Compiled by;
Bruce Anderson Wildlife Biologist
USDA Forest Service,
Silver City RD Gila National Forest
Oct 31 2001

Summary:
The following deer habitat improvement projects were cooperatively funded by the Mule Deer Foundation, Habitat Stamp Funding (Sikes act) and Watershed (319) program matching funds on the Silver City Ranger District Gila National Forest.

Accompanying Photographs highlight individual projects completed in special management areas. The primary emphasis for these projects is on stabilizing and improving Deer Habitats.

Initial projects were identified in cooperation with New Mexico Department of Game and Fish officers, Forest Service wildlife biologists and local sportsman groups. Specific types of projects were selected with the aid of a computerized Deer model, which helped highlight the specific factors that may be limiting deer reproduction in key emphasis areas.

Project Plans:
During project planning phases Leon Redmond, NM Dept of Game and fish, helps identify browse restoration needs.

Saddle Rock-Rock header

T bar T rock header

The habitat area between the rock headers already beginning to show level of influence. Note: Deer tracks in the habitat area influenced.

Projects:
Rock Header Projects:
Projects completed this year-included construction of two rock headers in the Saddle Rock and T Bar T area of the burro Mountains. Objective of the two rock headers is to provide a permanent riparian zone with extended water seeps throughout the narrow canyon zone. These projects help provide important riparian forage habitat in and adjacent to several key fawning zones. Increased deer sign has already been noted in zones influenced by the rock headers. B.Anderson (Nov 2001) A Rock Header constructed near the mouth of saddle rock canyon.

Cooperatively funded by the Mule deer foundation, Habitat stamp Sikes Act funds and Watershed 319 matching funds.

A Second Rock header constructed during 2001 upstream in the T Bar T area, again thanks to the cooperative fund by the Mule deer Foundation, Sikes Habitat stamp funds and 319 Watershed and water quality matching funds.

Browse Restoration Projects:
Other projects included Browse restoration which was accomplished on over 300 acres in key fawning zones adjacent to Saddle Rock and Bullard peak in the Burro Mountains.

Mountain mahogany shrubs in these areas had become stagnant and significantly lost the natural nutrient value to deer. These older plants do not provide the levels of usable crude protein needed to sustain herds in the area. Projects were proposed to stimulate nutrient cycling through hand pruning of decadent browse stands in the vicinity of the rock headers near Saddlerock and in the Bullard Peak areas of the Burro Mountains.

Pruning Mountain Mahogany shrubs that have become decadent and or grown out of reach.

The nutrient levels notably increase dramatically when Mahogany plants are pruned at waist level and/ or pruned by natural fires.

Several people have already reported seeing more deer in the vicinity of the projects. This is most certainly encouraging. Initial test treatments of browse pruning showed pronounced increases in crude protein levels (NMSU studies).

Planting/Seeding Projects:	Seeding and Planting Projects.
Additional projects involved planting cool season growers and desirable shrubs to help restore and improve habitats.

Spring and Seep enhancements:

Volunteers and YCC Crews have also helped expand initial projects.

Additional projects included stabilizing and enhancing several seep / spring areas in the narrows sections of Goat Canyon.

The focus of Agencies, sportsman and MDF on improvement of deer habitats in the Burro Mountains has initiated strong working relationships and excellent partnerships. Continued Habitat improvement efforts which will also include key prescribed burns next year are expected to additionally aid these efforts.

Although it is early to tell, it appears the focus of these projects, in conjunction with management efforts of the NM Department of Game and Fish, may already be aiding deer distribution within a portion of the Burro Mountain area. Several reports mention seeing more deer in the vicinity of the projects.