Nevada

Plumas County Chapter of Mule Deer Foundation undertakes Aspen Enhancement Project for the Bucks Mountain Deer Herd

By George C. Garcia, Wildlife, Fish & Rare Plants Program Manager, Plumas National Forest

The Plumas County Chapter of the Mule Deer Foundation continues to contribute sweat equity to improve mule deer habitat on public lands. MDF volunteers contributed collectively over 67 hours of volunteer labor or sweat equity on Saturday August 8th to enhance an aspen stand located within summer range for the Bucks Mountain Deer Herd. Aspen is a very limited habitat type on the Plumas NF, taking up less than 1% of the total landscape on the Forest. Several factors have contributed to this small percentage of Aspen, including lack of natural fire occurrences over the last century due to fire suppression efforts by the Forest Service and more recently the emphasis on old-growth forest management. Both these management scenarios have allowed conifer encroachment to overtake small remnant aspen stands leading to a decline in aspen health and vigor. However, the Plumas County Chapter of the MDF and the Plumas NF recognize the benefit of aspen to deer, mainly aspen’s value as summer forage for deer as well as its value as habitat for doe’s and their young fawns (fawning habitat).

The Plumas County Chapter of the Mule Deer Foundation is committed to working on projects that benefit deer habitat on public lands and benefit sportsmen in the long term. Funds raised by the Chapter, from annual banquets and rifle raffles, are used locally within public land across Plumas County. If you are interested in helping the Plumas County Chapter of the MDF help deer on your public lands, please visit the MDF website at www.muledeer.org and become a member, attend one of their fundraising events or support a raffle. The Plumas NF is a proud partner of the MDF and especially of the hard working men and women who make up the Plumas County Chapter.

For photos and more info visit http://www.fs.fed.us/r5/plumas/partnerships/wfrp/aspen_mdf_enhancement/.