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HomeMy WebLinkAbout84-6 DEER HERD COMMITTEE 25 OF 33Final 4Z.R 1 , it) , 15 Findings: 11. 7 < Fish and Game Commission: 10 3ji 17, 32 Formal consultation; ?, 3, 8, 29 Informal consultation: 1 , 2. 3 , 7 , 8 , 12' Guidelines. i, ii,,'1, 2 3, i6, 7 1,1; 17 Initial study: i, 6, 71 8 11r 12, 1 , 19 jeopardy determination: 1, 2, 7, 8, 91 l4), 12r v)j 30`r 31+. 33' Jeopardy opinion, 7, 2 Lead agency: it 1, 2r 4., 5„ 21, 30, 32, 39 List (Listing, listed): 1, 3, 4, 10; 12t 16r 11, 19r 20, 21, 30; 33 Memorandum of Understanding (tou) : 5, 9; 12 14, "19 Mitigation. 1► 7, 8, 9t 10,, 13; 14, 15, 21► 30; 31 Nation al Marine Fisheries Service (NAFFS) 3o S Natural Divarsi'ty Data Base:'it 11,, 1'2; 13 l4, 15, 19, 20, 23 Negative declaration: i, 2; 8, 12r l3, 21, 22r 30, 33 No jeopardy: It 8t 9 10, 12t211 2`9, 32 yotice o£ completion (ca` a S1R0: 9 14 Notice ofpreparation of an SIR} : 8, 13, 3' Project Sponsor: it 2tS, '6, 7, 8 P`rojec"t (document) 8 Prudent: 1, 3'0 Rar"e 3, 7t 19 State load agency: i 21; ?2► 30► 32s 33 Reasonable. 1 i 7 r 9 r 10 , 31, 3'2 Region (of DFO)e It, 22, 23 Regional office (o;f DFO): 22 i A. (P� eJS Rc1c7S�: e DEER fiLM) hT. yr1GF.MKN`r Pt,r�NFr.�iaOW =1EArr,l�Cll',I; '.. wrr..r.�wrr.:� Door hoed nlanagoway plans hayo been cmpl. t6d ror„ Irl) t'bo Jeer herds in California, according to 81deidg � °it+y+l" iitlttt, Chief or, "Wildlife Managcrtent at tho Stote )eparttrOnt of Vkh .rno Comm.. "The plans 'ropre'sOnt a Major s"Op f0cwar d in mir �tixfi, l i L y t.+7 ir1��r1aqlo •1 400r po;pUlatilm in Califtrrniar" Euht 40d "They 11L Obidu on in identifying toscareh hoods, proposing lr:unt;inq tTUg0lationA 4nd targoLig habitoh improvetrtunt. We plan kri'rrbdaLa thom periodically to raEleat changan In 4M1r111mal i 'rl.+`t b0h tort, and puhl io, Input." The 79 sopa ato plans involve 104 doer htat;OW 4�l�t�l.y gavot" a ser=ies -4f mgndatod elements including Wo-;Litiation habitaL, huntiyo lata enforcemont A"I public intar otion, Dc"C Wicial:s plan to sc'hedUie a s0eks c7i hCo;t:mitional: "noutinq t,ltY`ooghput the AtaN this speing and . �twwor 1.0 regdabt thl publio with the platy•; and to d inus's doev ecolr tpl ,itrcl nt��n�t�i+.rrr�:ri#y -- =.ich DCG r+glonal Mi+»e han a Wom q t or pl,�nd in hila UN, tho h+.rcts ill that r�tjion. 41y early► r, "ing U005rouiona flim will al..so have available & crtMPNLo WL Of piano Cor Kho on0rt spec i f is pl no � o n Ego MAW a L rooona l RE' -11 � CHEER 'HERD �lK" NDOUNTAIN / iii ��fig/� r�T° �+ r l�;� a*i 1 R�,srr rte\ •,F�„� � f - � ' h1t+�t� :v"5x FyO i niuk%,4 �.\ yi��.,2�lf o `WT,i' "t\+/ S' tirM"�+�r��•r �r t� J�L� . i}���'j��,t n.2 r �t t�y)•�i ��H X 1i1�"r 4t 1� i r tl.. t ti `,�♦�`hy. ``r) .Y "yui . h��M ; r,atyi: d f T 4 f1 w pI .T SSS ad i forPtia bapaitmcint of Fs � &carne / United .Mates forest Setvr`Ge W. ,11t i4it:'1111 w THE SUCKS HOUNTAIN/M06RETOWN DEER HERDS MANAGEMENT PLAN ' P'Vepared December 1983 By. Ji® Sacrvdcn, Wildlife Bio'lo$is"t undet ` tha 'Supervision - of ,lamae A. Boxer, Aaaociate yildlUd B1016 916t and; pAtrica perkinss� Wildlifa HAnageaant S'uper'visor CA-lifdrnia Departvidnt of Fish and Game In Cooperation with the pluciAt National. Forest k , Approved Z �`�,..a a.. 1 • -ti. ie.La:--------- Data! Regfnnal Matiaget;, Region II -h d Ca, Ca 1 ifQrnia Depa.rtment of Fts' anme .. ..' Data + Ftire6t Supervigor , pluciag tationtl Forrest p_ 4a' t TABLE OF CONTENTS �'�; ',LI: T OF TABLES w " 'LIST OF` FIGURES 1 I. INTRODUCTION' * XI. DESCRI?TION ,OF DEER MANAGEMENT UNIT - 3 A; Herd Description ,and History 1, Herd Definition 2 Hard Migration and.Sea sonnl Manges 3 3• Estimated Nerd Population L 9 r" t Rapo d Deer Taks rta 9 S. 'Hard Composition and Age Structure - " o. ttproductios and Recruitmoa.0 9 x> 12. Mortality - 19 S. Economic value of Deer bard Range Daacriptioa and History a Topography 2l Z.' Soils' 21 3. -Climate �2 4. Land Use and Ogaetship 23 $k Vegetation 24 b: Forage - 7a Water is 8� Fire 'History 28 g, Lives tock >i Y: �V- °. w31 TABLE OF CONTENTS<Continued) , '• , page. 10. Logging 32 11. Reforestation 33 12. Hater Impoundments 33 C. Factors, Limiting the Deer Hards 34 1. Rural Sprawl 34 2. Reforestation and. Brush Management 35 3. Loan of Oaks: 35' -: 4. Roads 36 5. Fire St _ 37 . Hagar Arte 37 7. `fes 37 e. o :hug 38' Predation. 38 . 10. Hunting; 39 11. Heather _- ' 39 III. ` RANAGBHENt WAT GOALS 40 A. Bucks. NbUntain Herd Coals =- - 40 B: Moore own Herd Goals 41 C. tiabi,tat Goals 41 IV. RWOEHENT PROBLIHS 421 _ A. Herd Biology Investigative Needs 43 B. Habitat 43 44 C. tjtil.eatid� D. Cocmunicatidu 44'. Ee LAW tniotcement - 45, iii ". • .� ��,�� TABLE OF CONT..N'TS tCoHti Hued) y. PlA2iAGEPlENT SOLUTIONS AND PRESCRIPTIONS 46, 46 A. Inventory and Invastigatioa 47 �,: B •. lfor W 1i Control _ aty 48 Habitat D. Utilization, 53 $, of IHformatiou .r 54 F. Use Snf ortem ent 55 a G. Reviewaad tpdgtd 56 VT. ALTUNATVES l.7. VII. REFERENCES " VITT. na.. APP$t)ICES Appeudix 11 - Hooretown Dams Hard Tal6matry Study' 58 Progress Report �. �ppaadix x -Hard Cocpoait on of County Coiaparf son 1957- Deur Herda 63 Presant Blue Caayon and Faoi£it: Appendix 3 Plant Comaunitiea of the. Bucks HOuntain and Hard Hanagemeut Unita Hdot'atown Deer Appendix 4 - H gretory Dear Study Panel dPdrt, 67 Butte County o? Appendix 5 Hardwood Retention Prascript nn i TABLES LaLe Table ';1 - Estimated Population For Five Year Periods 1958-82, Bucks Hountain Deer Herd g Tabin 2 - E'stima'ted Population For Five YOrar Periods 1958-82,_ Hooretowu beer Herd 7 Table 3 - Reported Buck Kill, Bucks Mountain Herd 1p Table 4 - Reported Buck Kill, Mooretovn Herd 11 } Table 5 - State Highway 70 Reported Deer Kull, Bucks Hountain Hard 14 Table 6 - Major Fires on the Bucks Hountain Deer., Herd Caage (40+Acre4), Plumas National Forest 1911-1980 27 Table 7 - Major Pires on the Hoosetoan Deer Herd Range (20+Acres), Plumes National 'Forest 1950-1979 Table 8 - Present Livestock Use on Su=dr Range.,Plunas National Forest, BUcks Mountain Hard 29, 'Tab I'e 9 - Present Livestock Use on Intermediate Range, Pilumsa National Forestf Bucks Mountain Herd ,Range 30 Table. '10 - Present Livestock, Use on Plumas National Forest in the Hooretown _Herd Range 31 ^ FIGURES' Figure 1 » Location Map, Bucks Mountain Deer Herd 34 Figure 2 - Location Hap, Modtdtova Deer Herd. 3b » v» €1V „ f # n - ` II. ,DESCRIPTION OF THE DEER HERD MANAGEMENT UNIT a A HerdtDefiniti on and. History I. Herd Definition ..ata Columbian: ,Migratory black -tailed cher (Odocoileua homionua solum - R �..� <��.. bianus) comprise, the p Mountain and flooreLowa hairdo.- A considas:» Bucks able number of resident deer oharq the winter tmngao of the herds. The Bucks Mountain, herd is located in western Flumas and eastern Butte counties (Figure 1)'; this boundary is substantially different from the one,, defined in 19.52, (Longhutat At al): A boundary change was justified' on tha basis of observed doer habits, ;buck take Pat- at terns., terns., radio telemetry studimst and topography,. Range atea in Approximately 728 squire milae. Tha:hooratown dear hard borders the south boundary of the Bucks Noun-° ..%' tain, herd, and extends into northwestera,Siarra and zortheaatern Yuba counties. It»' boundary (,Figura 2) had been reivisad for the some reasons as for the Bucks Mountain hard: Range area is approximately 103, sgttara miles: 2, Herd Migration and Seasonal Ranges a. Buck,! Mountain Nerd Seosoual ranges, holding; and fawning drdaiat and m,',gratiou routori are partially known A limited amount of radio talemotry and , to i stud has occurred is this hard gS.: n8 Y 1lownvar, wince such , studies in othair herds have Wetly confirmed the validity of field obdotVationst significant range boundary ,changes isre not anticipated' when further telemetry work i p A !s acdom li�h©d._ 3 < sot. kill. ma evidence p p regarding migration. Vintar range con- tains 232,000 ecres with essential�y the saasa:alevatioa bounds of the Bucks Hountain herd. Summer range contain's ;145,300 acres with elevation bounds similar to the Ducks }fountain herd,. Intermediate range contains 72650 :acres; occurring between xi summer and winter'ranges. Radio telemetry studies have confirmed observed aigration routes. These routes usually follow a major ridge System, but a fan deer cross aajor drainages irlppendix Aoects of holding : and fawning areas differ little from the Bucks Houri Ain herd. y. 3 Estimated ; Herd Population Site Knowledge of the population history of the deeic herds is rather limited. The topography bf the herd "range does tot, lend itself sell : to g p such as., herd -'the gatharn of traditional heard e'rformance data f' .0 6 d infornation has been. P, mosition sad Age clasa strutture. Giaite p gathered since the -work of Longhutst at al. (,1952); The primary information a'vailabla Is the annual buck harvest., Age class data were gathered frost hunter killed bucks during the early 1960'si and pellet group transects were read during the late 19604s and early 1970'x. Hou,oVar, this information is limited n- valmo, due to its lack of continuity; It is difficult to rtake'accu"rate population size; es'timatas based on buck; kill along. Any such est mates oust be based on assumed harvast rates and must be vido6d Uith ;caution- because r harvest rates vary annually and the proportion of reported versus aab•rep,ntiited kill probably also varies-cnnually. tables 1 and 2 depict the estimated range of Population siias based on assumed = tr ., .. icy . .. a u y vd: w T Table l Estimated Population Fos Pine Year Periods 195(9»d2 Buck's Mountain Deer herd Period --ported 'kill Estimated Kill Estimated Po ulnCion Avcragea 2320 3271.�� .1958-62 8241 1963-67 2382 13359 84G7 1968-72 1888 2662, G703 1622 4083 1978-82 991 1397 3516 ,- a; Estimated population av6j;age is the mann of the as umed 6 to 93t harves t taxa which includes' &.41% correction factor for ua'raPorted legal buck take. yk ,aa x ryTable 2 Estimated Po ulAtion P For F. ave Year Periods 1958 82 ' ^ Hooretovn Deer - Herd Period a, •'a"" Re�taid Kill' 83Ciaatcd Kill, Fiatimx.ted p: opulation Averages 2630 -3708 9386 1963-67 2651 3738 9463 1:968-z'z 2550 3596 909$ _ - a 1:973 77 19.0 2 268 2 G�81 ,1;976-®2 1949 2748 6'958 r A Est cia'ted average population is the esnan of the assumed b to 9'.Sz harvest, race which includes a 41% cocrectioa factor for unreportad legal back take. ` ha rues t ra t:es of 6% and 9, SX'. These harvest rate.' es are tha most reasonable ex zemes: believed co b i SLdtewiue hunter surveys have shown that SOZ of succ ke, essful deer "hunters £ail''to report their eoder Che, -,k3 hard indicate a 321failure t ih the Blue Canyon o report (Fow,ler and Vaguer 1981) Use This plan wil the 'mean of the two Avera es g (417.) 441 a correction tac tor to arrive aC hes. d Population esticrates To roduce annual variations due Co weather, migratory Qo:veaexrt hunter pr,ussurQ, etc., flue Year Y averaged are used., Because the boundaries described in this plan differ f es criptiorts of r°ar previous the herds �- Population estimates l.rt othc`r publics-` cions are. not a livable. i PP. Estf`mated. used herein are: based on buck take for the two herds since 1937. A lack of Pot 1t411, Years prior to '1958 are theGaps for reason why earlier srs - tial test arc uaava Table; The Bucks Houuta n hard Population peaked uith ato ut 8467 in 1.963-671 and the lou cccurted in 1978-.82 with about 3516 It should be noted tha-Peak populations oc,:Urreii fcllowLng the 1956 d s oO hunt. A sigu ficant population decline b, gter 966 and becan ofaoe severe after 1971. bb Hontetown `herd population peaked with aboti 9�i63 t during 1163i4610 and the - lost occurred duting 1913-.. 77 with about, 6781. Again, the Peak populatioa od'durred oftgr 1956: Although a uoutruardo tatioa, trend became PP a aront,after 1912 this herd P Pu - has been more 3tab14 than goat 6ther adjacent deer populations, Table 3 ..,.Buck Buck Kill s tr aunts in HerdRported 1958-1982; Yeara�cl:a ,.407; -1459 387 1960. 503 w.A 1961 57 1462 450 1963 457;.,, _ kh 4 543 1965 t 480 1966 566-" 1967 4154* 1968 373** 1969 ::176 1070 393 - 1971 363, 1972 383 1973' 293' 1974 156 1975 163; i9� l9z 1977 336 1979 320 1980 h 169 1981 169 1982;, 1t0 R self' Validatioc of tAgs Assutniijg a 33% decrease is tag ratuxns, the ki11 should bans been approkimatelj 342'4 *_ Self 'Yaii+atioo of tags. Based un 'adjusted 1967 kill at xeportecl kill for 196942, It iser assumed that tag return w$g near normal. haat . 1 y °8e orcn - Table 4 P d Buck Killg MoorctoWn Herd, u 1958-1982 4,. 9 Y*ar'' _......, a Buck _.._._o. 1958 407 1,959 494 H 1960 650 1961 622 1962 " 457 1963 460 19,64, $95' 1965 ' 464 1.966 682 1967 338* 1968 *: 1969- w 497 1470 530 1971 SOl 1972:557 19731- 450 ..w r; 19,74 r 292 1975 388 1976 298 1977 474 19 78 294 1979 466 19.8b 37_x 198.1 w 487 1982 � 5e1F validatieq should have been of:tags. Assuming a 337 decrease 1n Cag �aCUsna� tho k11 approkimately 450. f � Se1� validation 1969- 72 It !s" aasUaed o£ 't8 s, 9nsad an ad. um p- j�d9 the t hunter for tag rcCurd waskt�e4t utbroalcrted,kill r a, y.r Of fifteen does radio collared in Butte County, two Were kaocan Poaching vfctj.me, two others disappeared ap¢ are thought to be Poaching victims,, another tigged deer Was reported to be a woven Poaching loss; :these losses all occurred vithin txo years of the deers' capture. Field personnel detect at least 10oachi Poaching ;losses in :Butte, County, a year within the boundaries of the horde. If this reP resented a 2% 'detection rata as indicated by studies in _ , m CaliFornim`aad Tdaho, about 500 deer are poached in the Butte „ County 'portion of the 'herd' ranges. .a , c' Road kill Past studies in California have shown ttwt the known . statewi de road ki11 may *quail the repotted mtateu'ide huntar' take, tt 43 ` reasonabae to assume that there is at least one unreported road kill for each deer reported road kill since many injured deet are able to 1davo the road area Wore dying;: A rolifgratioa o€ _ P ro�idaalong with tmproVamdnts in axisting ro ads see A read hazard to both.:herda. The road kill on Highway i0, £roe Jarbo Gsp to the Greenville Y; is given in this rer p esents a loss equ it to 11%, of the reported to ke, Since this is a reP orted trill for - only one aegpent of the ranges it is Assumed thilt the actual road kill ie core than doub ie hwa the Hi 70 ki l l Pot both herds d g y roadkill. � exceed- Ing 344 of the repotted Huck take is d6ti''mAtda l. -1�- •1J w� yi M 1 u A Tabla 5, STATE HIGHWAY70 REPORTED DEER KILL SUCKS MOUNTAIN HERD Maar Deer 1967 96' 1968 76 1969 69 1070 56 . 1971 52 1972" 63, 34 1975'; 41 1976 31; 1077 32 1978 28:' 1979. 40', 1980 31 r 4 1 .. w d. Vea ther Indirectly, weather may be, o,,te of the main faetoza rcgulatiax .deer harem'. Relative to c p P oral condi,- he herd o ulat oa ate *'N gen tion of the deer, many factors, de te'rmtue arca t}yox impacts:s tort frequency and duration 4 Y - j temperature, forage doll dition and avail:- ability, ��tc. Given klnough unfavorab a factara, fawn loss can occur from respiratory and ;.,,her' diseases brou,ght Qn by weather stress (WAl`lmo, 1981). Fawn survival from fall to s ria P 8 was nearly lOUx for the :East Tehama herd° during thy: IM -76 and 1976-77 dr'ou ht CV° R years. The v herd was population - at, a o elation z w; I9?5 and 197 ; wa excallent' oak "3t ye:ar$, and ;the winters were. extremely :a:ild, An indrdase in: the state buck take occurred from 1977 to 1979 which reflects «_ the high fawn survival. Hy contrast, the 1978.79 winter season had aign�icant fawn q winter mortality. Oak mAst was not good, , green feed was - unavailable until ,February because of " ttie fa 11 rainy And herd populations were u . Rain casae in he aaounta P vY is January and Fi:bruary; and temperatures titere low. Landowners reported numer- o'us dead deer in 'rebruaty. tt l not kliOut taheth®r the Bucks' Houatain Arid ltooretorca herds ez eriemded the above res oases to Wen P � ther. Reported buck take ri for the hezk s suggests that there is socia corrdlation._ Another possible Weather related impactis 4 cool 'spring And early seem er Ttic gas t Tehama her d has, had some years of poor - -15� fawn survival, from 'drop time to fall composition counts. Thi,i- has occurred when good summer range feed conditions have beim late 'bee-Ause of lower than usual May and June temperatures. In years like 1983, some ,high elevation areas are not free of snow until July or August. This condition may result in poor faun condition at birth as does ;may be malnourished, ;and predation may be greater if crowding occurs on available fawning areas becauae of snoW covered range. e Drownings Canals and rodervoir5form 'barriers to deer movement, ,and deer crosaing theses barriers sometimes drown. then Lake, oroville first filled, both herds faced a new barrier on, their, path to winter range: iReports of deer stirimming the lake, were widespread in 1967»68. Dea still cross some arms of the 'lake, and a leew have allegedly been run down by boaters and drowned. No doUbtr a feta old, weak, or young deer -drown-during lake-uoasings The. Hinet's, Ranch Canal in', the Hooretowu winter range has had About 15 door drownings reported' annually since 075i half of these deer may be "resident: Ditch tenders claim that many of the drowned deer entered the canals While trying to escape, dogs: Potential for canal ios,bes also exists in the Bucks Hountain range. f6 There have; been no aignificant take of door under depredation permit foie, either herd. in most years,; the few, depredation parents issued probably, pertain to rdsidei t diner on the winter , range.:., Llb- Deer hunt g produces $ncome in a uu n mbarof wayo including access fees; for lando rxners manufacture and sale of hunting equipment, travel expenses, etc. In the plan for the Eastern Tehama 'herd, Rassay (1983) e'stima ted an exp end i ture of 50 Pet huntar-day,. Fish and Goma hunter surveys is 1981, indicate that each hunter spent about Six days in each of tm Bucks Mountain and. MooretoWh n , erds, With 184 RucksMountain and 48.7 Moore town I doer taken, the coat; prsr dant token would; be $397 and $411 respectively. Plumaa .National Forest wildlife biologist Art Rdbrhacher arrived at a consumptive value of $380 par doer (using Forest:Service coat Analysis) for the Oroville and La Poria ranger districts. Na fa;kt this est" to to be reasonable when compared to the Dye Crack,, Preserve fee of $406' pet deer hunter Which does not include other hunter expenditurts, iowavo=i the true value of dear must consider aon"coasumptive deer use which Added to coasts© ti;va dear use which greatly increases the dollar valva of a dear. A xildlife econamics study on, the Caribou �i. Ii":tt National Forest, , 1984 derived a valva 7 of $2,688 for each deer on the Forest wtlen capital value :of uil-harvested deer ('those' needed 'to tu3t"n �roduCtiVQ, CBptlt it�'� }TA8 adder 'to d6noumpt ve slid a dtl"onsumptiva values. Further, the value of the breeding stock reUihidg After hunting' take wAs placed at $30200 per duer, �. Herm Range Description and His tory 1: Topography 4 Both herds occupy quite similar terrain. Altitudes range, from approximately 750 to 7,500 feet. Deep ;canyons Of the Feather and - tuba river systems form a generally steep, rugged topography. Ridge oystems sun generally from southwest to northeast. Only :in the Mooretown winter range does the topography moderate into fairly low fao.thill�s. 2. Soils Soils of the Siearra Nevada are Shallow to iaouarately deep (10-40 hes) and - inches) euera�I havn 8 Y a sandy-iaejm ;taxture with rack Content rouging Eton 0-35X. Most Soils aro largely :of igneoss origin: v (granites basalt; etc.) with occasional t5atamorphic or sedimentary base Soils in c(trtain areas. Gond quality soil. occurs through Much of the ran ar with some scull bands of serpentineentine soils � generally poor for planta) found especially Lin the Bucks -alta. ra nge. 3.Climate Characteristic weather patterns are cool, Bret Winters and warm' dry , summers. Substantial precipitation day Occur as early is ;September; or as late as Januar b'Ut u Y� sully occurs by November. Ain suaual precis pita'tion averages from 28 inched ("o foot eleva"tiOa 'level) to about 65 inches 'at 3;000 fnet� end ektremea range• from about 13 inches to 100+ inchas: Sciowfail is frequent above 4;000 f'aoti Summer teuiperattre 'highs range from 11064' at 150 Erin"C to 9064v at 7,000 feetwith n6rma'1 highs ava'raging abd t 95°;F and 80°y -21a k, - r f y w � 1 6. Fora8e a winter lunge Fora a condition g s have been relative) static y since L ovghurat (1952 con5idere ) d ran a condition$ g to be f a'ir to. poor xi Ch a downward trend. The have been no significant +ildf're or range improveraenProject'.. ba ted ShrunCo ba in _ tu the asare to old age class. Vo rage ®vaildbil ty has daoreaaed aignificailt ly from tus,bitat )oases to rural sprawl, fuelwood cutting$ etc. Fa"eared faro e s ecies tae e A Fendi"x g P PP 3 fns gendriit "cies are oaks and acorns,'burkbrush, poison o�-4 mahogany, pilktaasel j eerbr u uah, forba (es eciall P y Erod = s .) sad ra .�. 8 ssos;; ' Ueage v�riee saasocallty, graaaes and forba Are. most hes v ilY utilized to rna laic sinter and spring; while browse and aco `Prodominate in lata Sumner and fall. b• Yntermediats_tl�nge_ LoBg ng i and reforastation has caused exeenaiva alteration, of this range, particularly in the Lost tea oar a an Private lands; With a trend toward oono'typic- habitat providi"ng little browse. Socia sho t» tern forage bene£i is asy be " wined g :when iute,nsive eradication of aon�.con"tf`erous ,species doe;, sot folliow reforestation, Deabruah, Leaman cases"thus; and oa ks dtd the iota aowbuly, utilized `br'oasdk AvAilattiitY of geas"sea and forba is ewer g a ly low'+ Acorns erg impd rtant in 'the 'al l,, capability, it proliferation of roads, an tiro proventioucampaigns. 'Prior to f960 man lar fires Y large, urred Which create occurred d oaxiy auccassianal stages of vegetation which was productive doer habitat. The benefits these fires provided for deer have to , ng since been loat through plant succession and increasing old age decadeAce of browse plants. Between 1911 and 1980,, over 114,400 acres of the Buck; Hountaiu deer hard rangy in the Plumaa National Forest zone of inf`luanee were burned by fires 40 acres or larger. From 1560 to 1960; only 11,37$ acres were burned in large wild 8. fires; 'this .is about 107. of .the to'taI burned area sine® 19111 and'.represents'about 27.of tha Bucks Hountaia doer range. . , Fires on the H ooratown, range portion of the Plumas Nacional Forese haVe burned only 5h of the !forest zone tot Al acreage ainee 1950; Since the largest ,Eire w4a 1Gl acres, fire had had an insignificant affect on the range: . Some favorable lire benefits'' have occurred (,since 1978) a on Small scale where tire has been used to clean up amus following logging; or refores'taticu. About 1000 Acres Of winter range.pxascrbed burn3cg by tlumas N.F. has;, �geUtrad on Hooretowa range; and 1500 acres of Bucks Mountain winter range were burned on Plutias N: '. land, .. TABLE6 > FIRES GREATER THAN 40 ACRES ON THE BUCKS MOUNTAIN DEER HERDWOE tW THE PLUMAS NATIONAL FOREST Period Fires Acres Burned 1911-19; 14 9183' 1920.29 27 4"9 ,126 >. 1930-39 1'2 9,748 1940`-49 2 178' N rX� i 1950-59 9 33,5OO 5, 1960-69 R 4 8,771 1970.79,,t,u Z 940 a F 1967, y , b 1,4"65 TOTALS76 11.41437 A TABLE 7 FIRES GREATER THAN 20 ACRES ON THE HOORET61H b$ER HERD RANGE YN THE PLUNAS NATIONAL FOREST Period Fires Acres Bsrnnd 1950-59 10 i418, 1960«69 7 398 1970-79' TOTALS' i2 1,i36 a, TABLE 3* CC PRESENT LIVESTOCK USE ON THE BUCKS MOUNTAIN PEER HERD SUMMER RANGE IN THE PLUHAS NATIONAL FOREST Allotment Number of Cattle. ..__,.._ Se ason P; ermitted AUH Eatimate�i S Ca acitp� Bear Creek 60 6-1 to 9-30 E17 396 Bucks Creek 333 6-1 to '9-30 10758 1,849 Buffarf l Vallay . Vacaat 0- 280 Cherry Peak Vacant 0 180 Granita BOsin Vacant 0, 475 Gravel Vacant Mosquito Vacant, 0 553 Round Valle ' Vacant 0 ;11 994 TOTALS 21,075 6 191 r *Included. Privata land vithin Jkaha allotment$. _ _- __ i vc y�n'7 ria .. TABU 9� 1'RESE NT LIVESTOCK USE ON TIE BUCKS MOUNTAIN NERD INfiERMEDIATE RANGE pLUBAS &-tTIONAL FOREST Estimated Numbet of Cattle S4a9�s—°- Permitted AUHiS Capacity (AiJM'S) A11.�._�-=end tear Gut ch _ ;30 '6-1 to 10-15 1 78 1;,'010 Berry Cteek 17 6-1 to 9-30 90 198 200 6-1 to 10-15 19188 1.,279 Flea Valley Frencb Creek 50 5-16 Co 10_-1S 330 1,135 157 5-16 to 16-15 1� 3 1. _ hill Creek TOTALS 41x9 2,189 4','955 nucludei grivata land withia the a;llotnnnta. ".YlM .r ,fit TABLE 10 PRESENT LIVESTOCK USE ON THE HOORETOWN HERD RANGE IN, THE PLUHAS. 'NATIONAL, FOREST Allotment, Number of Cattle Ed Lima ted Season Pe' fitted AUWS C42ftey (AUM S). ty Fall Rivas 356, 5-21 to 4-28 1,721 t0721. Mount Fillmore 120 6-20 to 11-25 480 480 Little Grass 'Valley `Vacant Onion Valley Vacane, ,StrsINberry Valley- 230. 6-6 to 10-10 400 1000 4 t Moat timber cuts' have been selective large q nuloga► but as mill- tug techniques have improved and large tre'ea are 's carce, treQs $s, Young as 60 years are 'being taken. Foresters extract Co he ab L» to cut on 60 ,year :cycles or lass in high ,quality arias, and olear cut- ting is be comiug mare ,common. Thinning and salvage cuts are two other logging practicer usea� 1T. ftQfo:estmtion , 6 Most reforestation has occurred qn summerand iciCormadatQ F. {,. ranges" .. ,M and had resulted in significant acxeage conversions or brushland, since 1165. 02 sumaat tanget: brushfiel d conversiouhave been wide- bOtOd Intermediate zang6 reforestation has moabiy involved hard- good eradicK titin as ociall kanoak sta r p Y add. Furthar conversions can be expected to occur until nearly all class 1 to 3' soils are-support- it; conifers. 12. Waiter Impouadmenta. e Bucks Mouhtaih Rariga B"uet Valley,'Rouad Valley Bucks Lake, and Lower gucks Lake reservoirs hate inundated about 4 ►400 acres of suminQr range. Burka Laka (about 1,300:acten lost) itnpactO6 A Pat ticular�' 'good iaxning, .and foeding area including miW'dca+s: Lake 0rovilia inundated over'1 ► a 000. X77. of the total) e acre mater ra a "` ,` cc,oat of this crag cri`rical 'khter, range. Another 70+ acres have been loaf to Small `resarvoirs of the oaks for firewood rather than alleged, range improvement benefits. Pott of the concern ..for ps;�,s is the reduced acorn availability. Poor winter fawn survival has often occurred when acorncrops were pool In addition g dee'r''are known to utilize fallen black oak leaves in Ole fail. SFr �atl,ng oanks, especially 'blacks provide ,good forage. Oak lose to fuelwoUd cutting is anticipated to beco xi extreia.ely .deri- ous if preseut treads continue. While some woodcuttara ,are working aommerrially, wa growing humanpopulation locally has seezi a great increases in fuelwood cutting for p6raonol use. Individual uac is .not Oe'll control'ledo and a aignificant wood theft problem exists accord-' Lug to the Department of Forestry and timber companies., One, tiuber coapany plant to remove all black oaks on a portion of Bucks HountaII trio;# to preclude the monetary loss caused by xood thieves. 4. Roads From 1.5 to 6+ aeras of habitat are destroyed for each wile (12 to' 50+ feet wide) of road constrodtiou. Although the 'road mileage of the range is inku'un, it is ,great enough, to account for several thousand' acres of land. Vehicular disturbance futther reduces habitAt utili .atiou. dd Ro s significantly cocipound the poaching problett ,by canning rsay and �dAdd Tedd Accede to dear, Aodd kill rain cause a ,consid©rable loan (nen A.711c. above). 'rhd, pant 20 yeate hat aeen a proliferation of road 'c.onatructidd and improveQent.' Summdt ranged in pact cular have been Objected 'to. 4y6� f: t l..s' Increased road itr,aeta• the b P , bulk of the road, aatiy ty is for Io99 DO purposes. All t66 frequently these roads are, or have been, con- s'tructed through meadows, or isimadiatoly adjacent to tbaq, thus reducing or eliminAting the meadow as a feeding or, £awniVIS area. , radati�n ;i� This meadow drg mostly caused by private loggi;ig roads i and public highways and roads S. Fire Suppression The efficiency of firefighting techniques hetis brought. about a virtual �*xy dicta sass. ^.e of 'wildfires of sufficient; ,size PP and Jtrequdncy to: be a �^'edvauding natural .means of rango improvs1ont Consequently, plant °k succession and age bas Caused a load of, browse quantity and quality in brushfield' " roblen is Aa ., e . iis 'h A pedally bad on 4ik.te"r range private land where there is little or no M;cbanical actio g Ce. . logging) to cause browse regeneration. 6i Water Impoundments �+ par,=- nent loss of range occurs from reservoir, in.;ndation, and these may cause sizliable losses as: mentioned. Additions: impacts from roster projects will occur. as gore reservoirs ara planned, Since Water is consi farad tc be the controlling; factor for humAn population growth in the Vdst, 'pressure fur additional waster projects will occur. % Grazing Overgrazing on winter range may be severd if yesr long use is involved. Soma land, in the Bangor portion of the t'doretown range i. nearly devoid of grasses and forbs where horses ate gtaxed these AA YY n II in traps several miles away where the local, land-PWO r had problems with dogs running .cattle and deer.. 10. Hunting Bucks only, hunting is, not known to be a regulating factorfor deer herds. Severely depleted buck ratios may`have the potential to limit dear numbersi but regulations seam to have avoided this problem. It As possible that hard vigor is affected by the tendency of Bunters to take the big bucks;-' however, this may not occur excopt where buck ra't'ios are extremely low. Also, hooting .pressure during the aaasga ` causas disturbance to all deer. Crippling, losses and inseaaon illegal kill may ba somewhat suppres sive for deer populations when overall mortality is,_considered It may' not be a notable factor in herda subiacted to low hunter pressure. I L1. ideaL�ier heather cav produce flucua.tiaus in herd populationa, This natural factor hal alWys beet prn'seato and should eat cause long-term influ- encas ib, itself unless a major, long-term climatic change' occurs, .