Pacific Northwest Research Station ELK, DeeR, AND CATTLE: THE STARKEY PROJecT Frank Vanni I N S U M M ARY efinitive results from the Starkey Project’s first partners, initiated the Starkey Project in the Blue Moun- decade (1989–99) have given managers defensi- tains of northeastern Oregon. Starkey is a controlled, Dble options for managing roads, timber production, landscape-scale study at the Starkey Experimental Forest and range allotments in relation to elk, deer, and cattle. and Range and the primary field location for research on Study results have prompted changes in policies, mule deer, elk, and cattle in managed ecosystems of the management standards and guidelines, hunting regula- Pacific Northwest. tions, and timber sale planning throughout western Four major themes were identified for the Starkey North America. Project’s first decade of research: (1) roads and traffic, In the 1970s and 1980s, wildlife managers, hunters, (2) timber production and thermal cover, (3) competition and forest managers had intense debates about how elk, with cattle, and (4) breeding efficiency of male elk. The mule deer, and cattle should be managed on public result of the research was a set of compelling findings lands. In response, scientists from the Pacific Northwest about elk, deer, and cattle responses to a variety of forest (PNW) Research Station and the Oregon Department of and rangeland activities at scales compatible with man- Fish and Wildlife (ODFW), in collaboration with over 40 agement. The Starkey findings are described inside. United States Issue 13 Department Forest Pacific Northwest http://www.fs.fed.us/pnw of Agriculture Service Research Station March 2006 What is the science base for how elk, mule deer, and cattle are managed on Key Findings public lands? • Elk avoid roads open to motorized traffic, and their avoidance increases as the rate of traffic increases. Elk and mule deer are highly valued for hunting and viewing Mule deer avoid elk and thus can be displaced into in western North America. In the 1970s and 1980s, wildlife areas least used by elk, such as areas near roads with managers, hunters, and forest managers were involved in in- the most traffic. tense debates about best management practices for elk and mule deer on public lands. Timber harvest, an expanding • Elk avoid cattle, and mule deer avoid elk. Elk can network of forest roads, and recreational traffic on these roads select habitats without cattle when cattle are rotated were thought to affect elk and deer, but people argued about through livestock pastures, but mule deer may exactly what those effects were, with little definitive experi- not have as many choices for avoiding elk. The diets mental data to back up opinions. Hunters, ranchers, and wild- of cattle and elk differ substantially during early life managers had long disagreed about whether or not cattle, summer, but become increasingly similar during deer, and elk competed for available forage on western range- late summer, with more potential for exploitative lands. Finally, elk herd productivity, as affected by elk popula- competition. tion management practices, was recognized as a major issue. • Intensive timber harvest can benefit cattle and elk State wildlife agencies regulated hunting, but agency staff did from the increased forage available after timber har- not have definitive science behind their regulations affecting vest. However, if roads are left open, elk are more the number of mature bull elk maintained for herd productiv- vulnerable to harvest by hunters. Access management ity and elk population goals. and maintenance of security cover can mitigate this In response to these debates, the Starkey Project was initiated effect. Elk do not benefit from homogeneous stands in northeastern Oregon at the Starkey Experimental Forest and of thermal cover; a mix of open- and closed-canopy Range. Scientists designed and carried out rigorous studies at a habitats is optimal for elk. landscape scale to evaluate deer and elk responses to dominant • Older male elk are more efficient breeders, resulting in land uses on public lands. Located in the Blue Mountains of earlier, more synchronous calf births the next spring, northeastern Oregon (see map), the Starkey Experimental For- which may benefit calf survival. est and Range was designated as a research area in 1940, and many studies had already been done there. Starkey has open Frank Vanni Forests and grasslands at the Starkey Project are typical of much elk and mule deer habitat in western North America. Pendleton PORTLAND Starkey Experimental Forest and Range Wallowa- Purpose of PNW Science Update Whitman I-84 National k Forest The purpose of the PNW Science Update Starkey Game Fence 395 is to contribute scientific knowledge for 1 pressing decisions about natural resource EXIT Starkey 252 and environmental issues. La S 2120 Grande PNW Science Update is published several Bally times a year by: Mountain 244 Pacific Northwest Research Station Ukiah USDA Forest Service P.O. Box 3890 Starkey Game Fence M Portland, Oregon 97208 e a Cow d e k (503) 808-2592 Q o w C r e 2105 Camp Our mission is to generate and communicate scientific knowledge that helps people 244 Miles understand and make informed choices Headquarters ? 2120 about people, natural resources, and the 0 1 2 2105 environment. La Grande— Valerie Rapp, writer and editor 28 miles [email protected] WALLOWA-WHITMAN Send change of address information to o NATIONAL FOREST [email protected] Keith Routman The Starkey Project is a one-of-a-kind research facility, located in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon. Starkey is the primary field location for scientific study of the effects of deer, elk, and cattle in managed ecosystems. stands of ponderosa pine along with mixed-conifer stands area (19,180 acres), Campbell Flat pasture (1,537 acres), of varying densities, intermingled with natural grassland the northeast study area (3,590 acres) subdivided into two openings. pastures, and the winter feeding and handling area (655 acres). With the completion of the radio-telemetry system in 1989, the The original champion of the Starkey Project was Jack Ward project became fully operational. Thomas, who led the project from 1982–93. He went on to be Forest Service Chief from 1993 to 1996 and Boone and Crock- The big fence encloses about 500 elk and 250 mule deer year ett Professor at the University of Montana from 1996 through round, and 550 cow-calf livestock pairs during summer. The 2005. Larry Bryant, PNW Research Station, and Donavin enclosure is larger than the summer home range of most deer Leckenby, ODFW, worked closely and diligently with Thomas and elk, with animals living under conditions similar to wild, to turn the vision of a controlled, landscape-scale study on free-ranging herds. Large predators, including cougar, black wild and domestic ungulates (hoofed mammals) into a reality. bear, and coyote, are able to go either over or under the big fence and are part of the ecosystem, just as they would be out- “The research done at Starkey was, and still is, designed to side Starkey. Elk and deer at Starkey are wild, hunted animals answer management questions,” explains Marty Vavra, team that are handled briefly in winter feeding areas but are not leader and supervisory rangeland scientist located at PNW acclimated to humans. Research Station’s La Grande Forestry and Range Sciences Laboratory. “The Starkey research is relevant West-wide “All studies are spring, summer, and fall range investigations,” for the management of elk, mule deer, cattle, forests, and explains Mike Wisdom, research wildlife biologist with the rangelands.” Starkey Project, also at the La Grande Laboratory. During winter, most elk move to the winter feeding and handling area. A controlled study meant building an enclosure that would Most deer spend winter in the forest and are fed hay when they hold wild elk, animals that can easily jump high fences and move into the winter handling area. The winter feeding evens break through ordinary fences, and a landscape-scale study out effects of winter weather on animal body condition, thus meant enclosing a large area. The Starkey Project includes reducing any confounding effects that variation in winter 25,000 acres (almost 40 square miles) enclosed by a game- severity may cause on elk or deer nutritional condition. proof fence. “The big fence” was built in 1987 and consists of 8-foot-high woven wire. More game-proof fencing further Movements of over 150 elk, deer, and cattle are monitored divides the project area into four study areas: the main study annually with radio collars. The telemetry system used for the project’s first 10 years, a Loran-C system, is being phased was monitored from May through December every year. The out, as replacement parts are impossible to obtain. The new study area had about 2.5 miles of open road per square mile, system, installed in 2005 and expected to be fully operational with open roads spanning many environmental conditions. in 2006, is based on a global positioning system (GPS). The Other roads in the study area were closed. GPS provides animal locations as frequently as every few sec- onds with 1- to 2-yard accuracy, and it runs continuously for When elk were unable to avoid roads and 24 hours a day, 9 months each year, with little maintenance. It allows real-time monitoring of the animals as well as human trails, subsequent studies showed that ani- activities in relation to the animals. The telemetry systems mals increased their movement rates, which have given scientists the largest, most accurate set of animal can increase energy expenditures. locations ever collected on ungulates in the world. Hunting also is a key tool used in the research.