FY26 Hardware WMA Hay Purchase
Project ID: 7629
Status: Proposed
Fiscal Year: 2026
Submitted By: N/A
Project Manager: Bradley Hunt
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Northern Region
Lead: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
WRI Region: Northern
Description:
This project is to purchase hay for winter feeding the elk at Hardware WMA.
Location:
Hardware WMA is located 16 miles east of Hyrum, UT in Cache County.
Project Need
Need For Project:
Hardware WMA raises on average 220-250 tons of hay, annually, from the 120 acres that are farmed to feed wintering elk and mitigate winter depredation by elk in Cache Valley. In order to provide more attractive forage for mule deer in the area and better prepare mule deer to survive northern Utah winters, the hay meadows will need to be sprayed and replanted with a selected seed mix. Hay production for the next 2-3 years will be limited, and hay will need to be purchased to meet winter elk feeding needs while reestablishing the meadows with a new crop.
Objectives:
Purchase 150 tons of hay for the 2025-26 winter to feed wintering elk while the meadows are being reseeded and established to benefit both mule deer and elk.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
Hardware Wildlife Management Area is in the Bear River mountains of Cache Valley at the top of Blacksmith Fork Canyon. Rocky Mountain elk have been wintered on the WMA since 1945 to prevent depredation during the winter in the valley. Following the winter of 2022-2023, it was observed that mule deer which were better prepared for winter had a better chance of surviving. Following staff discussions, it was determined to improve Hardware's meadows to promote mule deer usage to help and prepare local deer populations for winter, as well as provide acceptable hay for elk. While the meadows are being reseeded and established hay for the wintering elk will need to be purchased to augment meadow production.
Relation To Management Plan:
Per the 2018-2023 HRWMA Management Plan: Wildlife Goal Objective 1: Decrease elk impacts to landowners in Cache Valley during the life of the plan. Objective 2 Strategy 5: Bait, trap, and hold elk in current facility for annual disease testing, in coordination with the district Wildlife Biologist.
Fire / Fuels:
N/A
Water Quality/Quantity:
N/A
Compliance:
N/A
Methods:
Purchase quality grass to be delivered to Hardware WMA and stored on-site for the winter.
Monitoring:
Hardware WMA Manager will verify tonnage and weights upon receipt of the hay.
Partners:
N/A
Future Management:
Hardware WMAs hay meadows are being reseeded and established to improve mule deer attraction for feeding and quality hay production for elk. Once the meadows are reestablished regular hay production operations will resume.
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
The WMA meadows will provide an important feed source for mule deer preparing for the winter and wintering feed to continue mitigating depredation by wintering elk.
Budget WRI/DWR Other Budget Total In-Kind Grand Total
$32,000.00 $0.00 $32,000.00 $0.00 $32,000.00
Item Description WRI Other In-Kind Year
Materials and Supplies Purchase and delivery of 150 tons of quality grass hay to Hardware WMA. $32,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2026
Funding WRI/DWR Other Funding Total In-Kind Grand Total
$32,000.00 $0.00 $32,000.00 $0.00 $32,000.00
Source Phase Description Amount Other In-Kind Year
Habitat Council Account $32,000.00 $0.00 $0.00 2026
Species
Species "N" Rank HIG/F Rank
Elk R2
Threat Impact
No Threat NA
Habitats
Habitat
Project Comments
Completion
Start Date:
End Date:
FY Implemented:
Final Methods:
Project Narrative:
Future Management:
Map Features
N/A
Project Map
N/A