We classify deer habitats into three main categories based on the season of use: winter, summer, and transitional. Deer use high-quality forage during the spring and early summer to aid in fat and protein deposition (Cook et al. 2013). The higher the quality of spring and summer forage, the better the antler growth in bucks, the better does are prepared for lactation, and the more fat reserves deer can build up for use during winter. Recent data from Utah's monitoring effort suggests the amount of fat deer have entering into winter is an important predictor of over-winter survival. Similarly, high-quality forage on the winter range may help slow the rate of decline of accumulated fat reserves, helping deer survive. The size and condition of mule deer populations are primarily determined by the quantity, quality, and availability of crucial habitats as they provide the necessary nutrition to sustain deer throughout the year. Lack of quality habitat has been associated with decreased survival and recruitment of fawns, increased age at first reproduction, decreased reproductive output, and decreased survival by adults (Monteith et al. 2014). Loss and degradation of habitat are thought to be the main reasons for mule deer population declines in western North America over the last few decades (Workman and Low 1976, WAFWA 2003). Crucial mule deer habitat has been and continues to be lost or fragmented in many parts of central Utah due to human population expansion, development, and natural events. Continued degradation and loss of crucial habitat will lead to significant declines in carrying capacity and/or numbers of mule deer. Urbanization, road construction, off-highway vehicle (OHV) use, energy development, drought, catastrophic wildfire, and expansion of invasive plant species have all resulted in loss or degradation of mule deer habitat. The quality and quantity of forage available on important mule deer ranges can be limited by a variety of factors. The encroachment of pinyon and juniper trees threatens to choke out understory forbs and shrubs and increase risk of catastrophic wildfire. Annual weeds such as cheatgrass alter natural fire cycles by increasing fire frequencies, often resulting in shrublands being converted to annual grasslands that do not provide the essential nutrients for survival. Aspen and mountain meadow habitat is declining in part due to conifer encroachment resulting from the suppression of naturally occurring fires. The seeding of aggressive introduced perennial grasses that outcompete native shrubs and forbs can reduce the ability of rangelands to meet the dietary requirements of mule deer. The degradation and loss of natural water sources across the landscape from a wide variety of anthropogenic and climatic factors reduce water availability for mule deer, which is crucial for survival and healthy populations. The decrease in nutrient-rich vegetation in riparian areas from piping projects, poor grazing practices, and stream channelization and erosion have resulted in a decline in productivity, especially during crucial summer months. The DWR Range Trend Project has documented many of these threats and how mule deer habitat in Utah has changed over the last 30 years (UDWR 2014--2018). During the 1940s and 1950s, deer herds erupted in response to abundant shrub growth on mule deer ranges throughout the state, as a result of heavy grazing on most rangelands (deVos et al. 2003). Since then, many shrub-dominated rangelands have gradually converted to old decadent stands of shrubs or succumbed to drought, invasive weeds, wildfire, and juniper-dominated communities due to lack of fire or other disturbances. To address the decline in mule deer habitat in Utah we have done many restoration projects and this project will continue to build on those efforts by increasing water on the landscape and improving the winter range.

1. Increase the availability of water for mule deer. 2. Improve the wet meadow habitat around springs to increase food for deer. 3. Increase the amount of water available for upland game birds like turkeys and chukars. 4. Improve mule deer winter range habitat by restoring shrubs. 5. Create reserve area for mule deer during the winter.

If we don't work to improve the habitat for mule deer their populations will continue to stay stagnant or decline. We want to increase mule deer populations to ensure that we have hunting and wildlife viewing opportunities for generations to come. By improving the upland habitat we will help provide greater opportunities for upland game hunters.

New 2025 Statewide Mule Deer Management Plan Habitat Objective 1: J. Drought a. Manage vegetation communities to be resistant b. Follow best management practices for guzzler maintenance Habitat Objective 2: Improve the quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on a minimum of 600,000 acres of crucial range by 2030 Central Region Mule Deer Habitat 10 Year Plan 1. Install guzzlers in the Tintic Mountains 2. Protect springs with exclosure fencing. Utah Chukar Management Plan- 1. Increase water sources across landscape. Utah Turkey Management Plan- 1. Increase water sources 2. Increase available food and help reduce conflicts with humans. Utah Pheasant Management Plan- Improve cover habitats.

This project will not reduce fire-risks.

We will be increasing water across the landscape by constructing guzzlers that capture and store water and protecting spring heads from livestock so they flow better. We will drill a well to irrigate fields to grow alfalfa.

All necessary cultural surveys will be done in-house by UDWR archeologist.

We will drill a well on the Santaquin WMA and install a solar pump. Then we we will pipe the water to several fields where we will irrigate them to grow alfalfa and other desirable forbs for mule deer. We will install rotoguz 500-gallon guzzler tanks by hand. We will also build aprons by hand. We will build post and rail fence to keep livestock from damaging the spring head while still allowing access to the water to drink. We will plant 30,000 shrub seedlings at Santaquin WMA. We will build fencing to help enforce a new winter closure on the Black Hill WMA.

We will take photo points before and after.

Travis Proctor from the Utah Chukar Foundation provided us with locations of springs that were in damage and some ideal guzzler locations that will benefit mule deer and upland game. SITLA is the primary landowner and we have worked with Ethan Hallows to get permission to build guzzlers and spring developments on their property. DWR habitat restoration biologist, Robby Edgel, is the lead biologist who is coordinating and planning the project and is very passionate about improving mule deer populations and also benefiting upland game species.

We will make sure that the fencing is in good condition and working as well as the guzzlers.

This project will help increase opportunities for hunting mule deer, pronghorn, chukars, and turkeys.