The landowner has an eqip project to plant 70 acres of rangeland and want to add forbs to it that will be beneficial to mule deer.

TO increase the diversity of the seed mix.

That the seeding mix will fail That the provided forbs don't germinate That the eqip mix does not provide forb diversity to deer.

Utah Deer Management Plan for Unit (01) Box Elder County, March, 2013. This plan specifically mentions the problems associated with winter and transitional for mule deer in this part of the county: "Subunit 1 B- East Box Elder - This area reached and exceeded the 8,000 deer objective in 1999.A severe winter range fire on the Promontory peninsula occurred in 2001 and has reduced carrying capacity by approximately 1,000 animals. Consequently, the short-term objective is reduced to 7,000 deer." The plan address that and disturbance that could be beneficial to a browse enhancement project should be taken advantage of for the benefit on wintering mule deer along with identifying Promontory Mountain as a site for winter range enhancement. The biggest objective of the landowners is to address these kinds of issues for mule deer. Aside from an objective to restore winter range (i.e. sagebrush, four-wing saltbush, and forage kochia), a diverse suite of grasses and forbs are being established as well. Utah Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategy (Utah Wildlife Action Plan), 2005 Publication Number 05-19, State of Utah, Department of Natural Resources, Division of Wildlife Resources, Effective 2005-2015. Sharp-tailed Grouse are listed as a Tier II species and are considered to be present in only 4% of their historic range in Utah. On page 6-33 several aspects of habitat loss are considered to be significant: exotic weed infestation of habitats; lack of herbaceous understory in sagebrush habitats; and wildfire return intervals. This project is located within current sharp-tailed grouse occupied habitat, all three of these problems are present within the property in question, and all three are being addressed as a part of the proposed project. This project also seeks to restore shrubsteppe habitat which is listed as one of the 10 highest priority habitat types in Utah. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Statewide Management Plan for Mule Deer, December 2014. Under "Issues and Concerns, G. Private Land/ Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit Issues" the importance of private lands and habitat quality on private lands is stressed. This project takes place entirely on private lands, and is within a CWMU. Habitat Objective 2 improve quality and quantity of vegetation for mule deer on crucial range. This project will help to reach the statewide goal. The Utah Strategic Plan for Managing Noxious and Invasive Weeds, Utah Weed Advisory Council and The Utah Weed Control Association, December 2004. Under Section IV, 'Utah Priorities', the plan mentions restoration actions as a priority for areas that have been invaded by noxious and invasive species. This project constitutes just such an effort in relation to species such as cheatgrass, bulbous bluegrass, rip-gut three-awn, and redstem filaree.

The aim of the project to replace annual grasses with a diverse mix of perennial grasses and forbs, this will help reduce the risk of fire.

The project will address water quality through reducing the risk of fire and subsequent soil erosion.

Field has been disturbed in previous plantings.

The landowner will drill seed the area with a GBRC drill and his tractor

The landowner and area big game bio and statewide big game coordinator Justin Shannon will monitor deer use and planting success.

DWR and the landowner

Area biologist will continue to classify deer in area and monitor for deer to return and use the area.

Area will be grazed after resting period.

11/18/2019

11/25/2019

2020

This was an opportunity project where a landowner was already doing a range improvement project and the DWR was able to contribute to a more diverse and beneficial to wildlife seed mix. This area has been identified by DWR biologist as being forb limited when considering mule deer habitat. With the seed mix being augmented with forbs it provides more benefit to mule deer. The landowner ran the drill with the tire roller attached behind his tractor over the area that he had harrowed. The rangeland drill in conjunction with the tire roller should provide good contact with the seed into the ground.

The DWR provided some of the forbs and the landowner purchased the rest of the seed mix from Utah Seed in Bothwell. Once the seed was mixed and ready to go the drill and roller were delivered to the project area. The landowner ran the drill and roller behind his tractor. A few issues were encountered with the equipment. One of the outside tires on the roller went flat. The landowner showed concern for our equipment and attempted to get it fixed but that would require complete disassembly so we advised him to just run it flat. One of the rams on the drill was also leaking but that that was a pre-existing thing and it held out through the project. Overall the project went well and was a success in working with the landowner to improve deer habitat.

Monitor the success of the project and if there are other acres or landowners in the area that could do similar projects that should be evaluated for treatment. If possible it may be more suitable to complete projects in this area with a broadcaster and chain harrow.