Mule deer are known to winter in northwest new mexico and migrate north to summer range in colorado

The Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service Region 2 awarded the New Mexico Department of Game & Fish $336,902.75 under the Wildlife Restoration and Basic Hunter Education and Safety program (CFDA 15.611) on December 16, 2025.

The award funds a multi-jurisdictional study of mule deer migration and survival across New Mexico and Colorado. The research addresses knowledge gaps in how bucks within a high-profile herd use the landscape, survival rates for bucks, and timing and location of mortality. The herd winters in northwest New Mexico and migrates north to summer range in Colorado, crossing jurisdictions managed by New Mexico, Colorado, the Jicarilla Apache Nation, and the Southern Ute Indian Tribe. The study addresses challenges facing the herd including energy development on winter range, roads and housing developments on migratory routes and summer ranges, and drought-related impacts. The work also covers movements and survival of the resident portion of the herd, which has not been previously studied.

Performance of work occurs in New Mexico, with the period of performance extending from the award date through November 30, 2027. The Wildlife Restoration program provides grants to state wildlife agencies for projects to restore, conserve, manage, and enhance wild birds and mammals and their habitat, funded through revenues collected from excise taxes on firearms, ammunition, and archery equipment.

Collectively these deer can cross and are managed by 4 different jurisdictions new mexico colorado jicarilla apache nation and southern UTE indian tribe (suit). This high profile deer herd faces many challenges including energy development on winter range roads and housing developments on migratory routes and summer ranges impacts from drought and mortality in four jurisdictions. We have little understanding of how bucks in this herd use the landscape. Additionally survival rates for bucks and timing and location of mortality are largely unknown for this collectively managed deer herd. Lastly movements and survival of the resident portion of this herd have never been studied.