this scenario is a big example of just such effects on deer and other wildlife. Just my thoughts.

Joe
 
I would be willing to bet everything I own if you put a pair of cougars on Antelope Island, we wouldn't be transplanting doe. The auction hunt would also drop from the highest priced to the lowest priced auction tag within very few years.
 
Tule/EFA, thanks, good points for sure. I was, and still am just kinda shocked at the overall number of predator kills. While I'm sure there is much more data out there, these reports are the first data I've seen concerning all the predator rhetoric.

And BeDawg, I think that's a safe bet!
 
>Tule/EFA, thanks, good points for sure.
>I was, and still am
>just kinda shocked at the
>overall number of predator kills.
>While I'm sure there is
>much more data out there,
>these reports are the first
>data I've seen concerning
>all the predator rhetoric.
>
>And BeDawg, I think that's a
>safe bet!

Predators are definitely part of the reason for the mule deer decline and obviously the most dramatic.
 
LAST EDITED ON May-31-14 AT 01:32PM (MST)[p]>Lee,
>
>Do you have any information on
>the deer that were captured
>in Bountiful during the month
>of February?
>
>Where did they end up?
>Survival status?
>
>Thanks for these updates!!

I'm sorry for the delayed response to this question. It just slipped my mind until I reviewed this thread. Also, I'm not home as I post this and I'm going by memory on the numbers from my conversation with Mr. McFarlane during a break at the Wildlife Board meeting. I'll post any corrections when I get back home on the 8th.

The 37 Bountiful deer, which included 5 or 6 bucks, were moved to the Cedar Mountains west of Skull Valley. They were collared with some older collars solely for the purpose of locating any that showed positive for CWD per their blood sample and aren't being monitored otherwise. When I asked about eliminating doe hunts and using transplants only to regulate populations, he said definitely not. Doe hunts will still be used, but there are some cases where it's not possible or too risky (Bountiful and Antelope Island, among others). I hope this answers your concerns.
Lee Tracy (UWC)
 
LAST EDITED ON May-31-14 AT 05:54PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON May-31-14 AT 03:35?PM (MST)

Here's the latest update! (With my usual disclaimers)

From Lee: As in previous updates, the numbers on the tables sent in the original emails include fawns that were captured but not collared and do not include some does that died before being released. I'll make those adjustments in my edited version. Also, the text of this update is edited by myself a bit for clarification of locations and for simplification of the numbers. If any of you care to see the original, feel free to email me at [email protected] and I'll forward it to you.

Mule deer translocation for April 25 - May 27.

Project background/goals (From Lee: see previous updates.)

Since the last update, we have had 5 translocated deer mortalities on the Pahvant (1 from Jan 2013, 1 from Mar 2013, 1 from Jan 2014, 2 from Mar 2014), 2 resident deer mortalities on the Pahvant (both from Jan 2013) and 3 translocated deer mortalities on the Oak Creeks.

Pahvant:
-2 translocated deer and 1 resident deer are suspected coyote predations.
-1 translocated deer appears to be a bobcat predation (cached and small cat tracks).
-1 resident deer was found whole with little scavenging. there was no evidence on or around the carcass (caching, tracks, wounds, etc.) to determine cause of death. It is probable that this deer died from a cause other than predation, but given the heat, it was too decomposed to determine which disease it had died from.
-2 translocated deer were found almost completely consumed (likely coyotes) with little evidence to confirm cause of death.

Oak Creeks:
-2 translocated deer mortalities are suspected coyote predations.
-1 translocated deer was found almost completely consumed (likely coyotes) with limited evidence to confirm cause of death.'

San Juan:
As of the last check, there have been 5 total mortalities from the deer translocated to the San Juan Unit (sic, 6 counting one that died in the trailer before being transplanted). The majority of deer have stayed close to the release site with some limited movement south.

Transplanted deer in their second year continue to demonstrate high survival with only 2 deaths so far in 2014. As a comparison, we have observed a total of 4 deaths in 2014 for resident deer captured in 2013.

The attached kmz (google earth) file shows the locations of all mortalities........................ (From Lee: Email me if you want it.)

We have observed a lot of movement to summer range from both resident and translocated deer in recent weeks and are currently missing 9 Pahvant translocated deer (5 from 2013-most are long-term missing, 4 from 1014), 2 Pahvant resident deer, and 3 on the Oak Creeks. We expect to be able to access the top of the Pahvant this week as a couple of very large drifts melt out and should be able to find many of these deer. One of the most interesting questions to be answered over the next couple of weeks is whether deer in their 2nd summer following translocation will return to the areas they summered in last year.

Thanks to all for continued interest and support. Please forward to anyone else interested and let us know if there is additional information you would like reported in our regular updates.

David Smedley and Randy Larsen (BYU)

From Lee: Edited tables:

Parowan to Pahvant Transplanted and Pahvant Resident Control Deer:
Jan 13-res-50captured-32alive-11dead-4slipped collars-3missing
Jan 13-trans-51captured-21alive-27dead-3missing
Mar 13-trans-51captured-21alive-25dead-2slipped collars-3missing
Jan 14-res-20captured-15alive-4dead-1missing
Jan 14-trans-51captured-39alive-8dead-4missing
Mar 14-trans-47captured-35alive-10dead-1slipped collar-1missing
Causes of Death:
Jan 13-res-11dead-2cougar-5coyote-3unknown-1disease
Jan 13-trans-27dead-9cou-2coy-2bobcat-3vehicle-1poach-6unk-2capture-2dis
Mar 13-trans-25dead-7cou-5coy-2poach-7unk-2cap-2dis
Jan 14-res-4dead-1cou-1coy-1unk-1cap
Jan 14-trans-8dead-2cou-1coy-1unk-4cap
Mar 14-10dead-2cou-3coy-1veh-4unk

Antelope Island to Oak Creek Transplanted Deer:
Feb 14-trans-47captured-33alive-11dead-3missing
Causes of Death:
Feb 14-trans-3cou-4coy-4unk

Antelope Island to San Juan Transplanted Deer:
Feb 14-trans-50captured-44alive-6dead
Causes of Death:
Feb 14-trans-6dead-1cou-1veh- 2unk-2cap

Thanks for looking, until next update,
Lee Tracy (UWC)
 
>how a bout some deer for
>northeaster Utah.???

You must have plenty! None of your units were on the list of places to receive transplanted deer that was passed at the Wildlife Board in December. Box Elder, Nine Mile, Elk Ridge, Avintquin, West Desert, Southwest Desert, Oak Creek, Pahvant and Mt Dutton need them more!
 
In my previous post, I tried to give you an update by simply editing the previous update, but it was more cumbersome on this forum than on the Utah Wildlife Network. I'll try again some other time, but in the meanwhile here's the latest update.

Mule deer translocation update for May 28 - June 21.

Project background/goals: From Lee: see previous updates.

We have had 2 translocated deer mortalities (1 from January 2014, 1 from March 2014) on the Pahvant since the last update (no resident, 2nd year transplants, or Oak Creek (or San Juan) mortalities). We suspect that both of these deer were cougar predations. Deer in their second year continue to demonstrate much higher survival than year 1 and at this point it looks like it is comparable to resident deer.

Additionally, survival rates appear to be higher this year than last year-particularly for January transplants. Between January and June of 2013, we picked up radio collars from 5 resident deer, 12 January transplants, and 12 March transplants (sample sizes we 50, 51, and 51 respectively). During that same time frame in 2014, we've picked up collars from only 6 January 2014 transplants, 11 March 2014 transplants, and 11 February 2014 (Oak Creek) transplants (sample sizes were 48, 47, and 47 respectively). Moreover, at last count, only 5 (sic 6) of the deer transplanted to the San Juan unit have died.

We have observed that many of the 2013 translocated deer have returned directly to the areas they ended the summer in last year during spring migration. It will be interesting to make a formal comparison of movement (from GPS data) as deer transitioned from winter to summer ranges.

We are still seeing movements of 2014 translocated deer. We currently have 2 deer from the 2014 translocation on the Beaver. We suspect that 2 of our missing 2014 deer may also be on the Beaver. We also have 3 deer from Antelope Island that have moved from the Oak Creeks to areas north of Mona.

We are currently missing 10 translocated deer (5 from 2013-most are long-term missing, 5 from 2014) on the Pahvant, 3 on the Oak Creeks, and 1 resident deer. We suspect that some of the missing 2014 translocated deer have moved south since our last plight and may be on the Beaver. We hope to locate these deer on our next flight.

Thanks to all for continued interest ans support. Please forward to anyone else interested and let us know if there is additional information you would like reported in our regular updates.

David Smedley and Randy Larsen (BYU)

From Lee: Edited tables:

PAROWAN TO PAHVANT TRANSPLANTED/PAHVANT RESIDENT CONTROL DEER:
Jan13-res-50captured-34alive-11dead-4slipped collar-1missing
Jan13-trans-51captured-21alive-27dead-3missing
Mar13-trans-51captured-20alive-25dead-2slipped collar-4missing
Jan14-res-20captured-16alive-4dead
Jan14-trans-51captured-40alive-9dead-2missing
Mar14-trans-47captured-32alive-11dead-1slipped collar-3missing
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Jan13-res-11dead-2cougar-5coyote-3unknown-1disease
Jan13-trans-27dead-9cou-2coy-2bobcat-3vehicle-1poach-6unk-2capture-2dis
Mar13-trans-25dead-7cou-5coy-2poach-7unk-2cap-2dis
Jan14-res-4dead-1cou-1coy-1ink-1cap
Jan14-trans-9dead-3cou-1coy-1unk-4cap
Mar14-trans-11dead-3cou-3coy-1veh-4unk

ANTELOPE ISLAND TO OAK CREEK TRANSPLANTED DEER:
Feb14-trans-47captured-33alive-11dead-3missing
CAUSE OF DEATH:
Feb14-trans-11dead-3cou-4coy-4unk

ANTELOPE ISLAND TO SAN JUAN TRANSPLANTED DEER:
Feb14-trans-50captured-44alive-6dead
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Feb14-trans-6dead-1coug-1veh-2unk-2cap

Thanks to those of you who are keeping up with this! It's not as fun as most of the other threads, but if the science isn't done, most of those fun threads wouldn't be happening!

See ya next month! (At least on this thread.)
Lee Tracy (UWC)
 
LAST EDITED ON Sep-02-14 AT 10:03AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Sep-02-14 AT 08:56?AM (MST)

Mule deer translocation update for June 22 - July 22

Project background/goals: (From Lee: See prior updates.)

Additional CWD lab results came back from 2014 transplants. CWD was not detected in any of the deer moved over the past two years (Thanks Leslie).

We have had 4 translocation deer mortalities (2 from Jan 2014, 2 from Mar 2014 ) on the Pahvant, 1 translocated deer mortality on the Oak Creeks (2014), 2 resident deer mortalities (2013 capture), and 1 slipped collar (2014) since the last update.

Pahvant
-2 translocated deer are suspected cougar predictions.
-2 translocated deer kied from unknown causes (mostly consumed and not cached).
-1 resident deer were cougar predictions.
-2 translocated deer slipped collar.

Oak Creek
-1 translocated deer mortality appears to be a coyote predation.

San Juan
As of this week, there have been 7 total mortalities from the deer translocated to the San Juan Unit. Eight of the deer have moved north of their release sites and up onto the mountain. The rest have moved a little south of their release sites and are still on winter range (Thanks Dustin). These deer released on the San Juan have demonstrated the highest initial (February - July) survival rates of any group at about 80% so far.

Translocated deer in their second year (initially released in 2013) continue to demonstrate high survival in year 2 that is comparable to resident deer.

We have focused efforts on downloads of GPS collars over the last month. The general pattern observed is that translocted deer in their second year show much less on an exploration phase (in comparison to their first year)as they transition from winter range to summer range. Summer range use patterns are smaller in year 2 than year 1 and much more similar to space-use patterns of resident Pahvant deer. Most of the 2nd year transplants moved directly this spring to areas where they ended the summer of 2013. (From Lee: Dave then refers to an attached kmz file which uses a map to show patterns, but I can neither open nor attach it to this post. Sorry, but if you want to see it, email me and I'll forward the whole email from Dave.)

We are currently missing 13 translocated deer (5 from 2013-most are long-term missing, 8 from 2014 on the Pahvant, 2 on the Oac Creeks, and 2 resident deer. We expect to locate many of these deer in the upcoming flight.

Thanks to all for continued interest and support. Please forward to anyone else interested and let us know if there is additional information you would like reported in our regular updates.

David Smedley and Randy Larsen (BYU)

From Lee: Edited Tables:

PAROWAN TO PAHVANT TRANSPLANTED/PAHVANT RESIDENT CONTROL DEER:
Jan13-res-50captured-31alive-13dead-4slipped collar-2missing
Jan13-trans-51captured-23alive-27dead-1missing
Mar13-trans-51captured-20alive-25dead-2slipped collar-4missing
Jan14-res-20captured-16alive-4dead
Jan14-trans-51captured-35alive-11dead-4missing-1slipped collar
Mar14-trans-47captured-29alive-13dead-1slipped collar-4missing
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Jan13-res-13dead-4cougar-5coyote-3unknown-1disease
Jan13-trans-27dead-9cou-2coy-2bcat-3veh-1poach-6unk-2cap-2dis
Mar13-trans-25dead-7cou-5coy-2poach-7unk-2cap-2dis
Jan14-res-4dead-1cou-1coy-1unk-1cap
Jan14-trans-11dead-5cou-1coy-1unk-4cap
Mar14-trans-13dead-3cou-3coy-1veh-6unk

ANTELOPE ISLAND TO OAK CREEK TRANSPLANTED DEER:
Feb14-trans-47captured-33alive-12dead-2missing
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Feb14-trans-12dead-3coug-5coy-4unk

ANTELOPE ISLAND TO SAN JUAN TRANSPLANTED DEER:
Feb14-trans-50captured-43alive-7dead
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Feb14-7dead-2coug-1veh-2unk-2cap

Thanks for looking.

Lee Tracy (UWC)
 
Mule deer translocation update for July 23 - August 11

Project background/goals: (From Lee, See post 30.)

We have had 1 slipped collar (ripped fabric) on the Pahvant (January 2013 translocation) and 3 translocated deer mortalities (all from the Oak Creeks) since the last update. All 3 of the mortalities on the Oak Creek Mountains appear to be cougar predation (evidence of caching). Updated mortality tables below.

As of the last check (July 2014), there have been 7 total mortalities from the deer translocated to the San Juan Unit. Eight of the deer have moved a little south of their release sites and are still on winter range. Deer released onto the San Juan Unit have demonstrate the highest initial survival of any release group.

Thanks to all for continued interest and support. Please forward to anyone else interested and let us know if there is additional information you would like reported in our regular updates.

David Smedley and Randy Larsen (BYU)

From Lee: Edited Tables:

PAROWAN TO PAHVANT TRANSPLANTED/PAHVANT RESIDENT CONTROL DEER:
Jan13-res-50captured-31alive-13dead-4slipped collar-2missing
Jan13-trans-51captured-20alive-27dead-1slipped collar-3missing
Mar13-trans-51capture-21alive-25dead-2slipped collar-3missing
Jan14-res-20captured-15alive-4dead-1missing
Jan14-trans-51captured-35alive-11dead-1slipped collar-4missing
Mar14-trans-47captured-29alive-13dead-1slipped collar-4missing
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Jan13-res-13dead-4cougar-5coyote-3unknown-1disease
Jan13-trans-27dead-9cou-2coy-2bcat-3veh-1poach-6unk-2cap-2dis
Mar13-trans-25dead-7cou-5coy-2poach-7unk-2cap-2dis
Jan14-res-4dead-1cou-1coy-1unk-1cap
Jan14-trans-11dead-5cou-1coy-1unk-4cap
Mar14-trans-13dead-3cou-3coy-1veh-6unk

ANTELOPE ISLAND TO OAK CREEK TRANSPLANTED DEER:
Feb14-trans-47captured-30alive-15dead-2missing
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Feb14-trans-15dead-6cou-5coy-4unk

ANTELOPE ISLAND TO SAN JUAN TRANSPLANTED DEER:
Feb14-trans-50captured-43alive-7dead
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Feb14-trans-7dead-2cou-1veh-2unk-2cap

Lee Tracy (UWC)
 
I'm going to be honest I didn't read every post on this thread but two things stuck out to me in the information I did read. First off, I can't believe there are 500 too many deer that winter on the Parowan front. How many deer total winter there? I spend a lot of time out there as I live close by and just don't see those kind of numbers. The other thing I noticed is all the kills by predators. Good grief, is the goal to feed the predators or build up a deer herd? I think that predator problems need to be dealt with before we move anymore deer off other ranges (Parowan front), that in my opinion, aren't really thriving!
 
Thanks for the update, Sure hope there is another transplant in the works for SJ maybe kick up the number of does to even 125 for this next go around. Can that be done? Just seem a bigger bunch would have better odds of making it.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
 
For years I've heard mule deer can't successfully be transplanted but that doesn't seem to be the case here. I know it wasn't the intended purpose, however it seems to shed a positive light on transplanting mule deer.
 
>I'm going to be honest I
>didn't read every post on
>this thread but two things
>stuck out to me in
>the information I did read.
>First off, I can't believe
>there are 500 too many
>deer that winter on the
>Parowan front. How many deer
>total winter there? I spend
>a lot of time out
>there as I live close
>by and just don't see
>those kind of numbers. The
>other thing I noticed is
>all the kills by predators.
>Good grief, is the goal
>to feed the predators or
>build up a deer herd?
>I think that predator problems
>need to be dealt with
>before we move anymore deer
>off other ranges (Parowan front),
>that in my opinion, aren't
>really thriving!

Oh, the numbers are there alright! We're currently 3,200 deer over objective (and growing) on the Panquitch Lake unit and the majority of that herd winters on the west side of the unit (Parowan Front, Bear Valley). As far as predators go, there were some coyotes removed from the Pahvant Range before the transplants, but the cougars are under their own plan and they couldn't be randomly removed.

FWIW, the Mule Deer Planning Committee has made a proposal in the mule deer plan to more closely integrate the cougar plan with the mule deer plan by restructuring both committees. We'll have to see how that goes with the DWR and the Wildlife Board.
 
From Lee: This update is edited by myself for simplification of numbers and separate transplants. If you prefer the original, send me and email request at [email protected].

Mule Deer translocation update for August 12 - September 24.

Project background/goals: (From Lee, see post 30)

It has been a busy month as we have focused on retrieval of radio collars from dead deer, location of missing deer (from the ground and regularly scheduled flights), and downloading of locations from deer with GPS radios.

Since the last update, we have had 4 translocated deer mortalities (1 from Mar 2013, 1 from Jan 2014, 2 from Mar 2014) on the p0ahvant and 4 translocated deer mortalities on the Oak Creeks.

Pahvant
-1 translocated deer was a cougar predation.
-1 translocated deer and 1 resident deer died from unknown causes.
-2 translocated deer appear to have been poached (cut collars); both have been reported to the local conservation officer.

Oak Creeks
-2 deer died from unknown causes.
-1 deer was a cougar predation.
-1 deer was hit by a vehicle in Springville (approximately 115 kilometers/72 miles from where it was released in February and was regularly detected on the Wasatch Front, southwest of Springville until its death this month.

San Juan
As of the last check, there have been 12 total mortalities (5 since the last update) from the deer translocated to the San Juan Unit. Despite the uptick in mortalities during the past month, deer released onto the San Juan Unit have the highest initial survival of any release group.

We were able to locate several of our missing deer on a flight during the last week and now have downloaded locations from all deer with GPS radios within the last 2 months.

Thanks to all for continued interest and support. Please forward to anyone else interested and let us know if there is additional information you would like reported in our regular updates.

David Smedley and Randy Larsen (BYU)

From Lee: Edited tables:

PAROWAN TO PAHVANT TRANSPLANTED/PAHVANT RESIDENT CONTROL DEER:
Jan13-res-50captured-31alive-13dead-4slipped collar-2missing
Jan13-trans-51captured-20alive-27dead-1slipped collar-3missing
Mar13-trans-51captured-20alive-26dead-2slipped collar-3missing
Jan14-res-20captured-14alive-5dead-1missing
Jan14-trans-51captured-35alive-11dead-1slipped collar-4missing
Mar14-trans-47captured-29alive-14dead-1slipped collar-3missing
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Jan13-res-13dead-4cougar-5coyote-3unknown-1disease
Jan13-trans-27dead-9cou-2coy-2bobcat-3veh-1poach-6unk-2cap-2dis
Mar13-trans-26dead-7cou-5coy-3poach-7unk-2cap-2dis
Jan14-res-5dead-1cou-1cou-2unk-1cap
Jan14-trans-11dead-5cou-1coy-1unk-4cap
Mar14-trans-14dead-3cou-3coy-1veh-1poach-6unk

ANTELOPE ISLAND TO OAK CREEK TRANSPLANTED DEER:
Feb14-trans-47captured-27alive-19dead-1missing
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Feb14-trans-19dead-7cou-5coy-1veh-6unk

ANTELOPE ISLAND TO SAN JUAN TRANSPLANTED DEER:
Feb14-trans-50captured-38alive-12dead
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Feb14-trans-12dead-2cou-1veh-2unk-2cap-5not yet listed

Until next time!
Lee Tracy
United Wildlife Cooperative
 
How soon do you think the impact of the transplants will have on the area's they was transplanted into. How soon can you be able to know that it is working as planned.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
 
>How soon do you think the
>impact of the transplants will
>have on the area's they
>was transplanted into. How soon
>can you be able to
>know that it is working
>as planned.
>
>"I have found if you go
>the extra mile it's Never
>crowded".
>>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>>the MM green signature club.[font/]

Let me answer your questions by referring you back to my original post.

First of all, all of the transplants were originally planned primarily to REMOVE deer from over utilized winter range (and secondarily for the purpose of improving herds in other areas). We just had to find the most compatible places to release them. So, in that sense, so far, the Parowan Front transplant isn't working and probably never will because we haven't and apparently aren't willing to transplant or kill enough does to reduce the Parowan Front herd to the numbers needed to stabilize or improve the winter range. In fact, that unit (Panguitch Lake) is now already 3,200 deer OVER objective and growing and if we have a large winter range cheatgrass fire, harsh winter, or the drought continues much longer, that herd will likely crash to the point of a very limited or, at best, a long term recovery. And the same thing could happen to the Antelope Island herd, though I don't know that situation as well.

Second, all of these studies are 3 year studies and this is the second year of the Parowan Front/Pahvant study and the numbers haven't gone up on the Pahvant in any significant way to notice a difference. In fact, there are continuing complaints from deer hunters that the numbers there keep going down. But I don't know the actual classification estimates so I couldn't say whether or not that secondary aspect of the transplant is working. I do know there's a reason (or reasons) why those numbers were down before the transplants and that reason likely still exists and putting more deer there is like trying to stop a whirlpool by throwing more fish into it. And the Antelope Island/Oak Creek/San Juan studies just got started so it's too soon to make a determination other than to compare them to each other and to the beginning of the Parowan Front/Pahvant study.

Now, having said all of that, we definitely have learned a lot about transplanting deer and will likely learn more, but whether or not that translates into improving deer numbers in the long term is still not known. In other words, I have no idea how long it will take to show results, what those results will be and whether or not it will be a viable option and I suspect no one else does either. (Yea, I know! I shoulda said that in the first place!)
 
Couple of questions:

1) How are you testing for CWD

2) If this wintering area is that much over objective as to numbers of deer, why is late season hunting not being used?

txhunter58

venor, ergo sum (I hunt, therefore I am)
 
Thanks for the honest answers.
Hope it all works like planned.


"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
 
>Couple of questions:
>
>1) How are you testing for
>CWD
>
>2) If this wintering area is
>that much over objective as
>to numbers of deer, why
>is late season hunting not
>being used?
>
>txhunter58
>

1) I'm not sure of scientific details, but I do know they are using blood samples which are sent to a contracted lab to do the CWD testing.

2) There is a late doe hunt with 150 tags, but that isn't enough to make much of a difference and, for 2 years, we (UWC) haven't been able to persuade the Wildlife Board to increase that number because of social pressure, mostly from other sportsmen's groups.
 
LAST EDITED ON Oct-24-14 AT 05:35AM (MST)[p]Here's the latest update.

From Lee: As in previous updates the numbers on the emailed tables include fawns that were not collared and do not include some does that died before being released. I'll make those adjustments. Additionally, this update makes reference to 2 images (GPS movement locations of 2 deer) attached to the email and I don't have the computer skills nor the time to include them. If any of you want the original, just email me at [email protected] and I'll forward it to you. Thanks, Lee.

Mule deer translocation update for September 25 - October 21

Project background/goals: (From Lee, see post #30)

It has been a relatively quiet month for mortalities. Since the last update, we have picked up 3 translocated deer collars (2014) and 1 resident deer collar (2013) from the deer released on the Pahvant and 1 translocated deer collar from the Oak Creeks (2014). Survival of transplants during their second year (released in 2013) remains high and at this point appears comparable to that of resident deer.

-Pahvant
--Three translocated deer died of unknown causes. Two of these deer were found almost completely consumed with very little left to determine cause of death. The carcasses were not cached and mountain lion predation seem unlikely. The scattered nature of the carcass of one of these deer suggests coyotes as the proximate cause of death, whereas the other was found draped over a log relatively intact. The third collar was found by a hunter on the Beaver Mountains without any carcass. This deer had a GPS collar, but we lost contact with it (collar likely failed) back in May of 2014. Thanks to Steve Hodges for finding and reporting this collar.

-Oak Creeks
--One deer died from unknown causes.

-San Juan
--Dustin Mitchell reports that there have been 15 total mortalities (sic; 16 counting one that died in the trailer before release), (49 deer released with a radio) on the San Juan unit with a breakdown as follows: 4 coyote predation, 2 cougar predation, 3 vehicle collision, and 6 unknown (and 1 capture). Deer released onto the San Juan unit have the highest initial survival of any release group. Thirteen of the surviving 34 deer are up on Elk Ridge, whereas 21 remain on the winter range near the release area. Interestingly, there have been fewer long range movements of deer transplanted from Antelope Island (less migratory herd) compared to deer moved from the Parowan Front (stronger migration pattern).

The GPS collars are coming to the end of their useful battery life and we have been busy downloading GPS points, which requires approaching carefully within a couple hundred yards of radio-marked animals. Preliminary analysis of these GPS points has revealed heavy use of several habitat treatment projects in winter range on the Pahvant. Attached (From Lee: see my note above) are two images of GPS locations for two translocated deer (#106 & #108, both released in 2013) showing heavy use of habitat treatments (areas with reduced tree cover) during winter. Deer #108 (yellow points) made very heavy use of a 446 acre chaining and reseeding (FY 2010 project) on the Fillmore WMA. Similarly, the other image (blue points) show deer #106 using an 650 acre bull hog project completed in 2005 and a 432 acre pinion-juniper removal project (2012 hand crew lop and scatter) in the Wide Canyon area (Thanks Nathan and Trail for the treatment layers). We are excited about the opportunity to evaluate GPS data and movement information more thoroughly in the coming months.

Our focus over the next month will be evauation of reproductive output for translocated and resident deer and we will be very busy assessing whether or not deer have fawns. (From Lee: I think they are referring to still surviving fawns from earlier this spring.) If anyone is interested in helping, let us know.

Thanks to all for continued interest and support. Please forward to anyone else interested and let us know if there is additional information you would like reported in our regular update.

David Smedley and Randy Larsen (BYU)

Tables below edited by Lee:

PAROWAN TO PAHVANT TRANSPLANT & PAHVANT RESIDENT CONTROL DEER:
Jan'13-res-50captured/30alive/14dead/4slipped collars/2missing
Jan'13-trans-51captured/21alive/27dead/1slipped collar/2missing
Mar'13-trans-51captured/20alive/26dead/2slipped collars/3missing
Jan'14-res-20captured/14alive/5dead/1missing
Jan'14-trans-51captured/35alive/13dead/1slipped collar/2missing
Mar'14-trans-47captured/26alive/17dead/1slipped collar/3missing
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Jan'13-res-14total/3cougar/5coyote/5unknown/1disease
Jan'13-trans-27total/9cou/2coy/2bcat/3veh/1poach/6unk/2cap/2dis
Mar'13-trans-26total/7cou/5coy/3poach/7unk/2cap/2dis
Jan'14-res-5total/1cou/1coy/2unk/1cap
Jan'14-trans-13total/6cou/1coy/2unk/4cap
Mar'14-trans-17total/3cou/3coy/1veh/1poach/9unk

ANTELOPE ISLAND TO OAK CREEK TRANSPLANT DEER:
Feb'14-trans-47captured/27alive/19dead/1missing
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Feb'14-trans-19total/7cougar/5coyote/1vehicle/6unknown

ANTELOPE ISLAND TO SAN JUAN TRANSPLANT DEER:
Feb'14-trans-50captured/34alive/16dead
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Feb'14-trans-16total/2cougar/4coyote/3vehicle/6unknown/1capture

Until next update,
Lee Tracy (UWC)
 
>LAST EDITED ON Oct-24-14
>AT 05:35?AM (MST)
>
>Here's the latest update.
>
>From Lee: As in previous updates
>the numbers on the emailed
>tables include fawns that were
>not collared and do not
>include some does that died
>before being released. I'll make
>those adjustments. Additionally, this update
>makes reference to 2 images
>(GPS movement locations of 2
>deer) attached to the email
>and I don't have the
>computer skills nor the time
>to include them. If any
>of you want the original,
>just email me at [email protected]
>and I'll forward it to
>you. Thanks, Lee.
>
>Mule deer translocation update for September
>25 - October 21
>
>Project background/goals: (From Lee, see post
>#30)
>
>It has been a relatively quiet
>month for mortalities. Since the
>last update, we have picked
>up 3 translocated deer collars
>(2014) and 1 resident deer
>collar (2013) from the deer
>released on the Pahvant and
>1 translocated deer collar from
>the Oak Creeks (2014). Survival
>of transplants during their second
>year (released in 2013) remains
>high and at this point
>appears comparable to that of
>resident deer.
>
>-Pahvant
>--Three translocated deer died of unknown
>causes. Two of these deer
>were found almost completely consumed
>with very little left to
>determine cause of death. The
>carcasses were not cached and
>mountain lion predation seem unlikely.
>The scattered nature of the
>carcass of one of these
>deer suggests coyotes as the
>proximate cause of death, whereas
>the other was found draped
>over a log relatively intact.
>The third collar was found
>by a hunter on the
>Beaver Mountains without any carcass.
>This deer had a GPS
>collar, but we lost contact
>with it (collar likely failed)
>back in May of 2014.
>Thanks to Steve Hodges for
>finding and reporting this collar.
>
>
>-Oak Creeks
>--One deer died from unknown causes.
>
>
>-San Juan
>--Dustin Mitchell reports that there have
>been 15 total mortalities (sic;
>16 counting one that died
>in the trailer before release),
>(49 deer released with a
>radio) on the San Juan
>unit with a breakdown as
>follows: 4 coyote predation, 2
>cougar predation, 3 vehicle collision,
>and 6 unknown (and 1
>capture). Deer released onto the
>San Juan unit have the
>highest initial survival of any
>release group. Thirteen of the
>surviving 34 deer are up
>on Elk Ridge, whereas 21
>remain on the winter range
>near the release area. Interestingly,
>there have been fewer long
>range movements of deer transplanted
>from Antelope Island (less migratory
>herd) compared to deer moved
>from the Parowan Front (stronger
>migration pattern).
>
>The GPS collars are coming to
>the end of their useful
>battery life and we have
>been busy downloading GPS points,
>which requires approaching carefully within
>a couple hundred yards of
>radio-marked animals. Preliminary analysis of
>these GPS points has revealed
>heavy use of several habitat
>treatment projects in winter
>range on the Pahvant. Attached
>(From Lee: see my note
>above) are two images of
>GPS locations for two translocated
>deer (#106 & #108, both
>released in 2013) showing heavy
>use of habitat treatments (areas
>with reduced tree cover) during
>winter. Deer #108 (yellow points)
>made very heavy use of
>a 446 acre chaining and
>reseeding (FY 2010 project) on
>the Fillmore WMA. Similarly, the
>other image (blue points) show
>deer #106 using an 650
>acre bull hog project completed
>in 2005 and a 432
>acre pinion-juniper removal project (2012
>hand crew lop and scatter)
>in the Wide Canyon area
>(Thanks Nathan and Trail for
>the treatment layers). We are
>excited about the opportunity to
>evaluate GPS data and movement
>information more thoroughly in the
>coming months.
>
>Our focus over the next month
>will be evauation of reproductive
>output for translocated and resident
>deer and we will be
>very busy assessing whether or
>not deer have fawns. (From
>Lee: I think they are
>referring to still surviving fawns
>from earlier this spring.) If
>anyone is interested in helping,
>let us know.
>
>Thanks to all for continued interest
>and support. Please forward to
>anyone else interested and let
>us know if there is
>additional information you would like
>reported in our regular update.
>
>
>David Smedley and Randy Larsen (BYU)
>
>
>Tables below edited by Lee:
>
>PAROWAN TO PAHVANT TRANSPLANT & PAHVANT
>RESIDENT CONTROL DEER:
>Jan'13-res-50captured/30alive/14dead/4slipped collars/2missing
>Jan'13-trans-51captured/21alive/27dead/1slipped collar/2missing
>Mar'13-trans-51captured/20alive/26dead/2slipped collars/3missing
>Jan'14-res-20captured/14alive/5dead/1missing
>Jan'14-trans-51captured/35alive/13dead/1slipped collar/2missing
>Mar'14-trans-47captured/26alive/17dead/1slipped collar/3missing
>CAUSES OF DEATH:
>Jan'13-res-14total/3cougar/5coyote/5unknown/1disease
>Jan'13-trans-27total/9cou/2coy/2bcat/3veh/1poach/6unk/2cap/2dis
>Mar'13-trans-26total/7cou/5coy/3poach/7unk/2cap/2dis
>Jan'14-res-5total/1cou/1coy/2unk/1cap
>Jan'14-trans-13total/6cou/1coy/2unk/4cap
>Mar'14-trans-17total/3cou/3coy/1veh/1poach/9unk
>
>ANTELOPE ISLAND TO OAK CREEK TRANSPLANT
>DEER:
>Feb'14-trans-47captured/27alive/19dead/1missing
>CAUSES OF DEATH:
>Feb'14-trans-19total/7cougar/5coyote/1vehicle/6unknown
>
>ANTELOPE ISLAND TO SAN JUAN TRANSPLANT
>DEER:
>Feb'14-trans-50captured/34alive/16dead
>CAUSES OF DEATH:
>Feb'14-trans-16total/2cougar/4coyote/3vehicle/6unknown/1capture
>
>Until next update,
>Lee Tracy (UWC)

Since it was too late to edit, I thought I'd just update my update. The references to the locations of the two GPS collared deer could be clarified by going on Google Earth. Deer #106 was in the Nixon WMA west of Oak Spring and NE of Wide Canyon, while Deer #108 was in the Holden WMA mostly north of the intersection of Wild Goose Road and Ebbs Canyon Road.
 
I find it interesting that even with the extra effort put
into coyote control in these tranplant areas that cofirmed
kills by coyotes are so high .....................

4aec49a65c565954.jpg
 
Here we go again! (From Lee: Original email edited for clarity.)

Mule deer translocation update for Oct 22 - Nov 26 (2014)

Project background/goals: (See post #

Since the last update we have had 2 translocated deer mortalities (1 from Jan 2013, 1 from Mar 2014) and 2 resident deer mortalities (1 from Jan 2013, 1 from Jan 2014) on the Pahvant, and 1 translocated deer mortality on the Oak Creeks.

- Pahvant:
- 1 resident deer and 2 translocated deer died of unknown causes. the resident deer was found on winter range and had very little left to determine the cause of death. The 2013 translocated deer has been dead for some time. We attempted to retrieve the collar from this deer several times but were unable to locate it. As for the other translocated deer (2014), we recently observed this female with 1 fawn. This carcass was scattered with some evidence that coyotes may have been the cause of death, but it was difficult to confirm.
- The other resident deer was found about 300 meters from Main Street in Fillmore and we suspect this deer to have been killed by coyotes.

- Oak Creeks:
- 1 deer died from unknown causes.

As we approach the conclusion of the second year, it is clear that survival of transplants is much higher in their second year compared to the first year. To date, for example, 40 of 48 (85(percent)deer released in 2013 have survived 2014. During the same time period, 42 of 54 (78 percent) resident deer survived.

We've spent much of November assessing fawn production/survival. This assessment takes a great deal of time and will be our focus for at least the next month. To date, we have observed 10 resident deer from 2013 (4 with at least 1 fawn, 2 with twins) and 10 translocated deer from 2013 (6 with at least 1 fawn, 2 with twins) and 14 translocated deer from 2014 (4 with at least 1 fawn). Although early, fawn:doe ratios appear to be higher than last year and it appears that translocated deer are successfully reproducing. If anyone is interested in helping with this process, please let us know.

We picked up 2 very weak signals from missing translocated deer during the past month on winter range and observed 2 with failed radios 1 resident, 1 translocated). In each case, the deer were alive, simply with a weak signal or a failed radio. These examples highlight one the most important discoveries associated with this project. In short, transplanted deer have extremely high fidelity to the winter range where they were released despite ranging far and wide during the summer. Based on initial assessment and movements this year, it appears a similarly high percentage have returned. Translocation of mule deer holds promise as a strategy to reestablish use of unused or underutilized winter ranges.

Thanks to all for continued interest and support. Please forward to anyone else interested and let us know if there is any additional information you would like reported in our regular updates.

David Smedley and Randy Larsen (BYU)

(Tables below edited by Lee):
PAROWAN TO PAHVANT TRANSPLANT & PAHVANT RESIDENT CONTROL DEER:
Jan'13-res-50captured/29alive/15dead/4slipped collars/2missing.
Jan'13-trans-51captured/20alive/28dead/1slipped collar/2missing.
Mar'13-trans-51capture/20alive/26dead/2slipped collars/3missing.
Jan'14-res-20captured/13alive/6dead/1missing.
Jan'14-trans-51captured/35alive/13dead/1slipped collar/2missing.
Mar'14-trans-47captured/25alive/18dead/1slipped collar/3missing.
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Jan'13-res-15total/3cougar/6coyote/5unknown/1disease.
Jan'13-trans-28total/9cou/2coy/2bcat/3veh/1poach/7unk/2cap/2dis.
Mar'13-trans-26total/7cou/5coy/3poach/7unk/2capture/2disease.
Jan'14-res-6total/1cougar/1coyote/2unknown/2capture.
Jan'14-trans-13total/6cougar/1coyote/2unknown/4capture.
Mar'14-trans-18total/3cougar/4coyote/1vehicle/1poach/9unknown.

ANTELOPE ISLAND TO OAK CREEK TRANSPLANT DEER:
Feb'14-trans-47captured/27alive/20dead.
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Feb'14-trans-20total/7cougar/5coyote/1vehicle/7unknown.

(No change is mentioned)
ANTELOPE ISLAND TO SAN JUAN TRANSPLANT DEER:
Feb'14-trans-50 captured/34alive/16dead.
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Feb'14-trans-16total/2cougar/4coyote/3vehicle/6unknown/1capture.

Another update in about a month.

Thanks,

Lee (UWC)
 
Elkfromabove I only have I simple question. ...can u and Amy rattle the cages of some of your colorado brethren and get them to give us info like u two are doin in utah? U folks are lucky to have these 2!
 
>Elkfromabove I only have I simple
>question. ...can u and Amy
>rattle the cages of some
>of your colorado brethren and
>get them to give us
>info like u two are
>doin in utah? U folks
>are lucky to have these
>2!

Thanks! I'll see what I can do, although Amy may have better luck.

Lee
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-14-15 AT 01:34PM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jan-14-15 AT 01:25?PM (MST)

LAST EDITED ON Jan-14-15 AT 01:15?PM (MST)

>Do you have a more recent
>update or is November 27th
>the last you received?

November 27th is the latest one. They're coming about once a month now, but the holidays must have slowed things down.

And, FWIW, there may or may not be a 2015 Parowan transplant, but if there is, it won't be until February. With all of the other transplants for deer as well as other species, plus the crazy weather, the helicopter company, Dragonfly, is going to be pressed for time and, since we've already taken 200 of them off the winter range here, the Parowan Front transplant is down the list a ways.

Also, FWIW, if the 2015 transplant doesn't happen, UWC may finally get the doe hunts here up to the numbers needed to allow the range to recover (500 per year for the next 3-5 years, see post #38).
 
LAST EDITED ON Jan-21-15 AT 09:21AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Jan-21-15 AT 08:59?AM (MST)

Here's the latest!

Mule deer translocation update for November 27 - January 20

Project background/goals: (see post #30)

Since the last update, we have had 1 translocated deer mortality on the Pahvant (Jan 2014) and 2 translocated deer mortalities on the Oak Creeks (Feb 2014).

Pahvant:
- 1 translocated deer was found on winter range and had very little left to determine cause of death.

Oak Creeks:
- 1 translocated deer was likely a coyote predation. This deer was found a little south of Vernon (approx. 49 mi. north of the release site). She was one of four deer released onto the Oak Creeks to leave the mountain.
- 1 translocated deer with an unknown cause of death. This deer collar was found near a small clump of hair. However, we were unable to locate a carcass to assess cause of death.

San Juan:
No update given.

Survival of deer in their 2nd year (transplanted in 2013) remains high and is as good as resident deer from our reference group. We've now completed a second full year for the first group of deer moved from the Parowan Front to the Pahvant Range in January of 2013. Survival in year 2 of these deer was 91 percent (20/22).

We've spent much of December and January assessing reproduction. This assessment takes a great deal of time and we have been conservative in assessing fawns during this process. Because we have only assigned fawns to radio-marked deer when it has been very clear, it is likely that our estimates are biased low. Nonetheless, any bias should be consistent across groups (resident, year 1 transplants, year 2 transplants) making a relative comparison informative. To date we have observed 18 resident deer (4 with at least 1 fawn, 3 with twins, 10 total fawns), 15 translocated deer from 2013 (4 with at least 1 fawn, 4 with twins, 12 total fawns) and 21 translocated deer from 2014 (9 with at least 1 fawn, 9 total fawns).

One of the highlights of the past two months was observing deer number 60. Deer 60 was initially transplanted in January of 2013 as a 4 year old. She successfully raised a single fawn in year 1 (2013). This year, we observe her with 2 fawns and what appeared to be a yearling (likely the fawn from last year).

Thanks to all for continued interest and support. Please forward to anyone else interested and let us know if there is additional information you would like reported in our regular updates.

David Smedley and Randy Larsen (BYU)

From Lee: Edited Tables:

Parowan Front to Pahvant Transplante and Pahvant Resident Control Deer:
Jan 13-res-50captured-27alive-15dead-4slipped collar-4missing
Jan 13-trans-51captured-19alive-28dead-1slipped collar-3missing
Mar 13-trans-51captured-20alive-26dead-2slipped collar-3missing
Jan 14-res-20captured-13alive-6dead-1missing
Jan 14-trans-51captured-34alive-14dead-1slipped collar-2missing
Mar 14-trans-47captured-25alive-18dead-1slipped collar-3missing
Causes of Death:
Jan 13-res-15dead-3cougar-6coyote-5unknown-1disease
Jan 13-trans-28dead-9cou-2coy-2bobcat-3vehicle-1poach-7unk-2capture-2dis
Mar 13-trans-26dead-7cou-5coy-3poach-7unk-2cap-2dis
Jan 14-res-6dead-1cou-1coy-2unk-2cap
Jan 14-trans-14dead-6cou-1coy-3unk-4cap
Mar 14-trans-18dead-3cou-4coy-1veh-1poach-9unk

Antelope Island to Oak Creek Transplanted Deer:
Feb 14-trans-47captured-25alive-22dead
Causes of Death:
Feb 14-trans-22dead-7cou-6coy-1veh-8unk

Antlelope Island to San Juan Transplanted Deer:
Feb 14-trans-50 captured-34alive-16dead
Causes of Death:
Feb 14-trans-16dead-2cou-4coy-3veh-6unk-1cap

Thanks for looking. Until next update,
Lee Tracy (UWC)
 
I refuse to trust someone telling me that there are 3200 deer over objective on the Parowan front. I have run into kids going to school at SUU and hired to "count deer" they don't have a clue! I work in Parowan and live in Cedar and almost every night take the frontage road home at best I've seen a couple hundred in that stretch. I know I there are more but three thousan two hundred too many deer from Cedar to Highway 20!! BS
 
LAST EDITED ON Feb-22-15 AT 10:28AM (MST)[p]LAST EDITED ON Feb-22-15 AT 10:10?AM (MST)

From Lee: This update is edited by myself for simplification of numbers. It also refers to some attachments that I don't include in the update. If you prefer the original email please send me a request at [email protected].

Mule deer translocation update for January 21 - February 21

Project background /goals: (From Lee, see post 30).

Since the last update, we have had 1 slipped collar and 5 translocated deer mortalities on the Pahvant and 2 translocated deer mortalities on the Oak Creeks. (From Lee: We also received an update on the San Juan via the tables below.)

Pahvant
-1 translocated deer (2013) had a slipped collar. The necklace material failed prematurely.
-1 translocated deer (2014) was likely a coyote predation.
-2 translocated deer mortalities (1 from Jan 2013, 1 from Mar 2014) appear to be cougar predations (cached and tracks).
-2 unknown causes of mortality (Jan 2014). Both of these collars were found without a carcass and under snow, making it difficult to find any evidence to determine cause of death.

Oak Creeks (Feb 2014)
-2 unknown causes of mortality. Both collars were found without a carcass and it is likely that the collars were carried off by predators/scavengers. However, there was enough evidence (e.g.smell of the collar, blood on collar) to suggest that the collars were not slipped.

San Juan (Feb 2014)
-Info not included in body of update. See tables below.

Recently we have concentrated on picking up GPS collars that have fallen off (programmed to fall off 105 weeks after being placed on the deer). We will no longer have regular contact with these deer and will count them as slipped collars when the collar is picked up (see table below).

Survival of deer in their 2nd year (transplanted in 2013) remains high. Initial estimates of survival show 76% (41/45) of resident deer survived 2014 compared to 83% (40/48 ) of 2nd year transplants. Annual survival of deer transplanted in 2014 was 49% for Oak Creeks, 55% for San Juan, 58% for March transplants to Pahvant, and 76% for January transplants to Pahvant.

Currently most of the deer released onto the Pahvant can be found on winter range between Holden and Fillmore. Fidelity to release areas (ie: return to winter range after one or two years following release) has averaged more than 90 percent across years and groups of transplanted deer. This finding may be the most important, although there have been a few deer that have wintered on the east and south end of the Pahvant this year.

The attached photos are of translocated deer (2013 and 2014) with fawns. Fawn production has been similar for transplants compared to resident deer in each year and overall fawn production appears higher on the Pahvant in 2014 compared to 2013.

We presented results from the initial two years to the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) Mule Deer Working Group (consisting of big game coordinators and mule deer biologists from each of the western states (From Lee: and Canadian Providences and Mexico). Some of the highlights of that presentation are attached. (From Lee: See post introduction if you want a copy).

Thanks to all for continued interest and support. Please forward to anyone else interested and let us know if there is additional information you would like reported in our regular updates.

David Smedley and Randy Larsen (BYU)

From Lee: Edited tables:

PAROWAN TO PAHVANT TRANSPLANTED AND PAHVANT RESIDENT DEER:
Jan 13-res-50captured-25alive-15dead-7slipped collars-3missing
Jan 13-trans-51captured-14alive-29dead-4slipped collars-4missing
Mar 13-trans-51captured-19alive-26dead-3slipped collars-3missing
Jan 14-res-20captured-13alive-6dead-1missing
Jan 14-trans-51captured-32alive-16dead-3slipped collars-3missing
Mar 14-trans-47captured-25alive-18dead-2slipped collars-2missing
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Jan 13-res-15dead-3cougar-6coyote-5unknown-1disease
Jan 13-trans-29dead-10cou-2coy-2bobcat-3vehicle-1poach-7unk-2cap-2dis
Mar 13-trans-26dead-7cou-5coy-3poach-7unk-2capture-2dis
Jan 14-res-6ead-1cou-1coy-2unk-2cap
Jan 14-trans-16dead-6cou-1coy-5unk-4cap
Mar 14-trans-18dead-4cou-4coy-1poach-1veh-8unk

ANTELOPE ISLAND TO OAK CREEK TRANSPLANTED DEER:
Feb 14-trans-47captured-22alive-24dead-1missing
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Feb 14-trans-24dead-7cou-6coy-1veh-10unknown

ANTELOPE ISLAND TO SAN JUAN TRANSPLANTED DEER:
Feb 14-trans-50captured-28alive-20dead-2missing
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Feb 14-20dead-2cou-4coy-3veh-10unknown-1capture

(With the collars dropping off, some of the table numbers aren't adding up because the deer with dropped collars are listed as slipped collars and are still on the alive or missing list. We'll just have to go by the numbers on the captured and dead columns because we have no way of knowing the fate of those deer.

Until next month! Thanks!
Lee Tracy, Pres. UWC
 
This year's Parowan Front transplant will take place starting this Monday March 2 at 7:30am at the mouth of Cottonwood Canyon, north of Paragonah. (Take the I-15 east Frontage Road off the Paragonah exit and drive just past the rest stop and turn right.)
It'll probably take 2 or 3 days because we're going to capture 75 to 100 does since we didn't have an early winter session. Dress warm! (If there are any changes due to weather delays of current projects, I'll post again. Stay tuned!)

Lee (UWC)
 
I hope SJ
Thanks for the update.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
 
>Where they headed this year. Thanks
>

The Parowan Front deer on this study will go on the Pahvant east of Holden where they always go. It's think it's written in the contract or in the plan.

Important time change. It's now scheduled to start on Monday afternoon, but we're not sure what time. Please stay tuned and I'll try to update as soon as I am notified.

Lee (UWC)
 
>>Where they headed this year. Thanks
>>
>
>The Parowan Front deer on this
>study will go on the
>Pahvant east of Holden where
>they always go. It's think
>it's written in the contract
>or in the plan.
>
>Important time change. It's now scheduled
>to start on Monday afternoon,
>but we're not sure what
>time. Please stay tuned and
>I'll try to update as
>soon as I am notified.
>
>
>Lee (UWC)

Opps! I just read an older email on my other email address and discovered that this batch of does is going to the Oak Creeks. Sorry!

Also, it now appears that the Parowan Front transplant won't start until Tuesday at the soonest. And that depends on the current storm down there. We'll get another update from Teresa (DWR) sometime today.
 
This update will be a report on the transplant sessions that took place Thursday and yesterday.

On Thursday, 7:30am, we started out at the sagebrush flats near the mouth of Cottonwood Canyon northeast of the I-15 east rest stop north of Paragonah and we actually captured 41 deer (does). However, one of the early ones broke her hip in her struggle with the net and when we tried to release her back onto the capture site, she could only use her front legs, so we had to put her down. So, we ended up with 40 transplanted that day. All were in pretty good shape, but the overall health seemed just a little down from last year, though we did find a few (5 or 6) that were in better shape than last year at this time. It also seemed like there was a wider spread on the body health numbers (weight, fat, body measurements). I'm not sure what that meant, but this crazy weather probably had something to do with it. Some of them may have stayed up on the hill longer or found young growth coming up early or were in better shape when they came. We found only 2 of the 40 weren't pregnant and all the ones I saw had twins.

Basically, my jobs were to take the temperatures, help with the rectal tissue extractions for CWD testing and clean the tables and thermometers between captures, although I also helped with the gurney pickups and trailer loading. I also helped with the public relations aspect (We had a few visitors). It was amazing to see the teamwork! We had people in the right places at the right times all day long.

All of the deer were tagged but not all were collared. Since this batch is going to the Oak Creek Mountains west of Scipio, there isn't the same intensity in the study as ther has been on the Pahvant, so my future updates won't account for all 40 we did today, nor the ones we'll do tomorrow. We finished about 6:30 pm and moved to an area south of Summit for some captures Friday morning.

Friday:
We spent 4 hours at the new location capturing 16 does. Again, they were all in good shape and all were pregnant.

At 11:30 we then packed up again and returned to Cottonwood because Jason (DWR) wanted to concentrate where the range damage was the worst. There we captured 22 more does with only 1 not pregnant. So, in 2 days we captured 79 deer and transplanted 78 of them and 75 (96%) were pregnant. I don't know how many were radio collared because there were 3 stations and the new chopper crew was faster (and cheaper, $300 per capture.) than Dragonfly and I couldn't keep track. Future updates will tell the story anyway.

This is the last scheduled capture of the Parowan Front study, but the updates will continue all year.

Thanks

Lee Tracy (UWC)
 
Another update!

From Lee: The email sent from Dave has been edited by myself for English errors and clarity.

Mule deer translocation update for February 22 - April 8.

Project background/goals: See post #30.

Since the last update, we (SFW and UDWR) translocated another group of deer (see tables below) from the Parowan Front to the Oak Creek Mountains. These deer were released in the same area that deer from Antelope Island were released in 2014.

Since the update, we have had 3 mortalities on the Pahvant (2 resident, 1 translocated) and 4 translocated deer (2015) mortalities on the Oak Creeks.

PAHVANT
- 2 resident deer appeared to be cougar predations (cached, tracks, bite marks).
- 1 unknown cause of mortality (translated deer from January 2014). This deer was found near the same area as one of the resident deer above and may have been cougar predation. However, there was little left of the carcass and we were unable to find any evidence to definitely determine cause of death.

OAK CREEK (2015 transplants)
- 3 capture related mortalities. (From Lee: This number excludes a deer that had to be put down prior to being collared because of a broken hip during capture. However, I have included it in the tables below as a collared deer that died from capture related injuries.)
- 1 unknown cause of mortality. This deer had been scavenged and very little was left to aid in determining the cause of death.

Despite the 3 (sic 4) capture relate mortalities, capture and transplant-related causes of death remain low (5%) and in line with expected rates for helicopter capture. (From Lee: see following post.)

We have picked up most of the GPS collars that have fallen off (programmed to fall off 105 weeks after being placed on deer). We will no longer have regular contact with these deer and will count them as slipped collars when the collar is picked up (see tables below).

Currently most of the deer released onto the Pahvant can be found on winter range between Holden and Fillmore. Fidelity to release areas,(ie: after one or two years following release) has average more than 90 percent across years and groups of translated deer. In our opinion, this finding is perhaps the most important from the past years as translocation appears a viable management strategy to establish or reestablish use of unused winter ranges.

We presented results from the initial two years at the Utah Chapter of the Wildfire society annual meeting and have completed a rough draft of our annual report. We will pass this report along once the final edits are completed. Highlights (fact sheet) of the information included in the report are attached. (From Lee: See next post.)

Thanks for continued interest and support. Please forward to anyone else interested and let us know if there is additional information you would like reported in our regular updates.

(Tables below edited by Lee for easier reading.)

PAROWAN TO PAHVANT TRANSPLANTED AND PAHVANT RESIDENT CONTROL DEER:
Jan'13-resident-50captured/18alive/16dead/12slipped collars/4missing
Jan'13-transplanted-51captured/14alive/29dead/4slipped collars/4missing
Mar'13-translocated-51captured/15alive/26dead/7slipped collars/3missing
Jan'14-resident-20captured/13alive/7dead
Jan'14-transplanted-51captured/30alive/18dead/1slipped collar/2missing
Mar'14-transplanted-47captured/24alive/18dead/3slipped collars/2missing
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Jan'13-res-16dead/5cougar/6coyote/4unknown/1disease
Jan'13-trans-29dead/10coug/2coy/2bobcat/3vehicle/1poach/7unk/2capture/2dis
Mar'13-trans-26dead/7coug/5coy/3poach/7unk/2cap/2dis
Jan'14-res-7dead/2coug/1coy/2unk/2cap
Jan'14-trans-18dead/7coug/2coy/5unk/4cap
Mar'14-trans-18dead/4coug/4coy/1veh/1poach/7unk/1cap

ANTELOPE ISLAND TO OAK CREEK TRANSPLANTED DEER:
Feb'14-transplanted-47captured/22alive/24dead/1missing
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Feb'14-trans-24dead/7cougar/6coyote/1vehicle/10unknown

ANTELOPE ISLAND TO SAN JUAN TRANSPLANTED DEER:
Feb'14-transplanted-50captured/27alive/21dead/2missing
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Feb'14-trans-21dead/2cougar/4coyote/3vehicle/10unknown/2capture

PAROWAN TO OAK CREEK TRANSPLANTED DEER;
Mar'15-transplanted-79captured/41collars/36alive/5dead
CAUSES OF DEATH:
Mar'15-trans-5dead/1unknown/4capture

David Smedley and Randy Larsen (BYU)

Thanks for looking! See next post!
Lee Tracy
United Wildlife Cooperative
 
LAST EDITED ON Apr-13-15 AT 10:21PM (MST)[p]From Lee: See my previous post!

"IMPUTUS-very little and often conflicting information on success of transplanted mule deer. SFW initiated and funded a 3-year project with BYU, UDWR, and Utah State Parks as partners to monitor success of transplanted mule deer. Below are some of the highlights from the past 2 years.

CAPTURES AND TRANSLOCATIONS
-70 female deer captured and released near Fillmore, Utah (control group).
-102 female deer captured near Cedar City and moved north to the Pahvant range (2013).
-96 female deer captured near Cedar City and moved north to the Pahvant range (2014).
-99 deer captured on Antelope Island and moved south to the Oak Creek (49 deer) and San Juan (50 deer) units (2014).
-100 deer captured on Antelope Island and moved south to the Dutton (50 deer) and San Juan (50 deer) units (2015).
-78 deer captured near Cedar City and moved north to the Oak Creek range (2015).

PREDATOR CONTROL
-Over 400 coyotes removed by USDEA wildlife services in preparation for releases.

CAPTURE AND TRANSPLANT-RELATED MORTALITIES
-Only 17 of 338 (5.0%) intensively monitored deer died of capture-related couses within the first few weeks of capture and release (not that the 338 number excludes the 100 deer moved from Antelope Island in 2015 and 37 unmarked deer moved from the Parowan Front to the Oak Creeks in 2015). The vast majority of these 17 deaths were attributed to injuries sustained during capture and this observed 5% rate is not different from that commonly observed in traditional capture and release projects (general range is 3-5%). Thus moving deer did not result in high rates of capture myopathy (death due to stress from capture and transport).

ANNUAL SURVIVAL
-Annual survival of resident deer (control group) ranged between 76%(2014) and 86%(2013).
-Annual survival of transplants in their first year ranged from 48% to 76% depending on year (Fig 1).
-Much higher annual survival (83%) for transplants in their second year following release (2014).
-Predation by cougars and coyotes identified as cause of majority of deaths.
-Strong support for age as a predictor of survival for transplanted deer (young deer survived much better than older deer).

REPRODUCTION
-Transplanted deer regularly observed with fawns. During Fall of 2014, for example, we carefully observed 18 resident deer wqith at least 21 total fawns.

PHYSICAL CONDITION
Average body fat estimates were 9.4% for resident Pahvant deer in January of 2014, 8.1% for transplants from 2013 that were recaptured in January of 2014, and 8.0% for newly captured (January 2014)deer the Parowan front. Transplanted deer were in good condition after a year on the Pahvant.

MOVEMENTS AND SITE FIDELITY
-Initial analysis of GPS data shows translocated deer moving much more than resident deer--particularly during the initial summer following release.
-Despite ranging far and wide during the initial summer, however, more than 90% of transplanted deer returned to the winter range where they were released. For a few of these deer, it would have been easier (and closer) to return to the Parowan front.

-CONCLUSION
-Transplants could benefit mule deer populations by helping establish or reestablish use of underutilized winter ranges.
-Work to improve habitat, manage predators, fence highways, limit poaching, etc. will also be required to continue increasing mule deer populations in Utah.

-THANKS TO EVERYONE FOR DEDICATION, FUNDING AND PASSIONATE SUPPORT OF THIS AND OTHER PROJECTS."

From Lee: The original email of this update contains some attachments (photos of tagged and collared deer and charts of this "Highlights". If any of you want the original send me an email at [email protected].

Lee Tracy
UWC
 
LEE
Thank you for the update, seems like the program is working.

"I have found if you go the extra mile it's Never crowded".
>[Font][Font color = "green"]Life member of
>the MM green signature club.[font/]
 
I want to personally thank elkfromabove for posting up these updates. With all the negativity that goes on regarding deer management, some of it certainly justified, it's refreshing to see some groups do something productive for our deer herds. For the most part, the transplants seems to be a big success in restoring herds, and providing data necessary to incorporating solid management practices. This is micromanagement at its finest. I have been a long time critic of SFW and UDWR, but my hats off to them and BYU for conducting the transplants and subsequent research. Given the data on mortality rates caused by predators, I hope they ramp things up on predator control.
 

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