Oregon’s mule deer population in drastic decline; In 5 decades population has decreased by half

The mule deer population in Oregon has declined significantly over the last five decades with the downward trend continuing.

Today, the mule deer population is estimated at around 155,000 in the state, a nearly 50 percent decrease from the recorded 300,000 less than 50 years ago. The population reduction is the second major drop since European settlement two centuries ago. 

The first wave of new human residents brought extreme changes to natural resources management, infrastructure development, and human traffic on mule deer territory within the ancestral homelands of the Klamath, Modoc, and Yahooskin Snake Paiute.

These changes resulted in decreased availability of several Indigenous first-foods; c’waam and koptu (Lost River and shortnose sucker) have become endangered; c’iyaal’s (salmon) are no longer present in the nearby rivers; commonly gathered plants like wocus (pond lily) and boco (wild celery) have reduced in numbers; and mule deer populations have suffered greatly.     

Mule deer, known as baagool in the Klamath and Modoc languages and tehekya in the Yahooskin Snake Paiute language, has been a food source for members of the Klamath Tribes since time immemorial. These deer thrive in open habitats with shrubs, wildflowers, aspen, and conifers, like in counties east of the Cascade Mountain range.  

“There’s just not as many deer as there once was. It’s harder to get them, and I don’t see as many big bucks,” said Don Gentry, the Klamath Tribes Natural Resources Specialist and Klamath tribal member.

The first severe decline of mule deer correlated with the rapid increase in people in the 1800s. Hunting regulations were established in the 1900s, and the mule deer population began to rise. However, this trend did not last.

Today, mule deer are experiencing their second major decline in population.

Since the 1990s, a wave of new residents once again settled within the ancestral homelands of the Klamath Tribes; Klamath County has experienced over a 20 percent increase in residents, and Deschutes County has had an overwhelming 170-plus percent increase.

With more people comes more foot and vehicle traffic, higher consumption of natural resources, and interspecific competition or competition with other animals for the same geographical space. However, humans are not the sole contributors to the decline of mule deer as it appears that drastic shifts in climate, wildfires, and increases in predators like wolves also factor into the concern of mule deer.  

During the Oregon Fish & Wildlife Commission monthly meeting held in June at the goos oLgi gowa community room in Chiloquin, Klamath Tribes Chairman William Ray, Jr. stated at the meeting that he is “very concerned” and that there are fewer mule deer because their habitats have been disrupted.

“Probably the biggest thing is, our climate is getting drier and hotter, and that’s resulting in loss of green forage available to these animals on the landscape,” said Dr. Don Whittaker, ODFW Ungulate Species Coordinator, in an interview with the Klamath Tribes News. “What’s happening is it’s growing earlier, drying out sooner, and the fall green up is later and later.”

The warming climate also brings large landscape-changing fires. “The size, intensity, and magnitude of those fires tend to be increasing with the changes in our moisture cycles and our temperature,” said Whittaker. He also stated that the lower-elevation fires have a more harmful impact on mule deer and do not appear to be going away.

Also speaking in an interview with the Klamath Tribes News, Josh Smith, ODFW Mule Deer Coordinator, said the Klamath mule deer issue is range-wide from Mexico to Canada and from the Cascades through Nebraska. Smith said working together with the Klamath Tribes toward reaching shared goals will help preserve the mule deer species.

Smith explained that mule deer population growth is a lot slower than the rate of decline. For change to occur, there needs to be consistent growth. “I think an important thing is that all of us collaborate in supporting the directions we need everybody to take on the landscape,” Smith stated.

The Klamath Tribes Natural Resources Department has worked collaboratively with outside entities and engaged in various efforts to preserve natural resources and improve wildlife habitat.

In 1975, the Klamath Tribes established the Klamath Indian Game Commission (KIGC) allowing the enforcement of hunting regulations for enrolled members or enrolled tribal descendants of the Klamath Tribes.  

“If tribal members are following our regulations and killing bucks, we’re still hunting in a sustainable way even though the populations are down, said Gentry. “What we really need to do is increase fawn survival to bring the populations back. That’s the key thing. Address poaching, and don’t be killing the does. So, follow our regulations because it’s key to maintaining the populations and giving us an opportunity to build.”

How tribal members hunt mule deer has shifted over time. Yet, it remains a traditional practice passed down from generation to generation, gifting countless positive experiences along the way.

As a boy, Gentry would go on hunts with his father, and as an elder, he would bring his grandson on hunts. His life is full of happy memories of hunting with relatives and community members.

Gentry continues to welcome his young relatives and tribal members on hunts with him; however, these hunting excursions have decreased over time due to fewer deer being available. 

“It’s just kind of a heartbreaking thing,” Gentry said. “People aren’t doing it (hunting) anymore; It’s just too hard when you spend a lot of effort and don’t even get a chance to kill a deer.”

Gentry said that when deer populations were higher, he would hunt for his family and other tribal members, such as elders and those unable to hunt. Gentry also recalled hunting for special gatherings like Tribal Council meetings.

This cultural custom of generosity has been imperative to the Klamath Tribes’ survival because, as Gentry noted, some members are physically unable to harvest for themselves.

Even with the availability of first foods lessening, sharing resources remains a common application amongst tribal members. This cultural practice reinforces interpersonal relationships, teaches necessary values and skills, and enriches the overall health of the tribe.  

Concerns of overexploitation or overconsumption of resources within the tribal community are not a major issue because these are not practiced; any actions not in alignment with environmental conservation and sustainable living go directly against tribal values and traditional ways of being.     

While some people hunt for sport, “Natives hunt for sustenance, or subsistence because we’re Indigenous to this area,” said Camille DeLorme, enrolled Klamath tribal elder and hunter herself.

DeLorme was raised in her homelands, taught to honor traditional values and beliefs, and passed these on to her children.

She explained that deer is a natural source of nutrition, making it “the healthiest food for us,” along with the other first foods. Compared to other red meat, mule deer is a much healthier nutritional option due to being rich in essential amino acids, thiamine, riboflavin, niacin, iron, and zinc and less fatty.

Declining mule deer numbers are drastically impacting Indigenous communities that have relied on this lean meat for generations.

The survival of this species is a tribal member issue as it directly impacts the continuation of traditional cultural practices and the ability to exercise treaty rights. It is also a community-wide issue as mule deer play a crucial role in western North American ecosystems. 

DeLorme stated that each tribal member can make a positive difference by taking individual responsibility to preserve herds through honoring tradition, following tribal and state laws, and reporting poaching. “Poaching is stealing and is something we should all be on the lookout for,” DeLorme stated.

“The majority of hunters are ethical and try doing the right thing,” said Smith. He added that efforts should be made to ensure mule deer are available for future generations. 

Whittaker stated that everyone can support mule deer by participating in efforts to recover struggling landscapes, being conservative on harvest rates, and giving the deer space. And he offered one important piece of advice, “Don’t feed the deer; let them forage and find food naturally.”