The Mid-Columbia mule deer herd inhabits a highly variable landscape, featuring annual precipitation ranging from 112 inches (in; 285 cm) near Red Hill in the western part of this herd range to 14 in (36 cm) near The Dalles, Oregon, in the eastern part (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2021). Mule deer wintering in the east usually occupy altered grassland and agricultural habitats interspersed with patches of basin big sagebrush, nonnative annual grasses, and both native and planted grassland (Conservation Reserve Program fields). Most of these mule deer are nonmigratory and reside year round near Fifteenmile Creek, Eightmile Creek, and Deschutes River. The mule deer that do migrate travel south to similar types of vegetation near Summit Ridge. Habitats to the west, however, contain more forested cover and winter ranges primarily feature a combination of grasslands, Purshia tridentata (antelope bitterbrush), oak, ponderosa pine, and mixed-conifer forest. Mule deer in the western region are more migratory, containing individuals that travel west to the foothills of Fir Mountain, Lookout Mountain, and Mount Hood in spring. Summer ranges are dominated by mixed-conifer forests featuring pacific silver fir, mountain hemlock, T. heterophylla (western hemlock), and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir). Pastures and farmland are prevalent in the east where dryland wheat, alfalfa hay, and cherries are economically important crops. Black-tailed deer co-occur with mule deer west of U.S. Highway 197 and the two can hybridize in this area. Along with frequent smaller wildfires, in 2018, the South Valley Road fire burned 20,026 acres (8,104 ha) of winter habitat near U.S. Highway 197, and the Substation and the Long Hollow fires scorched a combined 111,881 acres (45,277 ha) along the northern portion of the Deschutes River (BLM, 2023a). The 2020 White River fire and 2022 Miller Road fire also respectively burned 17,405 acres (7,044 ha) and 10,847 acres (4,390 ha) of seasonal range and migration corridor habitat outside of Pine Grove, Oregon. Depending on location, these large fires can have positive or negative impacts on the Mid-Columbia mule deer herd. In the east, fires reduce shelter and allow invasive grasses to proliferate in habitats lacking perennial plant cover, but in the west, they can beneficially open canopy cover in heavily forested areas, exposing the understory to sunlight and invigorating valuable forage species. These mapping layers show the location of the migration corridors for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Mid-Columbia population in Oregon. They were developed from 98 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 37 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 5-13 hours.

The Mid-Columbia mule deer herd inhabits a highly variable landscape, featuring annual precipitation ranging from 112 inches (in; 285 cm) near Red Hill in the western part of this herd range to 14 in (36 cm) near The Dalles, Oregon, in the eastern part (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2021). Mule deer wintering in the east usually occupy altered grassland and agricultural habitats interspersed with patches of basin big sagebrush, nonnative annual grasses, and both native and planted grassland (Conservation Reserve Program fields). Most of these mule deer are nonmigratory and reside year round near Fifteenmile Creek, Eightmile Creek, and Deschutes River. The mule deer that do migrate travel south to similar types of vegetation near Summit Ridge. Habitats to the west, however, contain more forested cover and winter ranges primarily feature a combination of grasslands, Purshia tridentata (antelope bitterbrush), oak, ponderosa pine, and mixed-conifer forest. Mule deer in the western region are more migratory, containing individuals that travel west to the foothills of Fir Mountain, Lookout Mountain, and Mount Hood in spring. Summer ranges are dominated by mixed-conifer forests featuring pacific silver fir, mountain hemlock, T. heterophylla (western hemlock), and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir). Pastures and farmland are prevalent in the east where dryland wheat, alfalfa hay, and cherries are economically important crops. Black-tailed deer co-occur with mule deer west of U.S. Highway 197 and the two can hybridize in this area. Along with frequent smaller wildfires, in 2018, the South Valley Road fire burned 20,026 acres (8,104 ha) of winter habitat near U.S. Highway 197, and the Substation and the Long Hollow fires scorched a combined 111,881 acres (45,277 ha) along the northern portion of the Deschutes River (BLM, 2023a). The 2020 White River fire and 2022 Miller Road fire also respectively burned 17,405 acres (7,044 ha) and 10,847 acres (4,390 ha) of seasonal range and migration corridor habitat outside of Pine Grove, Oregon. Depending on location, these large fires can have positive or negative impacts on the Mid-Columbia mule deer herd. In the east, fires reduce shelter and allow invasive grasses to proliferate in habitats lacking perennial plant cover, but in the west, they can beneficially open canopy cover in heavily forested areas, exposing the understory to sunlight and invigorating valuable forage species. These mapping layers show the location of the stopovers for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Mid-Columbia population in Oregon. They were developed from 98 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 37 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 5-13 hours.

The Mid-Columbia mule deer herd inhabits a highly variable landscape, featuring annual precipitation ranging from 112 inches (in; 285 cm) near Red Hill in the western part of this herd range to 14 in (36 cm) near The Dalles, Oregon, in the eastern part (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2021). Mule deer wintering in the east usually occupy altered grassland and agricultural habitats interspersed with patches of basin big sagebrush, nonnative annual grasses, and both native and planted grassland (Conservation Reserve Program fields). Most of these mule deer are nonmigratory and reside year round near Fifteenmile Creek, Eightmile Creek, and Deschutes River. The mule deer that do migrate travel south to similar types of vegetation near Summit Ridge. Habitats to the west, however, contain more forested cover and winter ranges primarily feature a combination of grasslands, Purshia tridentata (antelope bitterbrush), oak, ponderosa pine, and mixed-conifer forest. Mule deer in the western region are more migratory, containing individuals that travel west to the foothills of Fir Mountain, Lookout Mountain, and Mount Hood in spring. Summer ranges are dominated by mixed-conifer forests featuring pacific silver fir, mountain hemlock, T. heterophylla (western hemlock), and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir). Pastures and farmland are prevalent in the east where dryland wheat, alfalfa hay, and cherries are economically important crops. Black-tailed deer co-occur with mule deer west of U.S. Highway 197 and the two can hybridize in this area. Along with frequent smaller wildfires, in 2018, the South Valley Road fire burned 20,026 acres (8,104 ha) of winter habitat near U.S. Highway 197, and the Substation and the Long Hollow fires scorched a combined 111,881 acres (45,277 ha) along the northern portion of the Deschutes River (BLM, 2023a). The 2020 White River fire and 2022 Miller Road fire also respectively burned 17,405 acres (7,044 ha) and 10,847 acres (4,390 ha) of seasonal range and migration corridor habitat outside of Pine Grove, Oregon. Depending on location, these large fires can have positive or negative impacts on the Mid-Columbia mule deer herd. In the east, fires reduce shelter and allow invasive grasses to proliferate in habitats lacking perennial plant cover, but in the west, they can beneficially open canopy cover in heavily forested areas, exposing the understory to sunlight and invigorating valuable forage species. These mapping layers show the location of the stopovers for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Mid-Columbia population in Oregon. They were developed from 98 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 37 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 5-13 hours.

The Mid-Columbia mule deer herd inhabits a highly variable landscape, featuring annual precipitation ranging from 112 inches (in; 285 cm) near Red Hill in the western part of this herd range to 14 in (36 cm) near The Dalles, Oregon, in the eastern part (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2021). Mule deer wintering in the east usually occupy altered grassland and agricultural habitats interspersed with patches of basin big sagebrush, nonnative annual grasses, and both native and planted grassland (Conservation Reserve Program fields). Most of these mule deer are nonmigratory and reside year round near Fifteenmile Creek, Eightmile Creek, and Deschutes River. The mule deer that do migrate travel south to similar types of vegetation near Summit Ridge. Habitats to the west, however, contain more forested cover and winter ranges primarily feature a combination of grasslands, Purshia tridentata (antelope bitterbrush), oak, ponderosa pine, and mixed-conifer forest. Mule deer in the western region are more migratory, containing individuals that travel west to the foothills of Fir Mountain, Lookout Mountain, and Mount Hood in spring. Summer ranges are dominated by mixed-conifer forests featuring pacific silver fir, mountain hemlock, T. heterophylla (western hemlock), and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir). Pastures and farmland are prevalent in the east where dryland wheat, alfalfa hay, and cherries are economically important crops. Black-tailed deer co-occur with mule deer west of U.S. Highway 197 and the two can hybridize in this area. Along with frequent smaller wildfires, in 2018, the South Valley Road fire burned 20,026 acres (8,104 ha) of winter habitat near U.S. Highway 197, and the Substation and the Long Hollow fires scorched a combined 111,881 acres (45,277 ha) along the northern portion of the Deschutes River (BLM, 2023a). The 2020 White River fire and 2022 Miller Road fire also respectively burned 17,405 acres (7,044 ha) and 10,847 acres (4,390 ha) of seasonal range and migration corridor habitat outside of Pine Grove, Oregon. Depending on location, these large fires can have positive or negative impacts on the Mid-Columbia mule deer herd. In the east, fires reduce shelter and allow invasive grasses to proliferate in habitats lacking perennial plant cover, but in the west, they can beneficially open canopy cover in heavily forested areas, exposing the understory to sunlight and invigorating valuable forage species. These mapping layers show the location of the winter ranges for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Mid-Columbia population in Oregon. They were developed from 232 winter sequences collected from a sample size of 82 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 5-13 hours.

The Mid-Columbia mule deer herd inhabits a highly variable landscape, featuring annual precipitation ranging from 112 inches (in; 285 cm) near Red Hill in the western part of this herd range to 14 in (36 cm) near The Dalles, Oregon, in the eastern part (National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration, 2021). Mule deer wintering in the east usually occupy altered grassland and agricultural habitats interspersed with patches of basin big sagebrush, nonnative annual grasses, and both native and planted grassland (Conservation Reserve Program fields). Most of these mule deer are nonmigratory and reside year round near Fifteenmile Creek, Eightmile Creek, and Deschutes River. The mule deer that do migrate travel south to similar types of vegetation near Summit Ridge. Habitats to the west, however, contain more forested cover and winter ranges primarily feature a combination of grasslands, Purshia tridentata (antelope bitterbrush), oak, ponderosa pine, and mixed-conifer forest. Mule deer in the western region are more migratory, containing individuals that travel west to the foothills of Fir Mountain, Lookout Mountain, and Mount Hood in spring. Summer ranges are dominated by mixed-conifer forests featuring pacific silver fir, mountain hemlock, T. heterophylla (western hemlock), and Pseudotsuga menziesii (Douglas fir). Pastures and farmland are prevalent in the east where dryland wheat, alfalfa hay, and cherries are economically important crops. Black-tailed deer co-occur with mule deer west of U.S. Highway 197 and the two can hybridize in this area. Along with frequent smaller wildfires, in 2018, the South Valley Road fire burned 20,026 acres (8,104 ha) of winter habitat near U.S. Highway 197, and the Substation and the Long Hollow fires scorched a combined 111,881 acres (45,277 ha) along the northern portion of the Deschutes River (BLM, 2023a). The 2020 White River fire and 2022 Miller Road fire also respectively burned 17,405 acres (7,044 ha) and 10,847 acres (4,390 ha) of seasonal range and migration corridor habitat outside of Pine Grove, Oregon. Depending on location, these large fires can have positive or negative impacts on the Mid-Columbia mule deer herd. In the east, fires reduce shelter and allow invasive grasses to proliferate in habitats lacking perennial plant cover, but in the west, they can beneficially open canopy cover in heavily forested areas, exposing the understory to sunlight and invigorating valuable forage species. These mapping layers show the location of the winter ranges for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Mid-Columbia population in Oregon. They were developed from 232 winter sequences collected from a sample size of 82 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 5-13 hours.

The winter ranges of the Northside mule deer herd can be broadly separated into northern and southern subgroups. The majority of the southern subgroup winters at low elevations near the John Day River in areas dominated by big sagebrush communities, Columbia Basin grasslands, and western juniper. The northern subgroup is more spatially dispersed, wintering by Cottonwood Creek, the North Fork John Day River, and the Middle Fork John Day River in ranges containing more conifer forest than those of the southern subgroup. Both subgroups summer in the same general area, migrating either northeast or southeast to reach ranges featuring mixed-conifer, Picea spp. (spruce), Ponderosa pine, and western juniper forests with scattered Columbia Basin grasslands on Deardorff Mountain, the Blue Mountains, and Elkhorn Ridge. Some mule deer west of the North Fork John Day River migrate north to reach summer ranges near Rock Creek. Interestingly, five mule deer migrated south, crossing the section of U.S. Route 26 that divides the Northside and Murderer’s Creek mule deer herds. Since U.S. Route 26 also separates resident mule deer from agricultural fields with reliable water sources, mule deer-vehicle collisions are common year-round, and this section experienced an annual average of 106 mule deer-vehicle collisions from 2016 to 2022. In 2010, the Heppner WMU, which is used for livestock grazing and contains multiple mule deer winter ranges, was included in the Oregon Mule Deer Initiative (ODFW, 2015, 2020). Since then, ODFW has removed 10,256.7 acres (4,150.7 ha) of invasive flora, reseeded 7,405.3 acres (2,996.8 ha) with native shrubs and grassland, and completed 48 water development projects. These mapping layers show the location of the migration corridors for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Northside population in Oregon. They were developed from 360 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 144 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 5−13 hours.

The winter ranges of the Northside mule deer herd can be broadly separated into northern and southern subgroups. The majority of the southern subgroup winters at low elevations near the John Day River in areas dominated by big sagebrush communities, Columbia Basin grasslands, and western juniper. The northern subgroup is more spatially dispersed, wintering by Cottonwood Creek, the North Fork John Day River, and the Middle Fork John Day River in ranges containing more conifer forest than those of the southern subgroup. Both subgroups summer in the same general area, migrating either northeast or southeast to reach ranges featuring mixed-conifer, Picea spp. (spruce), Ponderosa pine, and western juniper forests with scattered Columbia Basin grasslands on Deardorff Mountain, the Blue Mountains, and Elkhorn Ridge. Some mule deer west of the North Fork John Day River migrate north to reach summer ranges near Rock Creek. Interestingly, five mule deer migrated south, crossing the section of U.S. Route 26 that divides the Northside and Murderer’s Creek mule deer herds. Since U.S. Route 26 also separates resident mule deer from agricultural fields with reliable water sources, mule deer-vehicle collisions are common year-round, and this section experienced an annual average of 106 mule deer-vehicle collisions from 2016 to 2022. In 2010, the Heppner WMU, which is used for livestock grazing and contains multiple mule deer winter ranges, was included in the Oregon Mule Deer Initiative (ODFW, 2015, 2020). Since then, ODFW has removed 10,256.7 acres (4,150.7 ha) of invasive flora, reseeded 7,405.3 acres (2,996.8 ha) with native shrubs and grassland, and completed 48 water development projects. These mapping layers show the location of the migration corridors for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Northside population in Oregon. They were developed from 360 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 144 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 5−13 hours.

Most of the Southeast mule deer herd winters along the Owyhee River in regions containing sagebrush communities and Columbia Basin grassland mixed with non-native annual grasslands. These mule deer either migrate west to summer ranges on Road Canyon and Gravel Ridges or east to the Owyhee Mountains along the Idaho border, with one mule deer migrating as far as Bald Mountain, 38.3 mi (61.6 km) into Idaho. Summer ranges feature shrubland, Columbia Basin grasslands, western juniper, and evergreen forests. In 2014, the Buzzard Complex fires burned 398,596 acres (161,306 ha), including Road Canyon, allowing medusahead and other non-native grasses to invade areas with originally low perennial plant abundance. Five mule deer winter separately near U.S. Route 95, in areas containing higher percentages of western juniper. In the spring, they travel southeast into Nevada to summer on the Santa Rosa Range, with one mule deer migrating to the Tuscarora Mountains. Of the Southeast mule deer that were tracked for at least 100 days, 82 percent migrate seasonally, with several moving to summer ranges in different states, complicating issues of population management. The Southeast mule deer herd faces several challenges, including highways and the low abundance of preferred browse. The northeastern section of U.S. Route 95 had an AADT value of 2,007 vehicles in 2018 and intersects multiple migration corridors, with mule deer commonly crossing the highway along Succor Creek and Rock Creek Flat. In summer, Southeast mule deer spend more time in riparian zones and must compete with grazing cattle in the Owyhee Mountains for high-quality forage during drought years when natural water sources evaporate. These mapping layers show the location of the winter ranges for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Southeast population in Oregon. They were developed from 63 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 34 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 5−13 hours.

Most of the Southeast mule deer herd winters along the Owyhee River in regions containing sagebrush communities and Columbia Basin grassland mixed with non-native annual grasslands. These mule deer either migrate west to summer ranges on Road Canyon and Gravel Ridges or east to the Owyhee Mountains along the Idaho border, with one mule deer migrating as far as Bald Mountain, 38.3 mi (61.6 km) into Idaho. Summer ranges feature shrubland, Columbia Basin grasslands, western juniper, and evergreen forests. In 2014, the Buzzard Complex fires burned 398,596 acres (161,306 ha), including Road Canyon, allowing medusahead and other non-native grasses to invade areas with originally low perennial plant abundance. Five mule deer winter separately near U.S. Route 95, in areas containing higher percentages of western juniper. In the spring, they travel southeast into Nevada to summer on the Santa Rosa Range, with one mule deer migrating to the Tuscarora Mountains. Of the Southeast mule deer that were tracked for at least 100 days, 82 percent migrate seasonally, with several moving to summer ranges in different states, complicating issues of population management. The Southeast mule deer herd faces several challenges, including highways and the low abundance of preferred browse. The northeastern section of U.S. Route 95 had an AADT value of 2,007 vehicles in 2018 and intersects multiple migration corridors, with mule deer commonly crossing the highway along Succor Creek and Rock Creek Flat. In summer, Southeast mule deer spend more time in riparian zones and must compete with grazing cattle in the Owyhee Mountains for high-quality forage during drought years when natural water sources evaporate. These mapping layers show the location of the winter ranges for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Southeast population in Oregon. They were developed from 63 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 34 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 5−13 hours.

The Sumpter mule deer herd includes resident and migratory individuals. Mule deer wintering near Oregon Route 244 and La Grande, Oregon, migrate south to Wolf Creek, Glass Hill, and Elkhorn Ridge in spring. Although mixed-conifer forest and ponderosa pine dominate seasonal ranges for these mule deer, winter ranges contain more sagebrush grassland and summer ranges contain more riparian and early shrub-tree habitats. Other mule deer wintering in patches of big sagebrush mixed with conifer, ponderosa pine, western juniper, and quaking aspen forests near North Powder Valley and Powder River also migrate to Elkhorn Ridge for the summer. Some mule deer along Burnt River, where winter ranges are characterized by big sagebrush, western juniper, and grassland, migrate south to areas with more mixed-conifer forest and invasive annual grasses near Monument Rock and Willow Creek in spring. Other mule deer either migrate north or west to Austin, Oregon, and Oregon Route 7, where big sagebrush, mountain big sagebrush, mixed-conifer forest, and ponderosa pine are common. Some of these mule deer travel as far north as Elkhorn Ridge and Wolf Creek. In 2015, the Cornet-Windy fire burned 56,766 acres (22,972 ha) of forested summer range near Oregon Route 245 (BLM, 2023a), improving browse quality but potentially reducing shelter by decreasing canopy cover. Highways are a significant cause of mortality in this area; for example, Interstate 84 had an annual average of 162 DVCs from 2010 to 2022 along a 100-mile (161-km) section (ODOT, 2023). No GPS-collared mule deer successfully crossed Interstate 84 although multiple seasonal ranges and migrations closely bound the highway, indicating a possible loss of historical migration routes. These mapping layers show the location of the migration corridors for mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) in the Sumpter population in Oregon. They were developed from 154 migration sequences collected from a sample size of 53 animals comprising GPS locations collected every 5-13 hours.