# Mule Deer Habitat of North America

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## Metadata:

- Identification_Information
- Data_Quality_Information
- Spatial_Data_Organization_Information
- Spatial_Reference_Information
- Entity_and_Attribute_Information
- Distribution_Information
- Metadata_Reference_Information

Identification_Information:
  Citation:
    Citation_Information:
      Originator: RS/GIS Laboratory, Utah State University
      Publication_Date: 20041231
      Title: Mule Deer Habitat of North America
      Edition: First
      Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
  Description:
    Abstract:
      This database contains GIS datasets representing the distribution of mule deer habitat throughout the United States and Canada (Alberta & Saskatewan only). Mule deer habitat is divided into 6 separate GIS layers corresponding to 6 types of mule deer habitat: 1)limited range, 2) summer range, 3) other important habitat, 4) winter range, 5) winter concentration, and 6) year-round population. Information on mule deer limiting factors associated with each habitat type is provided within the GIS datasets. Habitat delineations were identified through a Delphi process on a state-by-state basis and were subsequently tablet-digitized from 1:250,000 scale maps.
    Purpose:
      These data are intended to provide resource managers regional scale information (1: 250,000) on mule deer habitat for wildlife conservation and management purposes.
  Time_Period_of_Content:
    Time_Period_Information:
      Single_Date/Time:
        Calendar_Date: 2004
    Currentness_Reference: ground condition
  Status:
    Progress: Complete
    Maintenance_and_Update_Frequency: None planned
  Spatial_Domain:
    Bounding_Coordinates:
      West_Bounding_Coordinate: -140
      East_Bounding_Coordinate: -96
      North_Bounding_Coordinate: 66
      South_Bounding_Coordinate: 30
  Keywords:
    Theme:
      Theme_Keyword_Thesaurus: none
      Theme_Keyword: Mule deer habitat
    Place:
      Place_Keyword_Thesaurus: none
      Place_Keyword: United States
      Place_Keyword: Canada
      Place_Keyword: North America
  Access_Constraints: none
  Use_Constraints:
    Appropriate scale for these data is 1: 250,000 smaller. The user assumes responsiblity when using this dataset.
  Point_of_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization:
          Remote Sensing/GIS Laboratory, College of Natural Resources, Utah State University
      Contact_Position: Director or Assistant Director
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing
        Address: UMC 5275
        City: Logan
        State_or_Province: Utah
        Postal_Code: 84321-5275
        Country: USA
  Data_Set_Credit:
    Todd Black, Wildlife Extension Associate, Utah State University.

    Terry Messner, Professor, Dept. of Forestry, Range and Wildlife Sciences, Utah State University.

    Douglas Ramsey, Associate Professor, Dept. of Forestry, Range and Wildlife Sciences, Utah State University.

    Alan Luce, GIS Technician, RS/GIS Laboratory, Utah State University.

    Wendy Hurd, GIS Technician, RS/GIS Laboratory, Utah State University.

    John Lowry, Assistant Director for Projects, RS/GIS Laboratory, Utah State University.

Data_Quality_Information:
  Attribute_Accuracy:
    Attribute_Accuracy_Report:
      A review of digiting efforts was performed by state biologists to quality control the digitizing process. Besides this effort at quality control, no accuracy assessment was performed.
  Logical_Consistency_Report:
    All polygons were checked for correct coding by state biologist.
  Completeness_Report:
    Habitat ranges were delineated and coded to the best ability of the local state biologists.
  Lineage:
    Source_Information:
      Source_Citation:
        Citation_Information:
          Originator:
            1:250K topographic maps (United States Geological Survey and Canada Energy, Mines & Resources)
          Title: USGS Topographic Quadrangle
          Geospatial_Data_Presentation_Form: map
      Source_Scale_Denominator: 250,000
      Type_of_Source_Media: paper
      Source_Citation_Abbreviation:
        1:250K topographic maps (United States Geological Survey and Canada Energy, Mines & Resources)
      Source_Contribution:
        Paper 1:250K maps were used by biologists to delineate habitat ranges. Polygons were tablet digitized and coded according to biologist's specifications.
    Process_Step:
      Process_Description:
        1) Wildlife biologists for each state and/or province were visited and presented with instructions to delineate mule deer habit range in their state (Delphi process). 2) Delineations were drawn on 1:250,000 topographic paper maps. 3) Topographic maps were tablet digitized and attributed using workstation ArcInfo as coverages. Each state was digitized in appropriate UTM zone for that state. 4) Proof maps (approx scale 1: 500,000) were sent back to biologists for review of linework and attribute coding. 5) Individual state datasets were projected to a common projection (Albers Equal Area) and merged in ArcGIS.

      Process_Date: 2004
      Process_Contact:
        Contact_Information:
          Contact_Organization_Primary:
          Contact_Position: Director or Assistant Director
          Contact_Address:
            Address_Type: mailing
            Address: UMC 5275
            City: Logan
            State_or_Province: Utah
            Postal_Code: 84321-5275
            Country: USA

Spatial_Data_Organization_Information:
  Direct_Spatial_Reference_Method: vector

Spatial_Reference_Information:
  Horizontal_Coordinate_System_Definition:
    Planar:
      Map_Projection:
        Map_Projection_Name: Albers Conical Equal Area
        Albers_Conical_Equal_Area:
          Standard_Parallel: 29 30 00
          Standard_Parallel: 45 30 00
          Longitude_of_Central_Meridian: -96 00 00
          Latitude_of_Projection_Origin: 23 00 00
          False_Easting: 00 00 00
          False_Northing: 00 00 00
      Planar_Coordinate_Information:
        Planar_Coordinate_Encoding_Method: coordinate pair
        Coordinate_Representation:
          Abscissa_Resolution: 50
          Ordinate_Resolution: 50
        Planar_Distance_Units: meters

Entity_and_Attribute_Information:
  Overview_Description:
    Entity_and_Attribute_Overview:
      A separate GIS coverage was created for each habitat class. Each coverage contains at a minimum the following fields: Class: A letter designation for the habitat class Class_name: A name for the habitat class Limits_all: A list of all limiting factor categories in order of importance, separated by a comma. Comment: Notes provided by biologist when applicable. Acres: Area of the polygon in acres. Hectares: Area of the polygon in hectares. Limit1: First limiting factor as identifed by biologist. Limit2: Second limiting factor as identified by biolgist. Limit3: Third limiting factor as identified by biolgist. Limit4: Fourth limiting factor as identified by biolgist. Limit5: Fifth limiting factor as identified by biolgist. Limit6: Sixth limiting factor as identified by biolgist. Limit7: Seventh limiting factor as identified by biolgist. Limit8: Eighth limiting factor as identified by biolgist. Limit9: Nineth limiting factor as identified by biolgist. Limit10: Tenth limiting factor as identified by biolgist.

      The following provides descriptions of the habitat classes:

      A-limited range: Includes habitat which is occasionally inhabited and/or contains small population of scattered mule deer. B-Summer Range: That part of the overall range where 90% of the individuals are located between spring green-up and the first heavy snowfall. C-Other important habitat: Areas that are part of the overall range where higher quality habitat supports significantly higher densities than surrounding areas. These areas are typically occupied year round and not necessarily associated with a specific season. Examples include: rough break country, riparian areas, small drainages and large areas of irrigated cropland, migration corridors, highway crossings, fawning areas, etc.. D-Winter Range: That part of the overall range where 90 percent of the individuals are located during the average five winters out of ten from the first heavy snowfall to spring green-up, or during a site-specific period of winter. A subset of this definition would include a â€œsevere winter rangeâ€ definition to include areas within the winter range where 90% of the individuals are located when annual snow pack is at its maximum and/or temperatures are at a minimum in the two worst winters our of ten. limited E-Winter Concentration: That part of the winter range where densities are at least 200% greater than the surrounding winter range density during the same period used to define winter range in the average five winters out of ten. F-Year-round Population: An area that provides year-round range for a population of mule deer. The resident mule deer use all of the area all year; it cannot be subdivided into seasonal ranges although it may be included within the overall range of the larger population.

      The following provides descriptions of limiting factors:

      00: Domestic livestock forage competition--Primarly affects: Habitat Management, 01: Habitat succession/ maturation--Primarly affects: Habitat Management, 02: Urban expansion--Primarly affects: Habitat Conservation, 03: Public land habitat availability--Primarly affects: Habitat Conservation, 04: Increased road densities--Primarly affects: Habitat Management, 05: Riparian impacts--Primarly affects: Habitat Management, 06: Timber harvest impacts--Primarly affects: Habitat Management, 07: Depredation--Primarly affects: Habitat Management, 08: Limited private land access--Primarly affects: Population Management, 09: Artificial feeding--Primarly affects: Habitat Management, 10: Habitat conversion--Primarly affects: Habitat Management, 11: Social carrying capacity exceeded--Primarly affects: Population Management, 12: Late seral stages needed--Primarly affects: Habitat Management, 13: High Density Recreation--Primarly affects: Habitat Management, 14: Water availability--Primarly affects: Habitat Management, 15: Transport/Water conveyance corridors--Primarly affects: Population Management, 16: Mineral Extraction/Exploration--Population Management, 17: Competition with other wild ungulates--Primarly affects: Habitat Management, 18: Special Situation--Primarly affects: Varied (see note below),

      Special Situation Note: Habitat where deer populations may occur, intermittently, in small numbers. In some instances, the public may receive wildlife viewing, photographic or consumptive recreational uses. However, land ownership, social carrying capacity considerations, weather limitations, range conditions, and small size or configuration of the topography is not suitable to manage for increasing deer populations at the present time. Other situations could include game farms, tribal lands, past catastrophic fires, invasion of weedy species, feral horses etc.
    Entity_and_Attribute_Detail_Citation:
      For more detailed information on Habitat Classes and Limiting Factor Categories, see the documents class_descriptions.doc and limits_descriptions.doc.

Distribution_Information:
  Distributor:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: RS/GIS Laboratory
      Contact_Position: Director or Assistant Director
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing
        Address: UMC 5275
        City: Logan
        State_or_Province: Utah
        Postal_Code: 84321-5275
        Country: USA
  Distribution_Liability:
    The RS/GIS Laboratory, Utah State University nor any institution responsible for creating this dataset are responsible for the re-distribution, content, or use of these data.

Metadata_Reference_Information:
  Metadata_Date: 20041231
  Metadata_Future_Review_Date: none
  Metadata_Contact:
    Contact_Information:
      Contact_Organization_Primary:
        Contact_Organization: RSGIS Laboratory, Utah State University
      Contact_Address:
        Address_Type: mailing
        Address: UMC 5275
        City: Logan
        State_or_Province: Utah
        Postal_Code: 84321-5275
        Country: USA
  Metadata_Standard_Name: FGDC Content Statndard for Digital Geospatial Metadata
  Metadata_Standard_Version: FGDC-STD-001-1998
  Metadata_Security_Information:
    Metadata_Security_Classification_System: none
    Metadata_Security_Classification: unclassified
    Metadata_Security_Handling_Description: none
  Metadata_Language: English

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