Mule Deer

Snow depth can limit mule deer movement, making winter range areas with low snow levels and adequate forage important for mule deer survival. Winter range (see map) is considered a limiting habitat factor, but others include habitat degradation, predation, unregulated harvest and disease.

Map Reference: Appendix III Map 12: Wildlife Habitats

During winter, mule deer experience severe hardships that determine their survival. Many factors combine to limit suitability of Mule Deer habitat during winter and deer must concentrate in favourable areas to survive. In fall and summer, Mule Deer are able to access a wide range of habitats with sufficient resources, including high elevation forage, but they must migrate to smaller, lower elevation areas with specific habitat characteristics to endure the winter (Regional Mule Deer Winter Range Strategy, June 1996). Mule Deer in the Cariboo are particularly stressed during winter, as they are at their northern limit of continuous high-density distribution (BC Wildlife Branch 1990).

Mule Deer survival during winter is dependent on old growth and mature Douglas fir stands with well-developed canopies that provide snow interception, security, thermal cover; and food through litterfall (Regional Mule Deer Winter Range Strategy, June 1996).

Timber Access Within Mule Deer Winter Ranges

  1. The pine component in mixed stands at or in excess of 40% Douglas-fir content will be selectively harvested based on a 80 year rotation on an even flow basis.
  2. The spruce component in mixed stands at or in excess of 40% Douglas-fir content will be selectively harvested based on a 120 year rotation on an even flow basis.
  3. There are no MDWR constraints on pine or spruce harvest in pure pine/spruce or in mixed stands of less than 40% Douglas-fir content.
  4. Harvesting incremental volume subsequent to initial stand entry in Douglas-fir stands managed for high and moderate crown closure: that is; when growth has replaced the harvested volume and the stand has recovered any winter range values, which may have been lost, the second pass may be taken (Regional Mule Deer Winter Range Strategy, June 1996).
  5. Stands identified for low crown closure management within the MDWRs are to be managed according to normal silviculture Douglas-fir management with allowance for Mule Deer requirements as indicated in the Mule Deer Handbook. It is expected that given the current condition of these winter ranges no stands will be proposed for this type of harvest until these areas can be identified through the winter range management plans.

Timber Harvesting Priority Within Mule Deer Winter Ranges

Harvesting timber within the mule deer winter ranges in the following order of priority:

  1. Harvest of current beetle attack where it is identified as a priority for resource management.
  2. Within non-fir stands.
  3. Within age Class 5 Douglas-fir stands where commercial thinning would benefit mule deer winter range values.
  4. Within Mule Deer winter ranges that have met the crown closure objectives for the fir component of the stand as described in the Regional Mule Deer Winter Range Strategy and the CCLUP Integration Report; and
  5. Areas that are to be managed for low crown closure objectives: areas to be identified through Mule Deer Winter Range management plans.

General issues across the plan area will be addressed below, followed by management plans specific to individual populations.

Issues:

  • Reduction in the quality and distribution of essential habitat including tree cover for snow interception and security, forage and unimpeded migration routes
  • Increased mortality risk from unregulated hunting, poaching, stress, motor vehicles, uncontrolled access and development within winter range.
  • Predator management – wolf/cougar
  • Harmonize hunting regulations in regions 3, 5 and 8 to prevent over hunting in region 3 during general open season

Goals:

  • Increased distribution and abundance of mule deer with improved quality and quantity of habitat

Objectives Management Direction/Strategies Measures of Success/Targets Intent
1. Maintain mule deer winter range areas shown on the Mule Deer map 1.1 Designate the mule deer winter range capability areas shown on Mule Deer as “ungulate winter range” under the Forest and Range Practices Act Mule deer winter range management achieved using the timber harvesting land base planning allowance of 6,000 hectares
1.2 Consider available First Nations’ knowledge of mule deer winter range in the designation
2. Ensure snow interception, thermal and security covers are well distributed over the mule deer winter capability range (see Mule Deer map) 2.1 WLAP through consultation with appropriate ministries will develop winter range planning cells of approximately 200 – 600 ha Planning cells of approximately 200 to 600 hectares in size are established within winter range Snow interception, thermal and security covers are important so that deer are able to avoid deep snowpacks, find food not yet buried in snow, moderate temperature and hide from predators.
2.2 Crown closure less than class 5 (46%) and age class less than 8 are not considered suitable for snow interception Where practicable, utilize old stands with the highest crown closures
3. Manage resource development and use activities by providing well distributed and accessible snow interception and security cover within winter range planning cells, particularly in areas with deeper snowpacks 3.1 Priority should be given to areas identified as higher value shelter (see Mule Deer map) Adequate snow interception and security cover within winter range Adequate snow interception cover is typically comprised of Douglas fir stands with a minimum age class 8 (140 years) with 46% or greater canopy closure Sample calculation: (33% +15%) ÷ (moderate snowpack ha ÷ assessment unit). If moderate snowpack is less than 10% of the assessment unit, them the whole unit is managed to the low snowpack strategy percentage. The weighted average percentage in the moderate snowpack zone can never be less than 20% (the only exception being when the moderate is less than 10% of the assessment unit)
3.2 Where biodiversity objectives can be met, wildlife tree patches should give priority to Douglas fir, that are at least 140 years old with 46% or greater canopy closure
3.3 Within each cutblock, reserve a minimum of 5% of the basal area of the cutblock in the largest diameters of Douglas fir available, preferably distributed in clumps throughout the block
3.4 In areas of uneven aged forest management, at least 50% of wildlife tree retention requirements must be provided as patches (i.e. groupings/clusters) of trees, as opposed to retention of single wildlife trees
3.5 Where possible maintain snow interception cover that is linked together, both within planning cells and between planning cells, to provide opportunities for movement throughout the winter range
3.6 In the moderate snowpack zone (IDFdk1, IDFdk2, IDFdk3, IDFunk, MS), maintain 33% of the forested area within the planning cell in stands that are suitable snow interception cover. This cover requirement should be emphasized in higher value shelter areas (see Mule Deer map)
3.7 In the shallow snowpack zone (PP, and IDFxh2), manage 15% of the forested area within the planning cell in stands that are suitable for snow interception cover. This cover requirement should be emphasized in higher value shelter areas (see Mule Deer map)
3.8 Where the moderate snowpack is linked directly to the low snowpack, modify the percent target for snow interception cover for the moderate to be the weighted average (by area) of the two
3.9 Block width will not be restricted, providing there is a good distribution of forage and cover in the winter range planning cell, i.e. well distributed, numerous patches of cover over the planning cell, as opposed to one or few, cover patches
3.10 Where there is not a good distribution of forage and cover within a planning cell and where practicable, at least one dimension within a cutblock must be 200 metres or less
3.11 Reforestation should emulate harvested stands in species and distribution
4. Manage resource development and use activities by limiting impacts from road access and road densities within winter range 4.1 Use the seasonal access maps to identify any access management direction for public and industrial use Disturbance within winter range is minimized Open roads, and highway road kills, within winter range are minimized
4.2 On existing roads, minimize where practical, the amount of open road (i.e., two or four wheel drive passenger vehicle accessible) in mule deer winter range
4.3 Do not promote disruptive recreational activities on deer winter ranges (e.g., non-organized snowmobiling, extensive crosscountry ski trails)
4.4 Educate public recreation groups about the effects of disturbance to over-wintering deer
4.5 Where possible, avoid maintaining open ploughed forestry roads through winter range from November to March
5. Manage resource development and use activities by limiting the impacts of livestock grazing and overstory conifer competition on mule deer forage species 5.1 Through range use plans, restrict grazing by domestic livestock to less than 20% removal of leaves and 10% removal of current year’s growth of shoots and twigs on shrubs Within winter range, range use plans identify and manage desired plant communities to favour mule deer winter browse species Provide for a shrub component of forage within mule deer winter range
5.2 Range use plans in mule deer winter range areas will identify and manage for desired plant community that favour mule deer winter browse species
5.3 Re-vegetation of grasslands in permanent range within mule deer winter range will, wherever practicable, be done using available native species mixes
5.4 Where practical, utilize prescribed burns to reduce conifer density and enhance understory development within the drier ecosystems of the mule deer winter range
5.5 Where practical, utilize silvicultural treatments (e.g. juvenile spacing) that reduce conifer density and enhance understory development within the drier ecosystems of the mule deer winter range
6.0 Allow unimpeded movement of mule deer within winter range area (see Mule Deer map) 6.1 Existing or new livestock fencing should not exceed 42 inches (1.07m) in height and should be a minimum of 18 inches above ground to allow young mule deer to pass over or under fences Movement between winter and summer ranges is not impeded by fences
6.2 Avoid the alienation of Crown land that may disrupt deer movement within mapped movement corridors or that may reduce critical winter range Minimized impacts from Crown land alienation in mule deer winter range
6.3 Educate private landowners to consider the need for deer movement within their land developments
7. Minimize highway road kills of mule deer throughout the plan area 7.1 Identify site-specific areas where mule deer road kill is a significant issue (e.g., Laluwissen on Highway 12) Open roads, and highway road kills, within winter range are minimized
7.2 Implement a system to track incidence of mule deer road kill to verify the significance of this issue within the plan area
7.3 Encourage the use of appropriate technology to reduce the incidence of road kill: including signs, animal whistles, roadside reflectors, and wildlife fencing where necessary to protect the animals and the driving public
8. Continue to gather knowledge and information of 8.1 Continue inventory work to mule deer habitat, health and populations 8.1 Continue inventory work to determine population numbers, movement corridors and habitat areas, as well as the key limiting factors on mule deer populations (e.g., habitat, poaching, predation, etc.) Improved information about mule deer habitat and populations
8.2 Explore opportunities to involve First Nations in wildlife studies and assessments
9. Maintain Mule Deer Winter Range within the Plan area (Churn Creek, Koster-Grinder and Lone Cabin MDWR’s) with adequate mixes of habitat types as described in the Regional Mule Deer Strategy, the Handbook for Timber and Mule Deer Management Coordination on Winter Ranges in the Cariboo Forest Region, and the CCLUP Integration report. 9.1 Use the Handbook for Timber and Mule Deer Management Coordination on Winter Ranges in the Cariboo Forest Region (Land Management Handbook No. 13) as modified by the Integration report for operational guidance when proposing harvesting on Mule Deer Winter Ranges.
9.2 Winter range management plans completed for these winter ranges will not change the management objective but will aid in applying the strategies in a more spatial manner to these particular winter ranges.