September 2023 - 17

mowing of older sagebrush plants makes room
for younger sagebrush to grow. When that happens,
not only does leader growth of remaining
sagebrush increase, forb growth also increases
which is a key food for mule deer.
Mule deer need habitat for a lot of reasons,
but the big one is food. These critters are
specialists when it comes to their diet. They
can't just eat anything. In the spring they seek
early-growth grasses and forbs, which Tator
described as big, leafy greens. Even with forbs,
mule deer are particular in what they eat. Mule
deer feed on forbs for as long as they can, and
a lot of that depends on Mother Nature.
As late-summer and fall approaches, mule
deer switch back to shrubs for food. In latespring
and early-summer, shrubs grow new
leaders and that's what mule deer eat later in
the year to get them through the fall and winter.
" Food for mule deer in the spring, summer
and early fall includes nearly everything that
comes in underneath a functioning aspen
stand, " Tator said. " Important forb species such
as sticky geranium grow in that understory.
When we treat aspen stands the plants found
in the understory are a big component of what
we're targeting as a food source for mule deer. "
A positive for mule deer habitat this year,
along with habitat for many wildlife species,
was the winter of 2022-23. Although deep
snow, harsh winds and cold temperatures
took a toll on mule deer populations in western
Wyoming, it provided a lot of moisture
throughout the state. A wet spring and early-summer
also helped.
Tator said one downfall from all the moisture
is it helps weeds such as invasive cheatgrass
thrive, but the benefits outweigh the negatives.
" The health and productivity of our shrub
communities is tied to the timing of moisture, "
Tator said. " If we get moisture in April,
May and June, we're going to get abundant
leader growth. That's a big deal, especially if
those shrubs aren't old and decadent. When
you combine all the work we're doing to
enhance shrub communities with the abundant
moisture, important shrubs will be able
to put on big leader growth instead of tiny
leader growth. That's the advantage of welltimed
moisture.
" Having that moisture in the soil profile at
the right time of year is going to result in good
things for mule deer - not only immediately,
but as we move into fall and winter. "
Seeding projects are another example of
Mosaic mowing of older sagebrush helps younger sagebrush grow. (WGFD photo)
An aerial view of mosaic mowing near Bridger Creek in the southern Wyoming Range. (WGFD photo)
how Game and Fish improves habitat for
mule deer. Tator said the key is timing seeding
operations with adequate moisture for those
seeds to germinate and grow. A good example
of this is in northeast Wyoming where a
landowner requested that Game and Fish and
partners convert a dryland wheat field into
native prairie grasses and forbs.
No matter the work or part of the state,
Game and Fish will continue to emphasize
the need to improve mule-deer habitat. And,
that work isn't just for the deer.
" There's a lot of cross-over benefit to other
species from the work we're doing for mule
deer, " Tator said. " That includes benefits
to moose, elk, pronghorn, sage grouse and
nongame species. Our primary focus over
the last several years has been to improve
conditions for mule deer. We are absolutely
all in on that. "
- Robert Gagliardi is the associate editor of Wyoming
Wildlife
Wyoming Wildlife | 17

September 2023

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of September 2023