Mule Deer Telemetry - Eastern Tehama - 2013-2015 [ds2938]

The Eastern Tehama deer herd (ETDH) is the largest migratory deer herd in California (CDFG et al. 1981) and is highly valued by the public for recreational uses. The herd has substantially declined over the past several decades (California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) unpublished data), which has resulted in a significant loss of recreational opportunities (hunting and wildlife viewing), declining contributions to local economies, and mounting concerns from the public. Several studies using radio-collars have been conducted on the ETDH. However, these previous studies utilized VHF transmitters and the resulting data lacked the accuracy, resolution, and sample sizes to accurately depict migration routes and important seasonal habitats used by the herd. Telemetry collars using GPS technology were not available when most of the earlier studies were conducted. CDFW personnel in the Northern Region currently monitor the ETDH using infrared triggered counters set on eight known migration trails. Seven road transect surveys are conducted annually in the spring and fall on the winter range. Both migration trail monitoring and road transect surveys suggest a long-term decline in herd numbers. Helicopter transect surveys have been conducted infrequently in the past. This project was designed to identify areas of seasonal importance (including migration corridors and staging areas) and to assess health and survival of deer in the ETDH. The results will assist the CDFW to identify areas important to the ETDH and to prioritize areas of habitat conservation and improvement (e.g. conservation easements, fee title purchase, and management recommendations for both public and private lands). Most of the winter range, transitional range and the some of the western portion of the summer range have been identified by the CDFW for potential conservation actions (Lassen Foothills Conceptual Area Protection Plan (CAPP), 2000 (amended 2011)). To date approximately 330 km2 within the CAPP area have been protected from development via conservation easements. A primary project goal was to identify spring and fall staging (holding) areas, which are vital to migratory herds (Sawyer et al. 2005, Montieth et al. 2011, Sawyer and Kauffman 2011). CDFW has long recognized the importance of these areas, as stated in the Eastern Tehama deer herd management plan (CDFG et al. 1981): Holding areas on intermediate range are of extreme importance to deer since its there deer delay on their migrations between seasonal ranges. Deer heavily utilize these areas during the spring while awaiting forage development on the summer range. Deer also feed heavily on acorns within these types during the fall migration. Holding areas must be more accurately delineated for management purposes.Habitat conditions on staging areas may influence the condition of does prior to breeding and/or the likelihood of fawn survival over winter (Montieth et al. 2011). The results of this project will also be used to update the CDFWs Deer Conservation Unit (DCU) plan for the Cascades-North Sierra assessment area, which includes the Eastern Tehama deer herd as well as other herds within northern Californias C deer hunt zones.

Disclaimer: The State makes no claims, promises, or guarantees about the accuracy, completeness, reliability, or adequacy of these data and expressly disclaims liability for errors and omissions in these data. No warranty of any kind, implied, expressed, or statutory, including but not limited to the warranties of non-infringement of third party rights, title, merchantability, fitness for a particular purpose, and freedom from computer virus, is given with respect to these data.

CDFW personnel only, but point of contacts must be notified before using.