Mule Deer Transocation

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Founder Since 1999
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My buddy did a show on this last month and was telling me about it. I wanted to share it with you all. I think it's a pretty good use of money. If they can get it right and learn how to translocate deer cost effectively, and they'll survive, it could be a huge step in maintaining mule deer herds.
I got this info. from the SFW website (http://www.sfw.net):

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51 doe deer along the Parowan Front (the wildlife management area by Summit, Utah just north of Cedar City, Utah) were captured January 7-8, 2013 and translocated to the Fillmore WMA east of Holden, Utah. 50 additional doe deer at the Holden site were also collared as a control group for the 3 year study on this particular translocation. This historic project is a joint effort between the Utah Division of Wildlife, BYU, and Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife. It's one of the first studies of its kind and is designed to more closely gauge how the timing of the translocation of the deer affects the survival and strength of the herd.

These deer were selected due to concerns by the Utah Division of Wildlife biologists that the winter range along the Parowan Front was being overrun with too many deer and greatly negatively impacting the habitat and ability for winter range recovery.

The deer were captured, hobbled, blindfolded, and flown by helicopter to key staging areas north of Cedar City. The deer were then weighed, tested for disease, and measured for body fat and overall health by DWR biologists, BYU and SFW volunteers. They were then collared and driven by trailer to the WMA east of Holden, where they were released.

Another translocation of 50 female deer from the Parowan Front to east of Holden will take place in March. The translocated deer will be monitored for 3 years. BYU researchers want to see if differences in transplanting times of the deer determine how effectively they will survive. SFW will donate over $240,000 over the next three years to help fund the study, which if successful, could change the way biologists manage similiar issues and herds.
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Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
 
UPDATE

Also got an email update this morning about this project. I didn't know I was in the loop, but I hope to keep getting the updates. Here is a summary of the update on the translocation.

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Mule deer translocation update for January 25th-February 1st.

?? Lab results from the chronic wasting disease (CWD) tests came back from Colorado State University. CWD was not detected in any of the translocated deer. Thanks Leslie!

?? Our Tuesday flight was canceled due to snow and we are waiting to reschedule.

?? We had one translocated deer mortality this week. This deer was found 1.20 miles northeast of its release site (4th release). Cause of death appeared to be predation as there was blood on the fur near the throat and one hindquarter had been fed on. The Utah Vetrinary Diagnostics lab in Nephi confirmed these suspicions as they identified puncture wounds on the throat and noted that all the organs appeared healthy. Although tracking conditions were not ideal (hard, crusty snow), we did observe what appeared to be small felid tracks (perhaps from a bobcat, see attached photo).

?? We've listened for radio signals 3 times since the last update and identified the general location for 48 of 49 resident deer and 47 of 48 translocated deer. We have noticed a little more movement within the last week, but deer are still near release areas. From a small hill one mile south of the second and third release sites (see attached image), we can hear more than 50 resident and translocated deer each time we listen for
them. From this point most of the deer are spread north, northeast, and east. There are also a bunch of deer between the 1st and 4th release sites (see attached image).

??We are still missing one translocated deer (likely moved) and one resident deer (suspect radio failure). Both of these deer were also missing last week and despite listening for each of these deer far to the south and north, we have been unable to hear them. They will be the focus of our efforts on the next flight.

??We've now carefully (without disturbing them) observed 8 ifferent translocated deer. Each has been associated with groups of resident deer. From our observations they appear to be foraging and moving with resident deer. In the coming weeks, we will focus our efforts on carefully observing the remaining translocated deer (very time consuming) to determine the percentage that are integrated into groups of resident deer.

?? In summary, translocated deer have remained near release areas and appear to be integrating into the resident population. We've had four total mortalities (1 of 50 resident deer, 3 of 51 translocated deer). One of the translocated deer died of obvious capture myopathy (temperature of 106 degrees Fahrenheit at time of capture) within a day of release. We are missing one translocated deer (likely moved) and one resident deer (suspect radio failure). Forty eight resident deer and 47 translocated deer were alive and accounted for this week.

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Brian Latturner
MonsterMuleys.com
 

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