Million Bucks, originally conceived in 1989, is a partnership program that emphasizes management of National Forests and Grasslands to benefit deer and people’s enjoyment of deer. The basis of this program is the collaboration between the Forest Service and several partners, including the Mule Deer Foundation, Whitetails Unlimited, state agencies and other conservation groups towards conserving and restoring deer habitats to support healthy deer populations as well as recreational opportunities for the public.
Photograph by Dave Herr
Why is the Forest Service interested in A Million Bucks?
Millions of acres of deer habitat fall on National Forest System lands across North America. Although management of deer populations is the responsibility of the state fish and game agencies, the Forest Service contributes to deer conservation by managing the habitats upon which these deer depend. This contribution, primarily in the form of habitat restoration and conservation education, is significant due to the economic, recreational (e.g., hunting and viewing), and ecological roles deer play in our society and in environmental communities.
News
Million Bucks - Forest Service/Mule Deer Conservation Award - USDA Forest Service & Mule Deer Foundation
It is the time to submit your nominations for 2017.
Tangible results from partnership with Mule Deer Foundation and other partners.
This mule deer was spotted in a wildlife enhancement project area, treated through thinning and prescribed burning. A wildlife water (trickle tank) is located nearby. These projects were completed over a 5-year time period, with the assistance of volunteers and funding from multiple partners, including the Mule Deer Foundation.
How Can You Help?
You can help by supporting management of habitats for deer and other wildlife that depend upon the National Forests and Grasslands. This can be done by providing funds to our partners supporting projects and programs that will directly benefit deer and their habitats, volunteering time on such projects, and expressing support for these activities and efforts in your community and more broadly.
Two species of deer, native to North America, live on National Forests and Grasslands: mule deer (Odocoileus hemionus) and whitetail deer (Odocoileus virginianus). Within each species, there are regional variants that exhibit sufficient variability to warrant subspecies designation. These relatives include the Pacific coastal (or Columbian) blacktail (O. h. columbianus) and Sitka blacktail of Alaska (O. h. sitkensis) for mule deer and the southwestern Coues deer (O .v. covesi) and Florida Key deer (O. v. clavium) for whitetail deer. Read the book The Deer of North America or visit Wikipedia as a starting place for more information on the different deer species.
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