Ask the Conservation Officer (CO)

by Gary Hompland Regional Conservation Officer Idaho Department of Fish and Game Question: "I've read several articles about the mule deer initiative(MDI),and since I'm an avid mule deer hunter, I'm ecstatic that the Department is so focused on improving mule deer populations. What can I do to help?" Answer: The Director has tasked population & habitat biologists and conservation officers to make the mule deer initiative (MDI) our number one priority. MDI is a focused effort by the Idaho Fish and Game to accomplish three goals: Improve mule deer numbers; increase hunter satisfaction; and protect and improve mule deer habitat. The MDI program has six integral components: habitat management, population management, predator management, enforcement, access management, and public involvement. One of the easiest places for the public to become involved with MDI is on mule deer habitat improvement projects. Habitat is a key component influencing mule deer populations. Habitat changes have lessened the ability of some areas to support mule deer populations. One limiting factor for mule deer is winter range. Over the last several years deer winter ranges have been burned in wild fires. Other factors such as drought have also caused a decline in their productivity. Winter ranges have been slow to recover shrub communities needed to sustain mule deer. Habitat biologists from the Fish and Game Department, Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service have identified mule deer winter ranges that most need rehabilitation back to productive shrub communities. Bitterbrush is an important forage shrub component on many southern Idaho mule deer winter ranges. IDFG in cooperation with the Mule Deer Foundation, 11 Magic Valley High School FFA chapters, and the College of Southern Idaho's horticulture club, have potted and raised 8,000 bitterbrush seedlings. These students and the instructors will be planting their seedlings on mule deer winter ranges in the South Hills this spring. Another 27,000 bitterbrush seedlings will be planted in the Indian Springs area of the South Hills and other areas throughout the Magic Valley Region by volunteers. Volunteers include individuals and conservation organizations such as the Mule Deer Foundation, Idaho State Bow Hunters, Deer Hunters of Idaho, and Sportsmen for Fish & Wildlife. If you would like to be a part of the MDI and help improve mule deer winter ranges in the South Hills contact Mark Flemming, Regional Wildlife Habitat Manager, at the Magic Valley Regional Office of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game listed below. The next habitat improvement project is a bitterbrush planting project on mule deer winter range in the South Hills scheduled for Saturday, April 8, 2006. Mark would appreciate it if all volunteers call him at the regional office to arrange for meeting times and locations. If you have any further questions you may call the Magic Valley Regional Office of the Idaho Department of Fish and Game at (208)324-4350 or e-mail us at the Fish and Game web site at http://fishandgame.idaho.gov.