Who's Doing Private Land Muley Habitat Work?

[Jaden Bales]

We always talk about agencies and NGOs doing habitat work on large scales, but I was curious if there were any private land folks putting in work on their medium to large tracts of ground for mule deer.

This was spurred by my realization that the whitetail guys are doing MASSIVE amounts of habitat improvements on small acreages and it frigging works. When I went out to Michigan and found out they made 120 individual beds in the woods that were only about 80 acres, I realized how much sweat equity is going into those properties. I don't know of any private land folks doing that kind of work out west, and it seems like someone could/should be planting brush communities, cutting out old beds in ravines, and just generally making more escape habitat in private-dominated areas of the west. Thinking places like eastern Wyoming and Montana, Nebraska, southern Idaho, central Oregon, etc., etc.

 

[robby denning]

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any but there are partnerships where agencies work with landowner to improve, say riparian areas (baby deer need these).

I just did the episode with Jackson Hole Land Trust who are working closely with landowners, but that's more to conserve migration, habitat than to improve it.

subscribed!

 

[Hnthrdr]

MDF does work on private in Co I do know that…

 

[Alpine4x4]

We are planning on doing some stuff on our 40ac here in WA. Planting native Gary Oaks so theres more food on the ground with Acorns, crab apples up the slope, putting in some clover crops in areas, selective thinning in the thicker ravine bottoms, and as much predator management as we can.

There really isnt a whole lot that needs to be done though, we are prime winter habitat and have plenty of deer around. If anything we are hurting the habitat by putting our home in so I figure we should try and offset that a bit.

 

[robby denning]

We are planning on doing some stuff on our 40ac here in WA. Planting native Gary Oaks so theres more food on the ground with Acorns, crab apples up the slope, putting in some clover crops in areas, selective thinning in the thicker ravine bottoms, and as much predator management as we can.

There really isnt a whole lot that needs to be done though, we are prime winter habitat and have plenty of deer around. If anything we are hurting the habitat by putting our home in so I figure we should try and offset that a bit.

an org like MDF would be great to partner with. not sure the process...

 

[Alpine4x4]

an org like MDF would be great to partner with. not sure the process...

I'll look into it as we get near completion on the house and I have time to start the work. We have mule deer, bears, cougars, turkeys, and grouse pretty thick in the area with a lot of native habitat sustaining them. Plenty of buck brush, aspens, elder berries, service berries, choke cherries, etc. Just figure anything I can do to help them out and make my little slice a bit more attractive is good for me and the animals.

 

[NDGuy]

Off the top of my head, I can't think of any but there are partnerships where agencies work with landowner to improve, say riparian areas (baby deer need these).

MDF

 

[NDGuy]

We are planning on doing some stuff on our 40ac here in WA. Planting native Gary Oaks so theres more food on the ground with Acorns, crab apples up the slope, putting in some clover crops in areas, selective thinning in the thicker ravine bottoms, and as much predator management as we can.

There really isnt a whole lot that needs to be done though, we are prime winter habitat and have plenty of deer around. If anything we are hurting the habitat by putting our home in so I figure we should try and offset that a bit.

PM me your info I can get you with my regional rep to get you with the right person.

 

[silasbowhunter]

Following. At my in laws place there are both whitetails and muleys who use the landscape interchangeably. Currently our management focuses on leaving the muleys alone as much as we can and killing as many whitetails as we are allowed to open up resources for the mule deer. I think there’s a lot more we can do in the future so I’m interested to see what others are doing!


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[Hnthrdr]

I'll look into it as we get near completion on the house and I have time to start the work. We have mule deer, bears, cougars, turkeys, and grouse pretty thick in the area with a lot of native habitat sustaining them. Plenty of buck brush, aspens, elder berries, service berries, choke cherries, etc. Just figure anything I can do to help them out and make my little slice a bit more attractive is good for me and the animals.

Thin coyotes/ kill a lion would be top of my list to help the deer. Especially coyotes around fawning time, probably won’t do a ton to them middle of winter. But you could help a few fawns out when they drop

 

[Alpine4x4]

Thin coyotes/ kill a lion would be top of my list to help the deer. Especially coyotes around fawning time, probably won’t do a ton to them middle of winter. But you could help a few fawns out when they drop

Already been working on the yotes. I gave my neighbors full permission do dirt nap every one they see on our property and they have really put a hurt on them. I got a lot less on cams this year than years prior. We also found a den on our property and made it a lot less inviting with selective mowing to open the area up. Within a week we were finding dead coyote pups, not sure if they got abandoned or what.

I'll be more serious about the cat when we live there and I can spend more time learning its routine and calling.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Already been working on the yotes. I gave my neighbors full permission do dirt nap every one they see on our property and they have really put a hurt on them. I got a lot less on cams this year than years prior. We also found a den on our property and made it a lot less inviting with selective mowing to open the area up. Within a week we were finding dead coyote pups, not sure if they got abandoned or what.

I'll be more serious about the cat when we live there and I can spend more time learning its routine and calling.

For sure, not sure what kind of bear seasons you have up in wa state. In co I typically find several fawn kill sites with bear scat near so I think they do some damage to the numbers as well. Seems like you have a solid plan going!

 

[Alpine4x4]

For sure, not sure what kind of bear seasons you have up in wa state. In co I typically find several fawn kill sites with bear scat near so I think they do some damage to the numbers as well. Seems like you have a solid plan going!

Bear Season is Aug 1st through November 15th or so so plenty long. No more spring season, no hounds, and no bait. Bears are on the menu, mama wants a rug and I want sausage. I have to use their tunnels to crawl through the under brush in our ravines, too thick otherwise.

 

[Hnthrdr]

Bear Season is Aug 1st through November 15th or so so plenty long. No more spring season, no hounds, and no bait. Bears are on the menu, mama wants a rug and I want sausage. I have to use their tunnels to crawl through the under brush in our ravines, too thick otherwise.
View attachment 826118

Awesome looking country I think you have a solid plan in place! Good luck this year and happy hunting

 

[Plainsman79]

We always talk about agencies and NGOs doing habitat work on large scales, but I was curious if there were any private land folks putting in work on their medium to large tracts of ground for mule deer.

This was spurred by my realization that the whitetail guys are doing MASSIVE amounts of habitat improvements on small acreages and it frigging works. When I went out to Michigan and found out they made 120 individual beds in the woods that were only about 80 acres, I realized how much sweat equity is going into those properties. I don't know of any private land folks doing that kind of work out west, and it seems like someone could/should be planting brush communities, cutting out old beds in ravines, and just generally making more escape habitat in private-dominated areas of the west. Thinking places like eastern Wyoming and Montana, Nebraska, southern Idaho, central Oregon, etc., etc.

Having lived and hunted deer (whitetail and mule) in Nebraska for over 40 years and now currently reside in eastern Wy this is only my .02.

For the most part it’s a pretty tough sell to most landowners solely because every acre of hard grass prairie that is taken out of grazing removes money directly out of their income. Eastern Wy, Western Ne and West River SD is some of the best cattle country in the world. Cattle for the most part eat grass, deer for the most part browse on forbs/shrubs. There are a few places that have a good combination of both and that is considered “less productive” grazing, thus decreasing the value of the land and grazing potential. It’s not like putting cattle on sage brush and using the cattle to keep the grasses under control for the sage brush to thrive.

During my travels for work and hunting I have ran across a few places that have taken it upon themselves to improve habitat either by not grazing it, leave standing crops like corn, beans or MILO during the fall, winter and early spring for the animals and the critters respond to it incredibly well. These places are usually guided hunters, large landowners that rotate pastures/crops annually or Biannually, a couple buddies that go in on a place together (which from my experience never works out long term) a homeowner that owns the “back 80”, or really small places >10 acres that can’t be grazed for whatever reason. Most of the big bucks you see that come out of these places come from areas like this.

Bucks move and it’s very, very difficult to keep a buck on your 80 acres, especially during the rut in the wide open and relatively flat Great Plains. Nebraska, Kansas, South Dakota and eastern Colorado all allow some type of hunting during the rut. I’ve been so close a number of times to buying a cedar choked pasture. Remove 50% of the cedars and plant sunflower and plum thickets with a couple different milo plots. It would produce no doubt, but the risk of a 5+ year old buck hopping the fence chasing a doe and getting shot by the neighbor out of his truck just turns me off to much…

There is a MDF Nebraska chapter and they hold a banquet every year.

 

[teamsprock]

I own 160 acres in Montana that used to hold lots of mule deer. I have already been working to improve the existing water sources, but this year I am hopeful I will get a well drilled. Assuming I get that done, that will give me the opportunity to maintain solid water holes even during the drought. Not sure how many deer/elk it will help out, but I am sure it can't hurt the small herd that lives on my place.

Would MDF be willing to give me advice on these project... I have no background on these subjects, other than a hunter that enjoys these animals and wants to see them flourish again.

 

[mtnrunner260]

NRCS has a variety of practices that benefit deer. This a basically a cost share program for private land.
There are landowners who do work on their own including water development and habitat restoration. Even a few who do food plots.
I've seen this range from hundreds to tens of thousands of dollars in out of pocket expenses. Some make it back in tag sales and others don't.
Mostly in Utah and surrounding states that I am aware of.

 

[Rich M]

Muleys migrate, WT live in small area. That makes the big diff in being able to lock down a bunch of WT on say 100 acres.

You could determine what kind of habitat you want to work on - winter, summer, fall, spring... Of course winter will help the herd the most but not provide what hunters are looking for in hunting opportunities.

That said - lots of critters get shot in ag fields. Plant you a big green field and let em eat. It'll pull the does & fawns, then the young bucks and then the big ones will come looking for does. After a few years they'll know about the yummies and be there more.

 

[Jaden Bales]

Muleys migrate, WT live in small area. That makes the big diff in being able to lock down a bunch of WT on say 100 acres.

You could determine what kind of habitat you want to work on - winter, summer, fall, spring... Of course winter will help the herd the most but not provide what hunters are looking for in hunting opportunities.

That said - lots of critters get shot in ag fields. Plant you a big green field and let em eat. It'll pull the does & fawns, then the young bucks and then the big ones will come looking for does. After a few years they'll know about the yummies and be there more.

I think the point you hit on with ag fields is where private lands managers are falling short. There are big private ag fields in Wyoming I am glassing that don't have crap for bedding nearby - it's irrigated in the sage brush with no places for them to hide. Seeing low to no deer numbers on ag fields where there is zero hunting pressure is one of the driving forces behind this question.

 

[Jaden Bales]

I own 160 acres in Montana that used to hold lots of mule deer. I have already been working to improve the existing water sources, but this year I am hopeful I will get a well drilled. Assuming I get that done, that will give me the opportunity to maintain solid water holes even during the drought. Not sure how many deer/elk it will help out, but I am sure it can't hurt the small herd that lives on my place.

Would MDF be willing to give me advice on these project... I have no background on these subjects, other than a hunter that enjoys these animals and wants to see them flourish again.

What kind of cover exists on your place?