
Eneas pwalxkn (mule deer) Monitoring Project
Hunters for BC would like to acknowledge that this project area is on the traditional and unceded territory of the Okanagan syilx people. We recognize, honour and respect the presence of Indigenous people, past, present and future.
Welcome
Thank you for participating on the Eneas Project!
The diminishing population of mule deer in Region 8 has raised substantial concerns among hunters, conservationists, First Nations, and local wildlife managers. Recently, members of Hunters for BC observed what seemed to be elevated mortality rates inside a high fence erected to safeguard both people and deer from collisions with vehicles and wildlife along a busy section of Highway 97 south of Peachland. Upon discussion with the Okanagan Nation Alliance, it was revealed that some members of their wildlife team had observed the same issue. In February 2023, Hunters for BC and Okanagan Nation Alliance initiated a monitoring program for an 11 km stretch of high fence where it appears that sənklip (coyote) are using the fence as a prey trap to hunt pwalxkn (Mule Deer). The encroachment of habitat, human-induced degradation of habitats, and a general reduction in critical mule deer ranges have altered predator-prey dynamics, granting predators a competitive edge. It is crucial to thoroughly investigate all these impacts to promote the establishment of robust and stable mule deer populations.
Objective
The project aims to precisely quantify mule deer (pwalxkn) mortality, ascertain the cause of death whenever feasible, and collaboratively identify suitable mitigation measures to decrease wildlife mortality in the Highway 97 winter range corridor.

April 2023
Whitetail doe carcass piled on top of a mule deer doe carcass. Hwy 97 Fence Line
Emergency Contact Information
CALL 911 FOR ALL MEDICAL EMERGENCIES
Robin Unrau, Committee Chair: 250-864-7645
TJ Burns, Committee Chair: 250-864-4716
Amberlee Ficociello, Peachland: 250-215-7463
Kevin Unrau, Peachland: 250-808-5670
Non-Cellular Camera Instructions
Set Up, Change Cards & Battery Checks
- Bear Guard Lock Code – 8423
- Press ON (takes a few seconds)
- Enter code 8423 to unlock camera, Press OK
- Check battery levels. At 1 Bar, change batteries. Turn off camera, replace batteries & put OLD batteries in separate ziplock back. Install new batteries. Turn camera on. Enter 8423, press OK
- Remove SD card. Check that SD Card # matches camera #. If it doesn’t, fold in notepaper and document camera & card on paper.
- Check camera date in Menu Settings
- Once complete, make sure camera is set to ON
- Enter Code 8423, Press OK. Red light should flash. When flashing red lights stop, camera is active.
Welcome to Our Volunteers
These are the resources you will need to record your observations.
Staging
Each hike, we will Stage at Antler’s Beach. Here’s the PIN:
https://maps.app.goo.gl/qDX9sB5ukhbBaQKw6
ArcGIS Survey Forms
Using the Survey Forms
Detailed instructions on how to use the forms.
Click CONTINUE WITHOUT SIGNING IN

CARCASS ID: Leave Blank
PERSONNEL: You and your partner
CARCASS ID: Leave Blank
BIOLOGICAL SAMPLES: None
GENERAL LOCATION: Mt Eneas North or South

SITE GPS LOCATION: Tap the crosshairs to get auto-GPS location
LATITUDE/LONGITUDE: For manual entry if needed, otherwise leave blank. Make sure to double check your coordinates and record them below as well in case the points generated automatically aren’t as accurate.
PICTURES: Take photos of the mortality scene.
- Upload at least 3-5 pictures; one of the prey species, and the general location around the mortality
- E.g. general location photos may include the drag line or images of where the carcass is located in terms of the fence.
DESCRIBE THE MORTALITY SCENE: Include scale, habitat type, tracks, scat, blood, signs of struggle, etc.
- Was there a drag line? Signs of scavengers? Was the kill cached?
DESCRIBE THE TERRAIN: Rocky outcrop, steep ravine, grassland, ponderosa pine, etc.

IS THERE SNOW BUILD UP? Yes/No
SLOPE: Estimate the degree of the slope.
- You can use a compass to estimate slope; make sure the indicator arrow is aligned with E and the compass is on its side (E-W) then use those angles to estimate slope
- SUGGESTION: DOWNLOAD FREE COMPASS APP
ASPECT: The direction that the slope faces on the compass.
- E.g. if you are skiing down a hill, the direction you are facing is the slope’s aspect. (USE COMPASS)
WHAT IS ACROSS THE HIGHWAY? General observations.
- E.g. winery, houses, grassy area, campground, the lake, etc.
WHAT IS ON OTHER SIDE OF FENCE? General observations. - E.g. steep drop off, ditch, road, game trail, etc.
HOW FAR IS FENCE FROM HIGHWAY?
IS THERE COVER PRESENT? Was the carcass found within shrubs or under trees providing cover or was the carcass found in the open with no cover.

DISTANCE TO NEAREST WATER ACCESS POINT?
- Is there any sign of water access visually? Is there sources of water on the map nearby?
- E.g. <5m, stream, puddle, etc.
- The lake may be the nearest water access point.
ARE THERE PREDATOR/SCAVENGER SIGNS?
What are signs of predators?
- Scat; cougar vs. bear
- Hair; bear rub tree, hair found in bed sites
- Tracks
- Scratch marks
What are signs of scavengers?
- Scat; coyote and avian
- Pieces of carcass are missing or remains spread out >30m away
PREDATORS PRESENT: if there are predator signs present record which signs were observed and what predator species they indicate
PRIMARY PREDATOR SPECIES: If more than one predator sign present, indicate which one may be responsible for initial predation.
CONFIDENCE IN DEATH: Determining the cause of a mortality is easier when the kill is more recent, a lot of evidence is lost with weathering and scavengers.
SCAVENGERS PRESENT: List species
- Scavenger signs observed may be coyote tracks or scat as well as avian scat
- There may also be visual signs such as certain bird species (turkey vultures) circling above where potential kill may be

PREY SPECIES: List prey species if able to identify, if unable to just put Unknown
- E.g. Mule Deer, White Tail Deer, Deer Sp., Bird Sp., Rodent Sp., etc.
ESTIMATE TIME OF DEATH:
- Less than 24 hours
- 24 hours to 72 hours
- 72 hours or more
CAUSE OF DEATH:
- Predator
- Injury
- Stuck in fence
- Vehicle
- Firearm
- Disease
- Unknown
- Other
SEX: Male, Female, Unknown
AGE: For deer sp., age can be esmated by assessing there teeth.
- Neonate (dawn to Dec 1st of birth year)
Yearling (1 to 1.5 years)
Adult (>1.5 years)
Unknown
WHAT REMAINS ARE PRESENT: E.g. intact carcass, old bones, hide, legs, spine, etc

WHAT REMAINS ARE PRESENT:
- E.g. intact carcass, old bones, hide, legs, spine, etc.
IS CARCASS COLLARED/EAR TAGGED? Yes/No
- If Yes, collect the collar to return and record the number on the ear tag and collar in data form under other general notes about observation.
IS THE FENCE DAMAGED OR PUSHED OUT NEAR CARCASS? Yes/No
- Record any damages to the fence under the fence repairs data form in Survey123.
CARCASS STATE: Intact or Disarticulated
IS THERE HAIR ON FENCE? Yes/No
OTHER OBSERVATIONS: Enter additional comments about your observations, as needed.
