Introduction
Since 1922, the Western Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies (WAFWA) has served as a leader promoting management and protection of fish and wildlife in the western United States and Canada. An organization represented by 17 states and four Canadian provinces, WAFWA has faced the difficult challenge of sifting through the ever-changing societal, economic, political and scientific issues that define natural resource management in a West that has undergone many changes.
WAFWA is particularly concerned about mule deer, a species that lives in every North American habitat except for the tropics, arctic and extreme deserts. Mule deer numbers and distribution have been declining throughout the West since the latter third of the 20th century. 
To address this concern, the Mule Deer Working Group was established at the midwinter meeting of WAFWA in 1998. The group was charged with finding "solutions to our common mule deer management problems," expanding "cooperative research and management in the Western states and provinces," and sharing information with agency directors and administrators on mule deer issues.
To achieve its goal, the working group set out to improve communication about mule deer, and make it easier for agencies to share information on mule deer management and research.
Mule Deer in the West, Changing Landscapes, Changing Perspectives, is one of the outcomes of this working group. The goals of this publication are to share research and technical information on mule deer in an easy-to-read format, and to generate informed discussion on a species that defines the West and is of tremendous importance to many people.
This publication sheds light on the single greatest factor that has caused declines in mule deer - loss and degradation of habitat. It offers an overview of mule deer, and looks at ways deer, elk, livestock and people interact. Feature articles expose issues affecting mule deer populations such as fire, disease, changes in habitat and predator-prey relationships, and the challenges biologists face in surveying big game animals. It explores a concept called adaptive resource management, a relatively new method of managing wildlife throughout the world.
It concludes with a look to the future, and offers additional sources of information for you to learn about mule deer.
It is our hope that this publication builds a foundation to generate informed discussion, and enhances understanding of the competing promises and visions for responsible management of mule deer.
WAFWA Mule Deer Working Group
Mule Deer, Changing Landscapes, Changing
Perspectives, is a series of non-technical articles based on
technical papers from the book, “Mule Deer Conservation: Issues and
Management Strategies” Published by The Berryman Institute, Utah
State University.
The contents of this web page may be
photocopied or reprinted for noncommercial purposes using the
citation listed below:
Mule Deer Working Group. 2003. Mule Deer:
Changing landscapes, changing perspectives. Mule Deer Working Group,
Western Association of Fish and Wildlife
Agencies.
Print a .pdf version of Mule Deer in the West
MuleDeerNet.ORG
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