king' s outdoor world - Index

king' s outdoor world - Hunting Illustrated - October/November 2007 - Index

one of the greatest factors affecting
mule deer density and distribution.
In some drought-stricken
regions, conditions for mule deer
are so dismal that even the most
dependable water sources are drying
up or continue to get diverted for
other uses. As water sources dry up,
vast amounts of Western terrain have
suitable forage, cover, and space, but
lack the water. Consequently, these
areas become completely void of
mule deer.
Do guzzlers work? There
wouldn't be over 800 water guzzlers
developed and maintained by the
Arizona Game and Fish Department
if they didn't. The Utah Division
of Wildlife Resources has built and
maintained nearly 600 guzzlers
located in some of Utah's harshest
environments. Those are just the
guzzlers managed by State wildlife
agencies. Federal Agencies and other
land owners also build and maintain
wildlife guzzlers throughout the
West. "Water is often the major
factor in how many young and adult
birds and animals make it through
the summer here in Utah. We're
trying to help them out by providing
a water source in areas that can be
extremely dry this time of year,? says
Dean Mitchell of the Utah Division
of Wildlife Resources. Many of the
guzzlers may not be used by mule
deer during normal or wet periods.
Jim Heffelinger, an Arizona Game
and Fish Wildlife Biologist best
known for the work he has done with
deer in the Southwest, has stated that
many of these "waters [wells] may
not be beneficial at all in three out of
four years, but that fourth year when
it is used may be absolutely critical
in preventing a large population
decline in deer or other ungulates.?
There are tens of thousands of
guzzlers throughout the Western
states. Can you envision how mule
deer populations would be affected if
these guzzlers didn't exist?
Guzzler development
sounds like a good deal for big game
as well as for wildlife enthusiasts,
doesn't it? However, reaffirming
This large typical mule deer relies on this
guzzler to get him through the dry summers.
His rack wouldn't nearly be this big
without this important water source.
their opposition to everything, certain
environmental groups oppose the
development of wildlife guzzlers.
Many guzzler opponents accept the
romanticized ideology that if humans
were to step away from nature that it
would all take care of itself. Ben Franklin
believed, "We constantly change the
world, even by our inaction; therefore,
let us change it responsibly.? The reality
is that the impact of an expanding human
population is going to affect wildlife and
nature and it's up to us to govern habitat
and wildlife populations effectively.
Opponents claim that guzzlers do more
harm than good by attracting myriads
of wildlife to a particular site where
many certain species may be more
susceptible to predation and competition
from other wildlife species. Predation
and competition are both common in
areas where prey congregates in larger
numbers whether near an artificial water
5MULE DEER WATCH5
catchment or a natural seep. Arizona
Game and Fish has studied water
catchments a great deal and have
found their results cannot support the
suggested negative impacts theorized
by guzzler critics. If the truth were
known, many of those that oppose
guzzlers also oppose hunting and
believe hunters construct water
catchments solely for the purpose
of gathering large numbers of game
animals to a specific spot making for
an easier hunt, missing the bigger
picture of wildlife enhancement.
State agencies, in partnership
with conservation organizations
dedicated to protecting wildlife and
habitat have really stepped up to
help provide the material, equipment,
and most importantly, the manpower
to build and install the guzzlers.
Remember, next time you are out
pursuing your favorite Western
game species; you may be closer to a
guzzler than you think. Get involved
with wildlife organizations that buy
and build guzzlers.
So, instead of using your
old tin shed as a target for your
neighborhood ne'er do wells, give
your local big game conservation
group a call, maybe it can be buried
out in the desert for good use.
Speaking of the desert, back to my
story...
..."Eureka!? I saw a patch
of hair through the tangled branches...
grey hair...a subtle snort.... "Come
out little piggy?...long legs... "Long
legs?? Confusion registered briefly
somewhere in my subconscious.
Suddenly, a flash of dark antler
danced through the brush, flanking
downwind to identify its intruder. I'll
tell you what I had, I had a 30-inch
muley as big as any I have seen south
of the Arizona strip and north of ol'
Mexico at 12 yards broadside. I had
an archery javelina tag. I had the
chance to swing by Wal-Mart and buy
my archery deer tag, but that chance
blew by me, as did the muley with the
long legs and the grey hair. I freed
my compound and wiped the sweat
from my stinging eyes. Did I mention
I love hunting the desert?
October/November 95
PHOTO: JOHN MORGARD
PHOTO: STEVE ROSENSTOCK AGFD