The Rabbit Gulch WMA, consisting of over 9,400 acres of crucial winter habitat for mule deer and elk, was acquired by the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources beginning in 1961. Most of the fencing was already present at the time of purchase. Over the years, the fence had began to deteriorate in many areas. To compound this issue, neighboring ranchette development has resulted in the fence being cut and damaged to allow for OHV and other vehicle access to and from the private parcels. Furthermore, much of the original fence was built with net wire and a barbed wire top strand. This fence design is less than desirable for mule deer, inhibiting fawn passage and creating opportunity for deer to become entangled in the top wire. UDWR has completed modifications of this fence over the years to allow for better deer passage. Given these factors, UDWR is now proposing to rebuild portions of this boundary fence where the fence integrity has been most compromised. As previously mentioned, the Rabbit Gulch WMA serves as crucial winter habitat for mule deer and elk from the Currant Creek subunit of the Wasatch Mountains herd unit. In mild winters, deer and elk use on the WMA is limited. But on hard and deep snow winters, the WMA becomes crucial. It is the last place for animals to winter before moving into agricultural lands and the community of Duchesne. In extreme cases, UDWR has been forced to begin emergency feeding operations near the WMA. Given the crucial need this WMA provides on these hard winters, it is imperative that disturbance is limited. A good boundary fence that limits OHV and other travel is important to limit disturbances. UDWR authorizes prescriptive grazing on the WMA in the spring to help promote browse growth. Cattle are present in the months of April and May to perform this treatment. The boundary fence is needed to keep cattle from wandering off the WMA and causing issues with adjacent landowners, or US Highway 40. The Northeastern Region has found that building fences out of used oilfield tubing is a great way to provide a functional and long lasting boundary fence. The cost of used oilfield tubing is slightly less than green treated lumber. Installation costs are similar to slightly higher, but the lifespan of the fence is significantly longer. Pipe fences are very secure. It literally takes a cutting torch or metal chop saw to cut through them. If someone is going to vandalize the fence, it will take significant planning and effort. Lastly, pipe fences are very wildlife friendly. They are highly visible to prevent strikes from flying birds, they have a rigid and smooth top to allow big game to jump over them, while allowing sufficient space under them for small fawns to be able to crawl under. They are built to last.

The primary objective of the project is to replace damaged portions of the boundary fence in the SW corner of the Rabbit Gulch WMA. This fence will provide the following benefits: 1. Limit illegal OHV and vehicular ingress and egress from neighboring ranchette properties. 2. Make the fence more wildlife friendly. 3. Allow for livestock management on the WMA during prescriptive grazing treatments. 4. Limit disturbances to wintering big game animals

If left alone, the damaged fences will allow for OHV's and other vehicles to travel freely onto the WMA. This may result in direct habitat damage from illegal trail and road use, but will also lead to increased disturbance to wintering big game animals. Disturbance to these animals may result in decreased winter survival, but also may force wildlife to leave the WMA and enter nearby agricultural lands. The fence will allow for UDWR to have a strong management presence on its WMA.

Rabbit Gulch WMA Habitat Management Plan - Protect the existing resource for wildlife from deterioration with emphasis on critical big game winter range values. - Control livestock trespass by monitoring the area during traditional problem times (winter), and by maintenance of fences and cattle guards. - Manage vehicle access by conducting an inventory of roads and determining those that are necessary. Physically close and rehabilitate those that are not. - Fences should be checked annually and areas repaired, as necessary. Utah's Wildlife Action Plan - The WAP identifies lowland sagebrush as a priority habitat. One of the threats and risks the WAP identifies for lowlands sagebrush habitat is OHV motorized recreation. This fence will help limited the amount of unauthorized OHV use on the WMA. - Mule deer and elk are priority species identified in the WAP. OHV motorized recreation is identified as a threat for these two species. This project will help limit the amount of unauthorized OHV use on the WMA. The project also supports several goals and objectives outlined in the statewide deer and elk plans, as well as those identified in the Wasatch deer and elk unit plans.

The project will not have a direct benefit to fire and fuels. However, limiting unauthorized OHV use will also limit the potential for a fire to be sparked from vehicles.

The project will likely have negligible effect on water quality and quantity. However, limiting unauthorized OHV travel and illegal trails will help reduce erosion and sedimentation issues into Rabbit Gulch and Starvation Reservoir.

This project is a replacement of an existing fence. The site has already been disturbed.

A contractor will be hired to complete construction of the fence, They will supply fencing materials and labor. Pipe posts will be cut 6' in length and driven into the ground 2 1/2 feet. Posts will be set at a distance of 12' apart. A "saddle" will be cut at the top of each post and the pipe top rail will be laid into the saddles. The entire saddle will be welded with 6010 p+++ welding rod. Sucker rods will be placed below the top rail and secured using metal fence clips. The fence clips will be welded on each post to hold sucker rod at specified heights. The fence will be constructed according to wildlife friendly dimensions and the height will be limited to 42". Before construction, a licensed surveyor will be used to stake out the fence line.

The fence will be inspected at least once annually to determine maintenance needs. Any vandalism will be turned over to law enforcement for investigation. Maintenance needs will be completed as they are found to ensure functionality and to maintain the life of the fence.

Duchesne County has been consulted about this fence and road issues. They have no objections to the work we are completing.

Routine maintenance will be completed at least once annually, as needed to maintain the functionality and integrity of the fence.

The boundary fence will allow us to utilize prescriptive cattle grazing to help promote winter range broiwse plants for big game. Without the fence functioning, an effective prescriptive grazing program is problematic