The Mendocino National Forest Deer restoration Plan
"Addressing the decline of the Columbian blacktail Deer"
 
By Paul J. Trouette

From the information given to us from the spanish adventurers, and settlers.
To the trappers and explorers from the early settleling of the Americas, Deer were abundant throughout the coastal ranges, and inland to the foothills of the sierra cascade mountains. Over time, particularly, from the 1820's to the turn of the century, Deer were utilized for food and for clothing, and through severe market hunting were almost entirely wiped out in northern Calif. Thanks to proper management from the creation of the Calif. Dept of Fish & Game in 1907. Regulations were placed on Deer hunting, and the numbers began to increase dramatically. By 1922 deer were numerous on the Mendocino National Forest,and a census of the feeding grounds revealed a population of nearly 40,000. (a survey of california deer herds 1952)
In 1954, Mendocino County had its record harvest of bucks which was an astounding 5,232. Unfortunately by the year 2000 the predictions of our biologists, and old timers were coming true. In 2000 the harvest of bucks was 1,256. this represents a decline of 3,976 bucks per year. The County of Mendocino for over 100 years, has enjoyed its tradition of deer hunting on both private and public lands, Such as the Mendocino National Forest,and BLM properties. We have also enjoyed the tremendous economic benefits to our little towns from sportsman all over the state, and county. Not to mention the Notorious stigma from the trophy clubs who deem Mendocino County as " The Big Buck Capital "of  the U.S. Mendocino County is the number one county for Boone & Crockett entries into the record books for Blacktail deer. This County has an obligation to restore its tradition, of deer hunting, and to ensure its survival for future generations, as an economic benefit, as well as a time honored tradition.

What is the value of a deer in 2007?

 Public land Hunter survey in 2007

Hunters in 2007 hunting season were asked to participate in an economic survey regarding their expenses on hunting trips to Mendocino County.

An average weekend trip was between $ 150.00 to $ 300.00

An average hunter spent approximately 2 to 4 trips per season, or 4 to 8 days in the field

Local hunters spent more than ten days in the field.

Total average dollars spent to harvest a single deer ranged from  $ 600.00 to 1114.00 per season.

Total expense on average per hunter to harvest one, to two deer was. $ 857.00

In 2006 Fish & Game sold 39,800 tags for the B-zones. 39,800 x an average cost of a B-zone
season per hunter of $ 857.00  equals,  $ 34,108,600.00  just in the B-Zones alone. 

Private Land Management hunts or   (PLM'S)

These Hunts cost an average of $ 3,500.00-$ 7,000.00 with trophy fees, and with blacktail deer gaining recognition in the Outdoor Channel television market, many of these dollars are spent in mendocino County in search of Boone & Crockett trophies.Local guides spend numerous dollars in the county year around searching for animals for their clients, as well as managing
their lands where all wildlife benefit through this program. Plm's have much more deer on average than public lands because of this excellent management.

Golden opportunity Tags/ Open zone tags

These tags commonly known as"governors tags" each year, generate over $ 185,000.00 from hunting blacktail deer, and guides are paid in the $1,000's for their services, of which are spent locally roaming the Mendocino National Forest in search of a trophy Blacktail Buck. All the tag costs go directly back into fish & game for deer management. Guide fees are spent
in local cities.
 

Our Plan

Our plan is to educate the sportsman, as well as the non sportsman, to the serious decline of our Wonderful resource in our County, which is world renown. To increase the deer populations in our national forest lands to a balance. Sustaining, and utilizing proper management for our personal, and economic benefit. Through habitat management, and consistant deer ecology,  we can expect significant results over a ten year plan. Fire and mechanical manipulation are the desired means to achieve our results. Predation analysis, and management. The U.S.F.S. is responsible
for the management of the wildlife habitat in the National Forestlands.

Funding Plans or structure

Generating funds through a public donation  program of sportsman,and others, who frequent the National Forestlands. Funds will be administered by Mendocino County Blacktail Association,with the Counties fish and game commission as an advisory capacity. We have State Approval and support of our initiative, from sacramento Dept of Fish & Game, Senoir Wildlife Biologist Craig Stowers.

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Clifton Ridge winter range restoration project

Prepared by; Paul Trouette
Mendocino County Blacktail Association
                  

Backround

Clifton Ridge is a Key wintering  range for Columbian Blacktailed deer.Deer which come from the summer ranges to spend their winters utilzing necessary winter forage.Most importantly native forbs and browse that are early successional. Some of these deer travel from management areas, # 17 grizzly, NF Acres,32,920, also area #26 twin Rocks NF Acres 26,790.These deer depend on natural processes such as fire, to create the early successional food sources that are vital to sustain them through their various seasons.Winter Grasses need burning often, eliminating Noxious weeds such as "centurea solstitalis" star thistle, or Madusa Head. Many of these have covered the entire grasslands to the extent that native forbs,and succulants are no longer able to germinate, virtually eliminating their normal food source. This in turn produces weak adults,and through their gestation period, produce sickly offspring.Retired Biologist Jack Booth who wrote the" Mendocino County Deer herd plan" recommends strongly, burning the winter grasses, in a rotational program, that will restore early successional foods for the deer.The clifton Ridge Project will restore vital nutritonal winter foods for the deer.

Proposed Land use

National forest Lands are used by various sportsman, and wildlife enthusiasts.It is imperitive that we manage these lands for the future in mind.The proposal coincides with the National forest land and resource plan already in existance.

Objective

This project will improve the habitat significantly for the Declining Columbian Blacktailed Deer, by increasing the quality, and quantity of winter food so desperately needed for proper nutrition.

Location

The location of the work to be done is Township  22 N, and Range 10 W . Clifton Ridge just north of Atchison Campground. It is the grassland portion extending westward towards the Black Butte river drainage.

Project Description

That portion of Clifton Ridge which consists of grassland will be burned preferably in may 2008 to prevent reseeding of the noxious weeds that are present. By burning grass in late april, it destroys the seed heads before germination, and is the best time for fire safety. Grasses are full of old thatch and still ignite easily, but surrounding forest and chapperal are at relatively low fire danger at this time of year normally.Burning these grasslands will remove old thatch which currently covers the ground and does not allow native forb's and succulants to grow, which normally produce vital winter foods for deer.

For more information contact;

Paul Trouette
President, MCBA
P.O. BOX 1357, Willits, CA. 95490
707-489-9663
mendodeer@yahoo.com