The Paunsaugunt mule deer herd is managed as a premium limited-entry hunt unit in Southern Utah. This herd summers in the Paunsaugunt Plateau area North of Kanab, and migrates across US 89 to the Utah-Arizona border area along the Buckskin Mountains. Approximately 75% of the herd makes the annual migration between their summer and winter ranges (Carrel et. al 1999). Carrel et. al suggested that between 20% and 30% of the mule deer summering on the Paunsaugunt plateau are interstate deer, wintering in Arizona. The Paunsaugunt deer herd provides an extremely important recreational hunting resource and contributes greatly to local economies in Utah and Arizona. Each fall and spring dozens to hundreds of these migrating deer were killed along a stretch of US 89 east of Kanab prior to the first installation of 12.5 miles of exclusionary fencing and numerous crossings. A study monitored the effectiveness of the fence and reported that the wildlife crossing structures and wildlife exclusion fence decreased the reported crash rate (53 percent) within the fenced section and increased mule deer population (15 percent). In the last two years, 18 WVC were documented by carcass observations between MP 48.6 (the existing exclusion fence end) and 55.8. The study mentioned additional actions were needed to reduce mule deer-vehicle collisions in the area near Johnson Canyon Rd. This area contains a well-documented migration corridor through it. The Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT), Utah Division of Wildlife Resources (UDWR), and other partners are proposing to add 7.2 miles (both sides of road totals 14.4 miles) and the necessary infrastructure to ensure safe passage for these animals under Highway 89 and reduce wildlife-vehicle collisions.

Protect both mule deer and motorists from collisions along this stretch of Highway 89, while providing enough permeability to allow the migratory deer herd to still reach its desired winter range.

Without the project there will continue to be collisions along this stretch of Highway 89 during the spring and fall migrations resulting in property damage, loss of valuable mule deer, and injury or death for humans. With project implementation there will be some challenges associated with the mule deer needing to learn to use the new crossing structures. Careful placement and adequate design of the structures should help with these challenges. In the case of potential end arounds on the fence the installation of deer escape ramps will help to get deer of the highway that find a way to get inside the fence.

The Deer herd Unit # 27 Paunsaugunt Management plan identifies highway mortality on this corridor of Highway 89 as a limiting factor for the herd, and identifies continued coordination and work with the Utah Department of Transportation in construction of highway fences, passage structures and warning signs etc. Utah Mule Deer statewide Management Plan 2019-2024. One of the strategies identified to reach population objectives is to work with UDOT to construct sufficient wildlife crossing structures, fencing or other mitigation options to minimize deer vehicle collisions. Another strategy for population and monitoring is to evaluate the effectiveness of the crossing structures and other mitigation options over time and implement new technologies to minimize highway mortality. Mule Deer are listed as a Tier III species in the Wildlife Action Plan. Implementation of Secretarial Order 3362: Utah Action Plan identifies the need for wildlife crossings specifically in this area. "There are currently seven wildlife crossings on SR-89 east of Kanab that facilitate the movements of thousands of migrating deer each year. GPS tracking data indicates there is an additional movement corridor that crosses SR-89 at Johnson Canyon. Currently, there are no wildlife fencing or wildlife crossings at that location. Mule deer may benefit from road mitigation in that area."

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Necessary clearances will be completed

UDOT will contract for the construction of the structures and fencing. The project will entail: 75,700 Ft. of fencing and associated braces and posts 26 Escape ramps 1 new Culvert Crossing 1 Upgrade existing culvert for crossing 1 Modify existing wash for crossing 11 acres of seeding We will work with Kane County to coordinate installation of the necessary cattle guards. UDWR will try to utilize the dedicated hunter program for project activities.

A monitoring study will be conducted to assess the effectiveness of the crossing structures in maintaining connectivity for wildlife and reducing wildlife-related crashes. The study will aim to monitor the wildlife use of the structures and use carcass data from the roadkill app and crash information to assess if there is a decrease in wildlife-vehicle collisions in the project area. If more GPS collars are deployed on the deer that migrate through this area, the movement data will also be utilized for the study. A similar monitoring study was performed for Phase I of the project and is attached in the documents section. UDOT and UDWR staff will help monitor contract progress and completion. UDWR will also monitor for other concerns that may need to be addressed as we see how the structures are utilized.

Utah Department of Transportation (UDOT) and DWR have been collaborating with the intent of providing for a safe, efficient, and ecologically sustainable transportation system while also stewarding Utah's wildlife resources. Even prior to an MOU being established in 2020, Region 4 of UDOT and the DWR's southern region previously worked together on many projects to increase public safety by reducing wildlife-vehicle collisions, enable safe wildlife passage, and maintain wildlife habitat connectivity. UDOT helped with project design details, and site visit to identify the best location to end fencing and place crossings. UDOT helped establish the project budget. Once funding is available for the project UDOT and DWR will work closely during implementation. Kane County, SFW and other partners collaborated on Phase 1 and as this project progresses they will be invited to partner and participate.

Fencing will be routinely inspected for breaks and maintenance will be completed as necessary. All groups will continue to work together to secure funding and provide for the remainder of the implementation.

Reducing wildlife mortality from collisions with vehicles and allowing for safe migration of the paunsaugunt herd will help increase the number of animals in the population. This is important as the Paunsaugunt unit provides world-renowned hunting and wildlife viewing.

09/10/2024

08/19/2025

2026

The US 89 Crossing Project kicked off in Sept of 2024. Three new crossings locations were identified. An existing underpass bridge will also serve as a crossing at Johnson Wash. WSP was contracted by UDOT to put the design together. The Project is currently in design phase with UDOT contractors. It should be finalized this fall/winter and then will go out for bid for construction fall 2025/spring 2026. DWR is drafting a monitoring plan to place cameras on crossings, escape jumpouts, and escape gates to assess the use and effectiveness of the escapes and of the fencing/crossings at reducing Wildlife Vehicle Collisions and maintaining connectivity for the herd to migrate.

The area from the existing wildlife fence to Johnson Canyon Wash is an area with high wildlife vehicle collisions. The Paunsaugunt mule deer herd migrates through this area to winter range and back to summer range each year. After Phase I's success of exclusionary fencing and crossings, this area was identified for future fencing.

Monitoring of Crossings with cameras, and assessing WVC before and after crossings will help assess the effectiveness of the crossings at reducing WVC. Assessing if connectivity is maintained by monitoring use of the crossings by deer during migration periods. We are also trying one-way gates for escapes where there are corners in the fence, and we will monitor the effectiveness and use of those.