Management goals are to maintain adult populations of 3,500 mule deer, 1,800 elk, 600 pronghorn, and 100 moose on the DLL summer range.
Big game populations are managed by removing 10 percent of the males annually, along with enough females to maintain herds at a desired size. Our big game herds characteristically have high male to female ratios, with a high percentage of mature males. As a result, the ranch offers high quality hunting opportunities for both antlered and antler-less big game.
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. And 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, other landowners, other agencies and conservation organizations to successfully manage healthy big game populations in balance with the resources of both DLL and adjacent lands.
