MULE DEER MAPPING HISTORY

PROJECT DEFINITION:

  This project proposes to map all mule and black-tailed deer habitat in North America and Mexico using a Delpi approach (expert opinion) in a single Geographical Information System (GIS) database. To accomplish this, regional representatives were solicit by the project manager and regional team members for information from state-provincial experts in mule deer habitat conditions and used this information to develop a database that identifies mule deer presence in 6 categories (identified herein) and to attribute these polygons with primary limiting factors applicable to each polygon. A list of limiting factors adopted by the WAFWA Mule Deer Working Group is identified herein. This database can be used to assist in management programs such as habitat restorations that cross administrative boundaries.
  BASE MAP AND MAPPING SCALE:
  The base map used will be that developed by Utah State University RS/GIS Lab in cooperation with the western states-provinces that are a part of the Mule Deer Working Group (MDWG). This map has been edge-matched for accuracy at administrative boundaries. The scale in the United States is 1:250,000. The minimum polygon size (mapping unit) will be township.
  PROJECT NEED AND JUSTIFICATION:
  Mule deer habitat extends across jurisdictional boundaries. In the past, there were no range-wide habitat maps available that identified the distribution of mule deer in North America, nor was there a database that identifies the factors that limit the quality of mule deer habitat. When the WAFWA Mule Deer Working Group began planning for a Joint Venture Habitat Restoration Project, they found that the lack of these databases made cross-jurisdiction project planning impossible. They believed other planning projects have been stymied by the lack of this planning tool. They investigated methods to develop such databases and found that the previous project by RMEF was the most suitable model for us to pursue. This is particularly true given the commitment from RMEF to provide existing databases to this project at no cost to WAFWA. With this database in place, resource managers now have a tool that they can use to identify important mule deer habitats and to plan methods to maintain or enhance existing habitat values.
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