The oregon mule initiative (MDI) effort was adopted in 2009 with the goal of improving mule deer populations in 5OREGON wildlife management units (wmus). 4 additional wmus added in 2015

In 2023, the effort was expanded toall lands in oregon where mule deer populations exist. Objectives for MDE address improving or maintaining forageavailability on summer, winter, and transitional range habitat protection through land use practices, disease, predator management, law enforcement, increasing scientific understanding, public outreach, and populationmanagement. This grant will continue those activities with a primary focus on:1. Western juniper treatment to maintain or enhance forage value of shrub steppe associated vegetation.2. Control of non-native annual invasive grasses and other noxious weeds that are affecting habitat quality fordeer.3. Enhancement of aspen habitats.4. Enhancement of meadow habitats there is a need to improve habitat for mule deer in oregon to reverse declines and provide outdoor recreationopportunities and sustainable mule deer populations. Forest vegetation provide summer habitat for deer andprojects in these vegetation types are designed to improve forage quality of understory vegetation or improveaspen health used by deer as fawning habitat. Shrub steppe vegetation provides both summer and winter habitatand projects in these vegetation associations will improve or maintain forage quality by control of competingjuniper or annual invasive grasses. Drought conditions have affected riparian vegetation available for fawninghabitat or availability of water that effects deer distribution. The effects of drought are most severe in shrubsteppe vegetation types and wet meadow habitat types.