Wyoming Mule Deer Win—go MDF!

[robby denning]

This is how we increase hunter opportunity in the West over the long term:

Mule Deer Foundation and Wyoming Game and Fish Department Complete Over $900,000 in Projects Under Migrations Grant

hosted.verticalresponse.com

If you’re not a member of MDF, please consider joining.

 

[Cooper12]

Awesome to see projects that help deer through the corridor

 

[amassi]

It seems like the west is absolutely choked with cheatgrass from eastern CA to Kansas...
Does anyone know if this typically would have been handled by bison et el? Why is it so prevalent now??

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[Tmac]

It seems like the west is absolutely choked with cheatgrass from eastern CA to Kansas...
Does anyone know if this typically would have been handled by bison et el? Why is it so prevalent now??

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It’s an invasive species as far as I know. So no, would not have been typically eaten by native game as for millennia it was not here. Provides little forage value, grows quickly, dries out fast and burns like heck. Chukar’s like it, but they are an introduced species themselves.

 

[amassi]

It’s an invasive species as far as I know. So no, would not have been typically eaten by native game. Provides little forage value, grows quickly, dries out fast and burns like heck. Chukar’s like it, but they are an introduced species themselves.

Will cows eat it?

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[Tmac]

Sure, especially when new. As will other animals. But as far as I know, they prefer native grasses and will tend to hit those, potentially making the cheatgrass more prevalent. Depends on how dominate the cheatgrass is, time of year, extent of grazing, and more. Still plenty of conflicting opinions on the topic.

 

[mtnrunner260]

As Tmac said cheatgrass is a complicated topic. It provides little benefit to native big game but they will eat it in late winter/early spring when it's the only green on the landscape.
It has potential to cause deer to scour and is likely a poor source of nutrients.
Like if we ate strait mac and cheese for two weeks? Still be alive but not functioning at top end.
Ask a rancher if he'd rather have cheatgrass or sage brush on his deeded lands or BLM allotments. - The answer is not good for deer.

 

[406life]

Cheat Grass is bad. Very bad.
Invasive like you wouldn't believe.
First to green up, but little nutritional value.
After fires, first to come back, choking out other species.
Spreads by hitching a ride on your truck.

Downy Brome | National Invasive Species Information Center

Species Profile: Downy Brome. Crowds out native grasses (Mosley et al. 1999); creates wildfire hazards (Colorado State Parks 2005)

www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov

 

[Jimss]

Believe me, long term cheatgrass control is a game changer for mule deer and other wildlife throughout the Western US! I've devoted my 35+ year career to invasive weed research and management. The new strategies for long-term cheatgrass control is the most exciting thing I have ever worked on. The almost immediate results are amazing! PM me if you need any info. I have gobs of data, photos, and other information.

Here is another interesting Mule Deer Foundation article that was published several years ago.

Cheating the Sage — Partners in the Sage

Cheatgrass and other invasive grasses loom as a major threat to mule deer sagebrush habitat. Now is the time for hunters and land managers to act!

www.partnersinthesage.com