Predator Management Study
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Project ID: 7707
Status: Current
Fiscal Year: 2026
Submitted By:
N/A
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Project Manager: Dax Mangus
PM Agency: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
PM Office: Salt Lake Office
Lead: Utah Division of Wildlife Resources
WRI Region: Salt Lake Office
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Description:
Research project designed to test response in big game prey populations associated with reduction in predator densities.
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Location:
Select deer units across the state selected based on historic predation rates. Preliminary study units include the Cedar/Stansbury, Wasatch East, Monroe, Zion and Pine Valley units. **Units edited/updated to include Boulder unit.
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Project Need
Need For Project:
Data from Utah's long-term deer survival study indicates that when predation on mule deer exceeds a certain threshold it is likely additive rather than compensatory and can limit mule deer populations in a top-down manner. Agency-directed predator harvest on the South Manti, and hunter predator harvest on the Cache unit have demonstrated that focused predator management may reduce limiting predation rates and allow mule deer populations to recover/grow. Recent legislative directives and associated changes to predator hunting regulations have given more direction to the DWR and more options for predator management. Despite additional tools and flexibility to predator hunters, predator harvest rates have not increased and more intensive management is needed to reduce predator densities and monitor deer population response.
Objectives:
The objective of this project/study is to select units with demonstrably high mule deer predation, work with partners to implement focused predator removal to reduce predator densities and monitor response through our statewide deer survival study through cause-specific mortality rates, deer survival, and deer population response to focused predator management efforts.
Project Location/Timing Justification (Why Here? Why Now?):
Select units experiencing high predation rates and implement study for a minimum of 3 years to monitor response.
Relation To Management Plan:
Follows direction in both the statewide mule deer management plan and in individual unit mule deer management plans. Statewide mule deer management plan reference - Population Management Goal, Strategy E (page 18)
Fire / Fuels:
Not applicable
Water Quality/Quantity:
Not applicable
Compliance:
Not applicable
Methods:
Work with partners to direct and focus predator management efforts on selected units to reduce predator density and monitor response in mule deer through survival rates of collared mule deer on study units, cause-specific mortality rates associated with predation and mule deer population response. These efforts will be contrasted with the other deer units where focused predator management does not occur.
Monitoring:
Monitoring will be done through tracking predator density reduction efforts and looking a response in deer through work already associated with statewide deer survival study - cause specific mortality, deer survival and deer population size.
Partners:
Utah Wild Sheep Foundation
Sportsmen for Fish and Wildlife
Utah Department of Agriculture and Food
Future Management:
Results of this study may impact mule deer management and shape future predator management efforts
Sustainable Uses of Natural Resources:
Efforts may result in increased opportunity for sustainable use of mule deer resource.
| Budget | WRI/DWR | Other | Budget Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $0.00 | $300,000.00 | $300,000.00 | $0.00 | $300,000.00 |
| Item | Description | WRI | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Personal Services (permanent employee) | 2 FTE predator management specialists at UDAF and 1 FTE predator management biologist at UDWR | $0.00 | $300,000.00 | $0.00 | 2026 |
| Funding | WRI/DWR | Other | Funding Total | In-Kind | Grand Total |
| $0.00 | $300,000.00 | $300,000.00 | $0.00 | $300,000.00 |
| Source | Phase | Description | Amount | Other | In-Kind | Year |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah Wild Sheep Foundation (WSF) | $0.00 | $150,000.00 | $0.00 | 2026 | ||
| Sportsman for Fish & Wildlife (SFW) | $0.00 | $150,000.00 | $0.00 | 2026 |
Species
| Species | "N" Rank | HIG/F Rank |
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Habitats
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Project Comments
Completion
Start Date:
End Date:
FY Implemented:
Final Methods:
Project Narrative:
Future Management:
Map Features
N/A
Project Map
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