Interested in weighing in on Wyoming’s Platte Valley mule deer migration corridor? You have until Jan. 15, 2021 to do so. The Wyoming Game and Fish Department (WGFD) announced the extended public comment period of the draft assessment late last week.

This particular mule deer migration corridor encompasses hunt areas within the Snowy and Sierra Madre Ranges in Carbon County. Because the Platte Valley is considered “one of the most crucial pathways in the state for spring and fall mule deer movements,” the draft assessment looks to maintain “connectivity between seasonal ranges,” according to the Oil City News.

The current draft assessment addresses analyzing “existing and potential threats,” exploring “opportunities for proactive conservation” and determining “appropriate management actions,” according to the Oil City News. This means considering invasive species, energy and exurban development, fencing, roads and other habitat improvement projects that impact mule deer herd health in the Platte Valley. WGFD plans to manage the corridor at a 16,000-mule deer objective. Current herd estimates put the total population at about 12,000 deer.

If you would like to learn more about the draft assessment and comment on the proposal, click here.