Pinedale Habitat Biologist Jill Randall is continuing her  work with several partners to implement the Wyoming Range Mule Deer Habitat Project. As part of that multi-year effort, a 400-acre prescribed fire was completed by the BLM on the east slope of Wyoming Range near LaBarge. This is the third aspen unit burned as part of a string of Wyoming Range mule deer treatments initiated in 2014. Additional burns are slated for the same area later this fall. In total, there will be nearly 10,000 acres of aspen treated over the next four years. Conifer trees are cut and left for two years prior to create additional fuel to take out standing conifer trees that are overtaking aspen stands.
 
All treatments will target winter, transitional and summer range habitat for mule deer in the Big Piney-LaBarge area as a part of the Wyoming Range Mule Deer Initiative. Managers plan to treat over 30,000 acres over the next several years to improve sagebrush, mountain shrubs and aspen communities. In addition, approximately 2,000 acres of cheatgrass will be sprayed with herbicide annually to improve overall range conditions and ensure success of the other treatments. Funding partners, to date, include WY Wildlife and Natural Resource Trust, WY Landscape Conservation Initiative, WY Game and Fish, WY Governor’s Big Game License Coalition, Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation, Mule Fanatics Foundation, Mule Deer Foundation, Denbury, Exxon and BLM.