The Book Cliffs in Uintah and Grand counties has become the focal point for improved management by multiple partners that comprise the Book Cliffs Working Group. Partners include DWR, SITLA, BLM, NRCS, UDAF, private property owners, permittees, and Sportsman's Groups. This group has identified the limiting resources of the Book Cliffs area and developed projects that will benefit all users on the landscape. Difficult terrain, limited feed and water resources, and extreme remoteness make the Book Cliffs one of the more challenging locations in the state for producers of livestock. As a result, stray animals have become common in the area. Management and control of stray livestock benefits wildlife and watershed health by reducing resource damage caused by stray animals that occupy important areas throughout the year. Forage has been identified as a limiting factor for both wildlife and livestock in the Book Cliffs. A forage analysis completed by the Book Cliffs Working Group found that on normal precipitation years, forage use is maxed out with the number of animals currently on the landscape. On dry years, there is limited production of forage and utilization levels exceed annual production. As a result, deer and elk populations have suffered in the Book Cliffs by experiencing poor body condition and low recruitment. The mule deer population is declining and managers are working hard to correct that decline. Livestock producers are also taking reductions in their season of use and cutting their permitted numbers of livestock. They have experienced lower weaning weight of their calves and are having to haul water to meet livestock demands. Stray livestock, primarily horses, were found to be a major consumer of forage in the forage analysis. In addition, they are a major consumer of water. Many guzzler and other water development projects have been depleted by these stray horses, reducing water availability for wildlife and permitted livestock. At an annual population growth rate of 20%, it is important to control these feral livestock to keep their populations from growing, given there are few natural predators of these species. All members of the Book Cliffs Working Group recognize that stray livestock management, through gathers or trapping, is the most effective and important tool for managing their numbers. Stray horses in the proposal area are tied back to one family who has claim to them. Some of the horses carry their brand and they originated from allotments/areas where horse use is permitted. The family has asked for help in removing horses and recognize the impacts they are having on the rangelands. The family does not wish to profit from the animals and is willing to return any revenue generated from the sale of those animals to offset the capture costs.

The Book Cliffs working group identified stray livestock management as the number one (out of five) priority to address in the Book Cliffs area. Strategies, such as stray livestock gathers, were identified as methods to use to help improve the big game (mule deer and elk) summer range as well as improve permitted livestock grazing systems. Fulfilling this strategy will help improve mule deer and elk fawning and calving areas, winter ranges and help those herds approach their management objectives for the Book Cliffs hunt unit. The project objective is to conduct a gather of stray horses within the Book Cliffs unit. Captured livestock will then be easily sorted and claimed by the rightful owner. This project will reduce the amount of time and resources required by producers to find and capture stray livestock. The project will help protect big game ranges in the Book Cliffs from excess utilization as well as protect the limited water sources in the area from excessive degradation from overuse.

The Book Cliffs Working Group performed an inventory of resources available in the Book Cliffs rangelands and the demand that is placed on those resources. The current permitted demand is almost equivalent to production on average years and during drought years, may exceed forage production. Curtailing unpermitted use from stray livestock was identified by the group as an area where significant improvements can be made in a short period of time with limited money. The rangelands will receive less winter use, providing for more desirable forage conditions for all users during the regular growing season. As animals compete for limited forage, animals such as mule deer will continue to experience poor body condition and populations will decline. Permitted livestock numbers will need to be adjusted if drought conditions continue. Likewise, feral livestock will also need to be reduced to sustain healthy rangelands. Because there are few predators to feral livestock and they have the ability to withstand tougher conditions, it is anticipated that their numbers will continue to grow without management. With continued drought, the overgrazing caused by these animals may lead to severe impacts to water sources and rangelands. There is risk of converting rangelands to annual weeds with excessive use during drought conditions.

This project was identified as a priority action in the Book Cliffs Working Group 5 Year Plan. 1. Stray Horses/Livestock a. Work with counties, state and federal governments, and private landowners to identify potential mechanisms to gather stray horses/livestock in the Book Cliffs. b. Identify any potential owners with claim to stray horses/livestock. c. Seek partner funding to conduct stray horse/livestock gathers. d. Work with animal control districts, sheriff departments, and brand inspectors to facilitate transfer of ownership of stray horses/livestock. e. Develop water traps and other ways to manage stray horses/livestock into the future.

If rangelands continue to be damaged through over-grazing by feral livestock, there is increased chances of annual grass invasion. It is well documented that annual grass invasion leads to increased fire return intervals. Conversion to annual grasses would certainly increase the fire risk in these areas where vegetation communities are converted due to rangeland degradation from feral livestock over-use.

Limited water resources in the Book Cliffs summer range will receive less degradation from overuse. Reducing overuse will extend the life of water resources, reduce maintenance needs, and help better distribute livestock and wildlife across the landscape.

Trapping locations will be located on private lands or previously disturbed SITLA lands previously approved for trap installation. No additional arch clearances are needed.

The Book Cliffs Working Group Action Plan identified strategies to help achieve stray livestock management and help offset forage deficiency in the Book Cliffs. Using these strategies will help address one of the biggest habitat issues in the Book Cliffs and help deer and elk herds in the area approach their management objectives. This project includes strategies a,b,c,d, and e of the Stray Horses/Livestock section of the management plan (listed in "Relation to Management Plan" section above. Mechanisms were identified to help gather stray livestock in the Book Cliffs. Potential owners of the livestock were identified and included in the project. These owners have expressed a desire to have these stray animals removed from the rangelands and are not looking to profit from them. The owners have requested to keep a small number of animals for their ranching operations. Partner funding was acquired to help facilitate the gather. All applicable parties, including department of agriculture brand inspectors, were involved to help facilitate transfer of ownership of the stray livestock. These livestock owners have indicated that they would like to sell the livestock and return the proceeds from the sale to help offset the costs of gathering activities. Any revenue generated from the sales will be redeposited back into the conservation account to offset those costs.

Areas where stray livestock are gathering will be noted and used to help formulate plans for future gathers. Stray animals will be monitored through routine wildlife surveys and activities. Partners will work together to identify areas where stray livestock are problematic.

Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife, Book Cliffs Livestock Permittees, DWR, Uintah County Cattlemen's Association, Uintah County Farm Bureau.

Future management including additional gathering and trapping will be needed to continue to manage stray livestock. In addition, partners will need to expand to adjacent areas and conduct additional management activities to help prevent re-invasion by these animals.

Stray livestock management will help with improved livestock/wildlife distribution and may lessen impacts to neighboring water sources. Reducing stray livestock numbers will help minimize out of season impact to forage. Reduction of the threat of over grazing and utilization will help limit the potential for cheat grass conversion. If vegetation communities convert to cheat grass and fire return intervals increase, rangelands will be severely impacted and sustainable livestock grazing and wildlife populations will be impacted.

03/15/2022

03/27/2022

2022

Sampson Livestock was the contractor that was hired to complete the gather activities. The contractor provided trap equipment, helicopter services, and personnel to complete the gather activities. Upon captures, stray livestock had brand inspections completed by the Utah Department of Agriculture brand inspector and ownership was established. Following brand inspection, the owner of claimed animals sold them. SFW direct paid the contractor for the capture services. The livestock owner then returned revenue from the sale of the livestock back to SFW to offset part of the gather costs. These funds were deposited back into the conservation permit account.

Sampson livestock completed the stray livestock gather during the week of May 15th over the course of three days. Brand inspections and shipment of horses continued until March 27th. A total of 363 stray animals were removed from the area during this effort.

Future gathers of stray livestock will be needed to maintain low population numbers. Adjacent areas will need to be targeted in the future to prevent spread.