There is a need to improve habitat for mule deer in the deschutes watershed

The U.S. Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service (DOI FWS), Region 1, awarded a Formula Grant of $305,240 to the State of Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), Salem Region Office, under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611). The grant period runs from July 1, 2025, through June 30, 2027, and is directed at addressing declining mule deer populations in the Deschutes Watershed through habitat restoration and improvement activities.

ODFW will deliver habitat enhancement services focused on five primary activities: fence removal to expand habitat access, Western juniper treatment to restore native shrub and forage components, mule deer nutritional quality analysis to assess habitat effectiveness, re-seeding of native plant shrubs on both private and public lands, and aspen enhancement through conifer removal. These coordinated efforts are designed to improve forage quality and quantity across winter, transition, and summer range habitats, thereby supporting recovery of mule deer populations in the target watershed. The project leverages both state and federal lands to maximize habitat restoration impact across the region.

Loss of quality and quantity of mule deer habitat is the primary cause of declining mule deer populations in the deschutes watershed. Improving forage quality and quantity in winter, transition, and summer range habitats by reducing encroaching juniper, and providing forage and water will improve conditions for mule deer populations. These activities will be continued on this grant by primarily focusing on:1. Fence REMOVAL2. Treatment of western juniper to allow the release of shrub components and other forage. 3. Mule deer nutritional quality ANALYSIS4. RE-seed plant shrubs on private and public LANDS5. Aspen enhancement conifer removal