"Deseret Live Stock Company” was formed in 1891 by group of prominent Mormon Pioneer families which included the Hatch's, Moss's, and Moyle's. It served as a summer range for sheep, with headquarters in Woods Cross, Utah. Following ownership by two other entities, the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints purchased the ranch in 1983. “Deseret Land & Livestock” (DLL) is managed by Farm Management Company, a tax-paying entity of the Church. Following incorporation as a sheep ranch in 1891, Deseret Live Stock Company purchased 17,640 acres of land in Rich county and by the end of that same year, owned nearly 29,000 sheep. In 1892 the land holdings increased again and the sheep herd had grown to 39,000 head. Low wool prices and the harsh winter of 1893 caused delay in the plan for growth for a short period, but by the end of the 1890's the company had diversified by establishing a company store which served the employees, stockholders and general public. This period was also the beginning of a cattle enterprise by buying 100 steers in 1897.
By 1903 the land holdings had grown and the sheep herd had increased to about 60,000 ewes but a severe scabies epidemic reduced the sheep herd to 45,000 head. The period following World War I was marked by rapid growth of the company spurred by high prices for wool, beef, and mutton. By 1924 the sheep herd was at 45,000 head and the management had increased the cattle herd to 3,000. Surviving the depression and drought of the 1930's was perhaps the greatest financial challenge the Company had experienced to date.
World War II again stimulated high prices for the company's products and prosperity brought further growth. Unable to find exact documentation for size and scope of Deseret Live Stock Company in the early 50's, it is safe to say that the company owned land in Utah, Wyoming and Nevada along with at least seven counties within those states. Past employees who attended the Centennial Celebration of Deseret in 1991 talked of sheep numbers exceeding 65,000 head with some claiming the number was near 90,000. The cattle numbers at the peak of this era may have reached near 5,000 head. Some evidence exists that the total private acreage owned in the three states exceeded 350,000 acres by 1950.
During the Garff, Freed, and Robinson years (1953-1974), the ranch's cattle herd was increased and sheep numbers were reduced. Range reseeding, sage brush spraying, stock water development and fencing, especially on the east half of the ranch, generated increased cattle forage, and Desert Livestock Company become known more as cattle ranch than a sheep ranch. During this period, cross-breeding was introduced to the ranch from the traditional Hereford breed. With the purchase of land and a feedlot in Malta, Idaho, the ranch extended ownership into a fourth state and an eighth county. During this era the peak livestock numbers included 29,000 sheep and 6,000 cattle. This period of ownership also started the practice of selling deer hunting access to the public.
In 1974 Joseph Hotung, a Hong Kong businessman of some renown, purchased the bigger portion (201,000 acres) of the east ranch from Garff, Freed, and Robinson who kept the Skull Valley Ranch and the Heiners Canyon unit on the south end of the east ranch. Hotung bought 4,000 cows and 10,000 sheep from the previous owners, along with the land. Deseret Livestock Ltd. hired a professional management company from Denver to put in place a new management strategy. Sheep numbers declined from 1974 to 1982 until the sheep (the animals that had paid for the ranch twice) were gone. Cattle numbers also declined during that period to about 2,600 by 1983. An entirely different management scheme had come into play for wildlife and especially big game, locking the gates, actively managing for wildlife values, and limiting access to only paying customers.
In 1983 Mr. Hotung sold Deseret Livestock Ltd. to the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints who recognized that they were not only buying the largest contiguous block of private land in the state but also an historic property put together by pioneer members of their faith. The purchase was a turn-key deal that included the buildings, equipment and 2,600 cows with the accompanying bulls and replacement heifers. Under the management of Farm Management Company, a tax paying entity of the Church, some of the practices that had begun during Mr. Hotung's ownership continued, including a continuation and expansion of the wildlife program. Particular emphasis was placed on growing the cattle enterprise, cutting costs, and achieving profitability.
The LDS Church ownership era has been marked by conscientious business practices including strategic planning, cost control, increased production, and accountability. Emphasis on holistic management has brought a uniqueness to the ranch that is attractive to visitors from many walks of life.
Today Deseret Land & Livestock serves as a legacy to the owners, managers, and employees for the past 112 years.
Early explorers and trappers hunted and trapped beaver, elk, bison, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, mule deer and bear in the vicinity of what is now Deseret Land & Livestock (DLL) (Russell, 1955, Rawley, 1985). We know bison, pronghorn and jackrabbits were commonly eaten by pre-Columbian Native Americans from bones and stone implements found at campsites, and at the Woodruff Bison Kill (Shields, 1968), a historic "buffalo jump" located on the ranch.
Like Native Americans, explorers, and trappers, the early pioneer settlers survived on meat harvested from the land. Low rainfall and frequent frosts left much of the Bear River Valley poorly suited for crop production. The settlers determined livestock grazing to be the best way to produce food and income from the land. Likewise, today's residents of the Bear River Valley depend on red meat production for their livelihood.
As the early settlers struggled to survive and utilize these lands in the late 1800's, over-hunting, livestock diseases and grazing practices likely resulted in the loss of the bison, bighorn sheep, elk and pronghorn (Danvir and Kearl 1996). By 1900, even mule deer were uncommon. By the 1920's, up to 60,000 ewes grazed DLL each summer (McMurrin 1989). Range conditions in Northern Utah generally shifted toward higher shrub densities, reduced herbaceous forage, and increased bare ground (Urness 1990). However, the mid-1900's began a period of gradually decreasing livestock densities and improved range management practices (Stoddart 1940).
The end result of these early land-use practices were abundant populations of mule deer and sage grouse by the 1960's (Julander 1962, Kearl 2002). Range and wildlife conservation activities in the late-1900's also allowed populations of elk, moose and pronghorn to re-establish on the ranch. Today, big game and domestic livestock continue to remove as much forage as was removed in the early 1900's, but with improved management practices and healthier land (measured in AUM's-Animal Unit Months, or the amount of forage eaten by 1 cow/calf pair in 1 month) (link to AUM Removal Comparison).
As big game populations began building on DLL in the 1950's, ranch managers began to encourage mule deer hunting as a means of reducing depredation problems. They eventually began charging access fees for deer hunting, as a means of deriving income for the forage eaten by mule deer (McMurrin 1989). As elk and mule deer populations continued to flourish, managers settled on a strategy of gaining revenue by harvesting mature males and reducing depredation through appropriate female harvest. The current DLL wildlife management philosophy began. Today, nearly 2500 elk, 3500 mule deer, 600 pronghorn, 150 moose, 2000 sage grouse and hundreds of other wildlife species co-exist with 5000 cattle and 3000 domestic sheep annually.
WILDLIFE RESOURCE MANAGEMENT
Aldo Leopold, considered by many to be the father of wildlife management, in his 1940's book Game Management explained the central theme of game management by stating that "game can be restored by the creative use of the same tools which have destroyed it: axe, fire, cattle and gun." He recognized that the effect of these tools on wildlife and wildlife habitat depended on how they were applied. Like today, Leopold lived at a time when many people strongly felt wildlife species were in need of conservation efforts. Regarding conservation, Leopold suggested, "When land does well for its owner, and the owner does well by his land; when both end up better by the reason of their partnership, we have conservation. When one or the other grows poorer, we do not."
The wildlife management philosophy at DLL is to manage and conserve wildlife and their habitats creatively, using livestock grazing, fire, technology and hunting. Healthy, abundant, diverse and productive wildlife populations result from healthy, diverse abundant and productive habitat. The two are inextricably linked. Management of the grassland and wooded habitats on the ranch involves managing plant succession to achieve a desired condition. For example, the amount and size of woody vegetation on the land will increase with rest from fire, mechanical removal or timber harvest. Conversely, these techniques can be used to reduce the amount of woody vegetation and increase the amount of grasses and flowering plants (forbs). Which is better for wildlife, stands of older-aged, woody plants or grassy areas with fewer shrubs? We have learned that interspersing patches of woody vegetation with grassy areas best serves the hundreds of species of wild and domestic animals dependent on DLL. Our research and monitoring data suggest we have maintained or increased the abundance and diversity of native wildlife species by using time-controlled grazing strategies (click to view livestock grazing information) and other management practices (prescribed fires, chemical or mechanical brush removal). DLL continues to support productive big game herds while increasing cattle production. Sage grouse studies (click to view sage grouse abstract) and breeding bird surveys (click to view BBS chart) suggest abundant bird populations on the ranch. To date, we have documented over 270 species of bird-life alone, in a wide variety of habitats (click to view bird species list 2003).
Like state wildlife management agencies, we fund our wildlife management program through our wildlife recreation activities. Revenues obtained from these activities provide a means and motivation for our wildlife research, conservation and management programs. Like state wildlife management agencies, these funds are used to better conserve and manage the wildlife populations dependent on our ranch.
Elk tagged at DLL have traveled over fifty miles from the ranch; our management practices can influence elk abundance on lands many miles away. Since these are migratory populations, successful wildlife management at DLL means understanding the relationship between DLL and surrounding lands. Consequently, we must work cooperatively with the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources as well as other landowners, agencies, and conservation organizations in order to successfully manage healthy big game populations in balance with the resources of both DLL and adjacent lands.
Hunting too is a component of wildlife management (click to view Wildlife Resource Management). Healthy lands mean productive wildlife populations. An overabundance of elk means sick and starving animals, and can reduce grasses and woody vegetation needed as food and cover for other species. While livestock can be herded, fenced or otherwise removed from areas periodically to provide rest, it can be difficult to change elk distribution. Crop depredation by overabundant elk herds can negatively affect neighboring lands; too many elk can even increase highway vehicle collisions. Keeping elk numbers in balance with habitat and other wildlife species helps maintain overall species diversity and abundance, and hunting helps keep the elk numbers at healthy population levels.
Hunting is the main tool used by Deseret Land & Livestock (DLL) to maintain big game herds at population levels in balance with the range resources. About 10% of elk, mule deer, pronghorn and moose populations are harvested annually (click to view fee vs. free hunt chart). Management goals include robust populations in good body condition, with good reproductive rates and a high percentage of males in the herd. Native predators are also managed on the ranch, and play a role in maintaining a healthy balance between foragers and healthy range.
DLL hunts are conducted to minimize stressed and wounded animals. Hunters are required to pass a shooting proficiency test, obey wildlife laws, and conduct themselves safely and ethically.
Although hunting is a key means of generating ranch revenue, 70% of hunters on DLL each year are given free hunting access. For information about free access hunts on DLL, visit the Utah Division of Wildlife Resources website and the Cooperative Wildlife Management Unit (CWMU) website.
Over 270 species of birds have been identified thus far on Deseret Land & Livestock (DLL) (click to view bird species list 2003), and it is not uncommon to see over 120 species on a one-day birding trip. DLL wildlife personnel have monitored nesting raptors and sage grouse populations since 1983 (click to view sage grouse abstract), and began three Breeding Bird Survey routes (BBS) in 1995 (click to view BBS chart). DLL is blessed with abundant and diverse bird populations, and is listed as a Utah Important Bird area by the National Audubon Society and Birdlife International. Having a broad diversity of well-managed habitats, birders can observe a variety of waterfowl and wetland birds on the ranch's streams, ponds and lakes alongside birds of the sagebrush-steppe, as well as higher elevation birds of the aspen and coniferous forests. Excellent accommodations, natural history and guide services are available, April - September through Westwings birding tours, at 801-487-WILD or contact via e-mail:
westwings@cisna.com
Deseret Land & Livestock fisheries resources are managed to maintain healthy, self-sustaining populations of cutthroat trout, provide forage for other wildlife species, and to provide high-quality fly-fishing experiences. Cutthroat trout thrive in miles of healthy stream habitat, and rainbow trout inhabit selected ponds around the ranch. Fishing trips can be combined with birding, hiking and natural history tours. Guided fly-fishing opportunities are available April-October through the services of Wild Country Guide Service, 801-791-6551, or visit www.wildcountryoutfitters.com.
Literature Cited
Danvir, R. E. and S. L. Kearl. 1996. A Holistic Approach to Managing Wildlife and Big Game Movements With Livestock: the Lost Creek Foundation. Pp. 65-69 in: Sharing Common Ground on Western Rangelands: Proceedings of a Livestock/Big Game Synposium. Evans, K. E., Compiler. Gen. Tech. Rep. INT-GTR-343,U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Intermountain Research Station, Ogden, UT.163 pp.
Julander, O. 1962. Range Management in Relation to Mule Deer Habitat and Herd Productivity in Utah. Journal of Range Management. 15:278-281.
Kearl, S. L. 2002. Historical Evidence of Sage Grouse Occurrence and Abundance in Northern Utah. Unpublished Literature review, presented at the Westerns States Sage and Sharp-tailed Grouse Symposium, Bicknell, UT. (link to abstract yet to be forwarded to Jen)
McMurrin, J. A. 1989. The Deseret Live Stock Company: the First Fifty Years, 1890-1940. Thesis, University of Utah, Salt Lake City, UT. 113 pp.
Rawley, E. V. 1985. Early Records of Wildlife in Utah. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources Publ. 86-2. Salt Lake City, UT. 102 pp.
Russell, O. 1955. Journal of a Trapper. Ed: Haines, A. L. University of Nebraska Press, Lincoln, NE. 191 pp.
Shields, W. F. 1968. The Woodruff Bison Kill. University of Utah Anthropological Papers, No. 99, Misc. Paper 21. Salt lake City, UT. 10 pp.
Stoddart, L. A. 1940. Range Resources of Rich County, Utah. Bull. 291. Utah Agricultural Experiment Station, Logan, UT. 30 pp.
Urness, P. J. 1990. Livestock as Manipulators of Mule Deer Winter Habitats in Northern Utah. In: Severson, K. E., ed. Can Livestock be Used as a Tool to Enhance Wildlife Habitat? Gen. Tech. Rep. RM-194. U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Rocky Mountain Forest and Range Experiment Station. Fort Collins, CO. 123 pp.
