Elk (Cervus elpahus canadensis) within the northern section of the Bighorn Mountains display altitudinal migration. In the spring, they migrate from the eastern foothills up into the mountains, and in the fall, they head back down to lower elevations (fig. 67). The herd, which numbers around 5,500, primarily winters along the eastern foothills of the northern Bighorn Mountains just west of Sheridan, though some will winter north towards Bighorn Canyon. Winter ranges are a mix of shrubs and herbaceous grasslands, largely supported by private land. During migration animals travel an average one-way distance of 21 mi (34 km) ranging from as little as 5 mi (8 km) to as far as 83 mi (134 km). In spring, animals migrate off winter range and head west up the eastern side of the Bighorn Mountains. They traverse up the slopes generally following clearings between extensive pine forests. Summer ranges consist of evergreen forests that are predominantly lodgepole pine with smaller areas of open herbaceous grasslands. The summer range is almost entirely within the Bighorn National Forest. The population size of the herd has remained relatively steady over the last decade. While there is a higher concern for the animals on their winter range because it largely consists of private land, their migration routes are much safer because they are relatively short, do not cross any highways and are for the most part within the National Forest. These data provide the location of migration routes for elk in the North Bighorn population in Wyoming. They were developed from 109 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 63 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours.

Elk (Cervus elpahus canadensis) within the southern section of the Bighorn Mountains display altitudinal migration. In the spring, most individuals migrate from the western foothills up into the mountains, and in the fall, they head back down to lower elevations (fig. 68). In the southern section where the range curves west, the herd migrates up the northern foothills in the spring and back down in the fall. Additionally, a few individuals will summer on the eastern foothills along the Crazy Woman drainage. These individuals migrate west up the slopes in the spring and back down in the fall. The herd, which numbers around 4,000, primarily winters along the western foothills of the southern Bighorn Mountains just east of route 434 (Upper Nowood rd.), though some will winter east towards Buffalo. Winter ranges consist primarily of low growing shrubs with smaller areas of herbaceous grasslands, largely supported by private land with scattered areas of BLM land. During migration, animals travel an average one way distance of 24 mi (39 km) ranging from as little as 10 mi (16 km) to as far as 62 mi (100 km). In spring, animals migrate off winter range and head east or south up the western or northern side of the Bighorn Mountains. Summer ranges consist of shrub land with smaller areas of evergreen forests. The summer range is a mix of private land and BLM land, though the northern most individuals summer predominantly within the boundaries of the Bighorn National Forest. The population size of the herd has remained relatively steady over the last decade. There is a concern for the animals on both their winter and summer ranges because they largely consists of private land. Similarly, while their migration routes are relatively short, and do not cross any highways, there is still a concern due to the large extent of private land along the route. These data provide the location of migration routes for elk in the South Bighorn population in Wyoming. They were developed from 89 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 33 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours.

Elk (Cervus elpahus canadensis) within the southern section of the Bighorn Mountains display altitudinal migration. In the spring, most individuals migrate from the western foothills up into the mountains, and in the fall, they head back down to lower elevations (fig. 68). In the southern section where the range curves west, the herd migrates up the northern foothills in the spring and back down in the fall. Additionally, a few individuals will summer on the eastern foothills along the Crazy Woman drainage. These individuals migrate west up the slopes in the spring and back down in the fall. The herd, which numbers around 4,000, primarily winters along the western foothills of the southern Bighorn Mountains just east of route 434 (Upper Nowood rd.), though some will winter east towards Buffalo. Winter ranges consist primarily of low growing shrubs with smaller areas of herbaceous grasslands, largely supported by private land with scattered areas of BLM land. During migration, animals travel an average one way distance of 24 mi (39 km) ranging from as little as 10 mi (16 km) to as far as 62 mi (100 km). In spring, animals migrate off winter range and head east or south up the western or northern side of the Bighorn Mountains. Summer ranges consist of shrub land with smaller areas of evergreen forests. The summer range is a mix of private land and BLM land, though the northern most individuals summer predominantly within the boundaries of the Bighorn National Forest. The population size of the herd has remained relatively steady over the last decade. There is a concern for the animals on both their winter and summer ranges because they largely consists of private land. Similarly, while their migration routes are relatively short, and do not cross any highways, there is still a concern due to the large extent of private land along the route. These data provide the location of migration routes for elk in the South Bighorn population in Wyoming. They were developed from 89 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 33 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours.

Elk (Cervus elpahus canadensis) within the western section of the Bighorn Mountains display altitudinal migration. In the spring, they migrate from the western foothills up into the mountains, and in the fall, they head back down to lower elevations (fig. 70). The herd, which numbers around 2,700, winters along the western foothills of the Bighorn Mountains along the eastern section of the Bighorn Basin. Winter ranges are a mix of shrubs and herbaceous grasslands, largely supported by private and BLM land, though many individuals will remain within the boundaries of the Bighorn National Forest. During migration animals travel an average one way distance of 20 mi (32 km) ranging from as little as 5 mi (8 km) to as far as 74 mi (119 km). In spring, animals migrate off winter range and head east up the Bighorn Mountains. They traverse up the slopes generally following clearings in between extensive pine forests. Summer ranges consist of evergreen forests that are predominantly lodgepole pine with smaller areas of open herbaceous grasslands. The summer range is almost entirely within the Bighorn National Forest, but some individuals will summer in private land to the south. The population size of the herd has remained relatively steady over the last decade. While there is a higher concern for the animals on their winter range because it contains large areas of private land, their migration routes are much safer because they are relatively short, do not cross any highways and are for the most part within the Bighorn National Forest. These data provide the location of migration routes for elk in the Medicine Lodge population in Wyoming. They were developed from 52 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 19 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours.

Elk (Cervus elpahus canadensis) within the western section of the Bighorn Mountains display altitudinal migration. In the spring, they migrate from the western foothills up into the mountains, and in the fall, they head back down to lower elevations (fig. 70). The herd, which numbers around 2,700, winters along the western foothills of the Bighorn Mountains along the eastern section of the Bighorn Basin. Winter ranges are a mix of shrubs and herbaceous grasslands, largely supported by private and BLM land, though many individuals will remain within the boundaries of the Bighorn National Forest. During migration animals travel an average one way distance of 20 mi (32 km) ranging from as little as 5 mi (8 km) to as far as 74 mi (119 km). In spring, animals migrate off winter range and head east up the Bighorn Mountains. They traverse up the slopes generally following clearings in between extensive pine forests. Summer ranges consist of evergreen forests that are predominantly lodgepole pine with smaller areas of open herbaceous grasslands. The summer range is almost entirely within the Bighorn National Forest, but some individuals will summer in private land to the south. The population size of the herd has remained relatively steady over the last decade. While there is a higher concern for the animals on their winter range because it contains large areas of private land, their migration routes are much safer because they are relatively short, do not cross any highways and are for the most part within the Bighorn National Forest. These data provide the location of migration routes for elk in the Medicine Lodge population in Wyoming. They were developed from 52 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 19 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours.

The North Bighorn mule deer herd inhabits the northern half of the Bighorn Mountains in north-central Wyoming (fig. 28). The herd consists of resident mule deer that live year round in lower elevation foothills (approximately 4,265 ft [1,300 m]), primarily on private, Wyoming State trust, or BLM lands, and migratory mule deer that travel from the foothills to the summer ranges at higher elevations (approximately 7,874 ft [2,400 m]) on the Bighorn National Forest. In general, annual precipitation across the mountain range increases with elevation. To the west of the Bighorn Mountains, the Absaroka Range and arid Bighorn Basin, which receives only 7 in. (18 cm) of rain annually, prevents moisture-laden winds from reaching the western slopes of the Bighorn Mountains; therefore, the western side of the Bighorn Mountains generally receives less precipitation than the eastern side (Nesser, 1986). At lower-elevation (approximately 4,265 ft [1,300 m]) winter ranges, the western side of the mountain range comprises primarily sagebrush-steppe, whereas the eastern side consists primarily of grassland and agriculture. Mule deer have vastly different migration strategies depending on where they winter; most mule deer that winter on the eastern side of the mountain range are residents (76 percent), whereas most mule deer that winter on the western side of the mountain range are migratory (97 percent). Summer ranges at high elevations on Bighorn National Forest lands comprise primarily coniferous forest, most commonly lodgepole pine followed by Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce) and Abies lasiocarpa (subalpine fir; Witt, 2008). The herd is threatened by competition from increasing elk and white-tailed deer populations and expanding CWD prevalence (Wyoming Game and Fish Department [WGFD], 2022). These mapping layers show the location of the migration routes for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the North Bighorn population in Wyoming. They were developed from 355 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 176 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours.

The North Bighorn mule deer herd inhabits the northern half of the Bighorn Mountains in north-central Wyoming (fig. 28). The herd consists of resident mule deer that live year round in lower elevation foothills (approximately 4,265 ft [1,300 m]), primarily on private, Wyoming State trust, or BLM lands, and migratory mule deer that travel from the foothills to the summer ranges at higher elevations (approximately 7,874 ft [2,400 m]) on the Bighorn National Forest. In general, annual precipitation across the mountain range increases with elevation. To the west of the Bighorn Mountains, the Absaroka Range and arid Bighorn Basin, which receives only 7 in. (18 cm) of rain annually, prevents moisture-laden winds from reaching the western slopes of the Bighorn Mountains; therefore, the western side of the Bighorn Mountains generally receives less precipitation than the eastern side (Nesser, 1986). At lower-elevation (approximately 4,265 ft [1,300 m]) winter ranges, the western side of the mountain range comprises primarily sagebrush-steppe, whereas the eastern side consists primarily of grassland and agriculture. Mule deer have vastly different migration strategies depending on where they winter; most mule deer that winter on the eastern side of the mountain range are residents (76 percent), whereas most mule deer that winter on the western side of the mountain range are migratory (97 percent). Summer ranges at high elevations on Bighorn National Forest lands comprise primarily coniferous forest, most commonly lodgepole pine followed by Picea engelmannii (Engelmann spruce) and Abies lasiocarpa (subalpine fir; Witt, 2008). The herd is threatened by competition from increasing elk and white-tailed deer populations and expanding CWD prevalence (Wyoming Game and Fish Department [WGFD], 2022). These mapping layers show the location of the migration routes for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the North Bighorn population in Wyoming. They were developed from 355 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 176 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2 hours.

Migratory movements of elk within the Piney herd unit, a large area encompassing the eastern side of the Wyoming, include short (i.e., 10 miles) to medium (i.e., 30 miles) distance migrations. These elk migrate from low elevation elk feedgrounds and native winter ranges in the Upper Green River Basin to high elevation summer ranges in the Wyoming Range. In summer, some elk head further west into the Grey’s River Basin from the Bench Corral and Forest Park feedgrounds. Challenges for Piney elk include energy development, especially in the southern portion of the herd unit. These data provide the location of migration routes for Elk (Cervus canadensis) in the Piney herd in Wyoming. They were developed from Brownian bridge movement models using 306 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 158 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2-8 hours.

Migratory movements of elk within the Piney herd unit, a large area encompassing the eastern side of the Wyoming, include short (i.e., 10 miles) to medium (i.e., 30 miles) distance migrations. These elk migrate from low elevation elk feedgrounds and native winter ranges in the Upper Green River Basin to high elevation summer ranges in the Wyoming Range. In summer, some elk head further west into the Grey’s River Basin from the Bench Corral and Forest Park feedgrounds. Challenges for Piney elk include energy development, especially in the southern portion of the herd unit. These data provide the location of migration routes for Elk (Cervus canadensis) in the Piney herd in Wyoming. They were developed from Brownian bridge movement models using 306 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 158 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2-8 hours.

Elk within the Clarks Fork herd migrate though some of the most rugged and remote terrain in the lower 48 states. The herd, which numbers around 3,000, winters in the Sunlight Basin and the Absaroka foothills just west of Cody, WY. Winter ranges are a mix of sagebrush hills and lodgepole pine forests, within expansive private ranchlands. During migration, animals travel an average one-way distance of 33 miles, with some animals migrating as far as 67 miles. Spring migrations off of winter range head west towards Yellowstone National Park, up several drainages that flow out of the Absaroka Mountains, including the Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone, Crandall Creek, and smaller creeks to the south. Summer ranges consist of alpine and subalpine meadows embedded within spruce-fir and lodgepole pine forest that are predominately within the Park. The Clarks Fork herd is partially migratory, with migrants and resident animals mixing on winter range (residents tend to winter along the foothills further east). Over the last decade, the migratory segment has seen poor recruitment due to drought and increased rates of predation by grizzly bears and wolves, while resident animals have been more productive and continue to expand to the east. Aside from the poor recruitment, the migrations are relatively safe because most of the routes traverse lands within the National Forest or National Park system. These data provide the location of winter ranges for elk (Bison bison) in Yellowstone National Park. They were developed from Brownian bridge movement models using 107 winter sequences collected from a sample size of 46 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 2-8 hours.