The California Department of Fish and Wildlife will host a public meeting on December 2 to gather input on the development of a Statewide Deer Conservation and Management Plan. The meeting will take place from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. at the Tallman Pavilion at the Tri-County Fair, located at 475 Sierra Street in Bishop.
The event follows a series of earlier workshops held in Sacramento, both in-person and online, as CDFW works to develop a comprehensive plan that will guide deer management across California. The Bishop meeting is intended to give Eastern Sierra residents a chance to participate in the process and talk directly with regional staff.
Local biologists will share the same presentation given at the Sacramento meetings, along with information specific to deer herds that migrate through and inhabit the Eastern Sierra. According to CDFW, the evening will be informal and will end with a question-and-answer session to allow the public to raise concerns, offer local knowledge and learn more about ongoing deer research and management efforts.
The statewide deer plan is being developed shortly after CDFW released two major wildlife planning documents earlier this year. The Black Bear Conservation and Management Plan for California and The Conservation and Management Plan for Bighorn Sheep in California were both published in April and outline long-term strategies for those species based on habitat needs, population trends and regional challenges.
CDFW plans to follow a similar structure for the deer plan. Once completed, it will serve as a statewide framework that outlines management goals, conservation strategies, population monitoring, habitat needs and local considerations across California’s diverse deer zones.
Outdoor recreationists, hunters, landowners and interested residents are encouraged to attend the Bishop meeting and share their perspectives. CDFW staff say they look forward to hearing from Eastern Sierra communities and continuing an open dialogue about deer management in the region.
For questions about the Statewide Deer Conservation and Management Plan, contact Brian Leo, Statewide Deer Coordinator, at [email protected].
