Major Accomplishments

· A published paper summarizing predator research and management experience in the West (Ballard et al. 2001.  Deer-predator relationships: a review of recent North American studies with emphasis on mule and black-tailed deer.  Wildlife Society Bulletin 29:99-115).  This publication was timely and scholarly, when agencies throughout the west were struggling with public pressure on both sides of this issue.

· Markedly better communication among mule deer biologists in all western states and provinces.  Issues are now informally discussed among states/provinces to the mutual benefit of all involved.

· Coordination of the biennial Western States Deer/Elk Workshop and a standardization of format and trend data.

· A book summarizing the current knowledge, challenges, and opportunities for the important issues identified by leading mule deer experts (Mule Deer Conservation:  Issues and Management Strategies.  2003.  J. C. deVos, M. R. Conover, and N. E. Headrick, editors, Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies and Jack H. Berryman Institute, Logan, Utah.  240pp.). 

· Produced a popularized version of the above book for easy reading by non-biologists printed in glossy newspaper format (Mule Deer: Changing Landscapes, Changing Perspectives).

· Produced and published the North American Mule Deer Conservation Plan to guide the conservation of this important species throughout the continent.  An MOU in support of this plan was signed by all federal partners.

· Sponsored (with Utah State University, MDF, SCI & others) the development of a website intended to serve as a source for mule deer information on the internet. 

· Completed an interactive GIS map of North America to identify important mule deer habitat features to aid in managing mule deer and their habitat on a landscape scale.

· The MDWG was awarded the Wildlife Management Institute’s “Touchstone Award” in 2006.  The Touchstone Award recognizes the achievement of a natural resource management program, professional or group of professionals in the public or private sector.

· Mule Deer Habitat Guidelines.  This product has the potential to provide for the greatest benefit to mule deer habitat on a landscape scale.  The working group has just finished producing a set of mule deer habitat guidelines for each of the 7 ecological regions (ecoregions) they identified in North America.  The habitat guidelines were produced in a 7-part series including guidelines for the Southwest Deserts, California Woodland and Chaparral, Colorado Plateau, Intermountain West, Great Plains, Northern Forest, and Coastal Rainforest ecoregions.  These are now final and published. 

· Funding and producing more bronzes for the Wallmo Award given to the leading black-tailed or mule deer researcher or manager in North America.  The MDWG and Mule Deer Foundation raised $5,000 to have 10 more bronzes produced (20 years worth) by Joe B. Wallmo, whose father the award is named after.  This award is given out every 2 years at the Deer/Elk Workshop.

Current Projects

· An implementation matrix for the North American Mule Deer Conservation Plan (NAMDCP) is continually updated by the MDWG to track progress made toward the strategies and goals by member agencies and federal partners.

· The MDWG is working with Jim deVos, former Chair of the MDWG, to establish a landscape-scale mule deer habitat restoration effort called the Southern Utah—Northern Arizona Mule Deer Initiative (SUNAMI).  This will be an area were the products and ideas of the Mule Deer Working Group can be implemented on the ground to do great things for mule deer on a landscape scale.

· One desire from the original establishment of the MDWG was to increase communication among member agencies and one potential place for improvement is in standardizing deer population monitoring techniques.  The group took part in a workshop in Reno in 2005 to discuss differences and try to find solutions.  This resulted in a published paper (Mason et al. 2006.  A case for standardized ungulate surveys and data management in the western United States, Wildlife Society Bulletin  34:1238-1242).  This has been very difficult challenge to resolve because of the logistical and fiscal constraints each state faces with regard to selecting a specific monitoring approach.  The MDWG is in the process of drafting guidelines that agencies can use to guide (not dictate) their monitoring activities.

· The MDWG is producing a set of Mule Deer Population Monitoring Guidelines to provide WAFWA agencies with the best methods available to monitor populations of mule deer.

· Another important document being written by the group is our “Oil/Gas, Wind, and Solar Guidelines for Mule Deer Habitat.”