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Predator Management Study
Region: Salt Lake Office
ID: 7707
Project Status: Current
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Project Details
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Need for Project
Data from Utah's long-term deer survival study indicates that when predation on mule deer exceeds a certain threshold it is likely additive rather than compensatory and can limit mule deer populations in a top-down manner. Agency-directed predator harvest on the South Manti, and hunter predator harvest on the Cache unit have demonstrated that focused predator management may reduce limiting predation rates and allow mule deer populations to recover/grow. Recent legislative directives and associated changes to predator hunting regulations have given more direction to the DWR and more options for predator management. Despite additional tools and flexibility to predator hunters, predator harvest rates have not increased and more intensive management is needed to reduce predator densities and monitor deer population response.
Provide evidence about the nature of the problem and the need to address it. Identify the significance of the problem using a variety of data sources. For example, if a habitat restoration project is being proposed to benefit greater sage-grouse, describe the existing plant community characteristics that limit habitat value for greater sage-grouse and identify the changes needed for habitat improvement.
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Objectives
The objective of this project/study is to select units with demonstrably high mule deer predation, work with partners to implement focused predator removal to reduce predator densities and monitor response through our statewide deer survival study through cause-specific mortality rates, deer survival, and deer population response to focused predator management efforts.
Provide an overall goal for the project and then provide clear, specific and measurable objectives (outcomes) to be accomplished by the proposed actions. If possible, tie to one or more of the public benefits UWRI is providing.
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Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?)
Select units experiencing high predation rates and implement study for a minimum of 3 years to monitor response.
LOCATION: Justify the proposed location of this project over other areas, include publicly scrutinized planning/recovery documents that list this area as a priority, remote sensing modeling that show this area is a good candidate for restoration, wildlife migration information and other data that help justify this project's location.
TIMING: Justify why this project should be implemented at this time. For example, Is the project area at risk of crossing an ecological or other threshold wherein future restoration would become more difficult, cost prohibitive, or even impossible.
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Relation to Management Plans
Follows direction in both the statewide mule deer management plan and in individual unit mule deer management plans. Statewide mule deer management plan reference - Population Management Goal, Strategy E (page 18)
List management plans where this project will address an objective or strategy in the plan. Describe how the project area overlaps the objective or strategy in the plan and the relevance of the project to the successful implementation of those plans. It is best to provide this information in a list format with the description immediately following the plan objective or strategy.
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Fire/Fuels
Not applicable
If applicable, detail how the proposed project will significantly reduce the risk of fuel loading and/or continuity of hazardous fuels including the use of fire-wise species in re-seeding operations. Describe the value of any features being protected by reducing the risk of fire. Values may include; communities at risk, permanent infrastructure, municipal watersheds, campgrounds, critical wildlife habitat, etc. Include the size of the area where fuels are being reduced and the distance from the feature(s) at risk.
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Water Quality/Quantity
Not applicable
Describe how the project has the potential to improve water quality and/or increase water quantity, both over the short and long term. Address run-off, erosion, soil infiltration, and flooding, if applicable.
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Compliance
Not applicable
Description of efforts, both completed and planned, to bring the proposed action into compliance with any and all cultural resource, NEPA, ESA, etc. requirements. If compliance is not required enter "not applicable" and explain why not it is not required.
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Methods
Work with partners to direct and focus predator management efforts on selected units to reduce predator density and monitor response in mule deer through survival rates of collared mule deer on study units, cause-specific mortality rates associated with predation and mule deer population response. These efforts will be contrasted with the other deer units where focused predator management does not occur.
Describe the actions, activities, tasks to be implemented as part of the proposed project; how these activities will be carried out, equipment to be used, when, and by whom.
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Monitoring
Monitoring will be done through tracking predator density reduction efforts and looking a response in deer through work already associated with statewide deer survival study - cause specific mortality, deer survival and deer population size.
Describe plans to monitor for project success and achievement of stated objectives. Include details on type of monitoring (vegetation, wildlife, etc.), schedule, assignments and how the results of these monitoring efforts will be reported and/or uploaded to this project page. If needed, upload detailed plans in the "attachments" section.
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Partners
Utah Wild Sheep Foundation Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
List any and all partners (agencies, organizations, NGO's, private landowners) that support the proposal and/or have been contacted and included in the planning and design of the proposed project. Describe efforts to gather input and include these agencies, landowners, permitees, sportsman groups, researchers, etc. that may be interested/affected by the proposed project. Partners do not have to provide funding or in-kind services to a project to be listed.
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Future Management
Results of this study may impact mule deer management and shape future predator management efforts
Detail future methods or techniques (including administrative actions) that will be implemented to help in accomplishing the stated objectives and to insure the long term success/stability of the proposed project. This may include: post-treatment grazing rest and/or management plans/changes, wildlife herd/species management plan changes, ranch plans, conservation easements or other permanent protection plans, resource management plans, forest plans, etc.
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Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources
Efforts may result in increased opportunity for sustainable use of mule deer resource.
Potential for the proposed action to improve quality or quantity of sustainable uses such as grazing, timber harvest, biomass utilization, recreation, etc. Grazing improvements may include actions to improve forage availability and/or distribution of livestock.
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