Metadata for Mule Deer Distribution and Habitat
Identification Information:
Citation:
Originator: Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Publication date: May 28, 2004
Title: Mule Deer Distribution and Habitat
Online linkage: \\FWPIMU01\IMU\GIS\DataProd\WILDLIFE\BIG_GAME\SHAPES\muledr2004.shp

Abstract:
Mule deer distribution, seasonal ranges, and habitat limiting factors.
Purpose:
Display and broad scale landscape analysis of mule deer seasonal ranges, distribution, habitat, and habitat limiting factors.

Time period of content:
Calendar date: September 2003
Currentness reference: ground condition
Status:
Progress: Complete
Maintenance and update frequency: Unknown
Access constraints: None
Use constraints:
The data are intended to provide a broad landscape perspective of mule deer habitat and seasonal distribution in Montana. The data are intended for initial resource review, conservation planning, current distribution display, habitat display, and broad scale landscape analyses of distribution and/or habitat. The data are not recommended for use in evaluating site specific applications. For evaluating or reviewing site specific applications MFWP recommends contacting the appropriate MFWP Regional office. Distribution and habitat not complete within National Parks and Indian Reservations - this does not imply that mule deer do not occur in these areas.
Point of contact:
Lydia Bailey
GIS & Natural Resource Data Manager
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
1420 East 6th Ave
Helena, Montana 59620-0701


Telephone: 406-444-5365
E-Mail: lbailey@mt.gov


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Data Quality Information:
Attribute accuracy report: Accuracy of area and length attributes is unknown.

Horizontal Positional Accuracy Report:
Approximate horizontal accuracy is 127 meters, assuming source data meets National Map Accuracy Standards.

Vertical positional accuracy report: NONE


Lineage:
Source information:
Originator:
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
Research and Technical Services Bureau
Publication date: Unpublished material
Title: Geoscan digital files
Source scale denominator: 250000
Type of source media: 3.5" diskettes
Source contribution:
The entire data set is a reviewed and edited copy of this
source. This source was digitized from Mylar overlays for
the 1:250,000 scale quadrangle map series.
Beginning date: 0
Ending date: 01/01/1988
Source information:
Originator:
United States Forest Service
Various Ranger Districts
Publication date: Unpublished material
Title: USFS Ranger District Wildlife Arc/Info Covers
Source scale denominator: 24000
Type of source media: magnetic tapes, 3.5" diskettes
Source contribution:
This is the source for updating portions of the overall
distribution and winter range information contained in the
original data set.
Beginning date: 09/01/1992
Ending date: 12/01/1994
Source information:
Originator:
National Mapping Division
U.S. Geological Survey
Publication date: Unknown
Title: 1:24,000-scale 7.5 minute quadrangles
Publication place: Reston, VA
Publisher: U.S. Geological Survey
Source scale denominator: 24000
Type of source media: Stable base media (Mylar)
Source contribution:
This is the source of some of the polygons delineated by
federal and state wildlife biologists.
Beginning date: 0
Ending date: 04/01/1996
Source information:
Originator:
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks (MFWP)
Information Services Unit
Publication date: Unpublished material
Title: MFWP Arc/Info 1:250,000 Generated Maps
Source scale denominator: 250000
Type of source media: paper
Source contribution:
These maps were reviewed by MFWP wildlife biologists. Final
edits to the coverage were made based on the changes made
by MFWP wildlife biologists.
Beginning date: 01/01/1994
Ending date: 04/01/1996

Process step:
Convert Geoscan data to ASCII tabular format. Generate Arc/Info coverages from the coordinates stored in the ASCII files. Clean up line work. Build polygon topology.
Process date: 0
Process step: Project from UTM to Albers.
Process date: 0
Process step: Compare with USFS data. Edit/append where necessary.
Process date: 0
Process step:
Digitize areas delineated by MFWP biologists on 1:24,000 quads.
Process date: 0
Process step:
Create 1:250,000 scale maps with overall distribution and winter ranges for MFWP biologist review/edits. Maps also included digital elevation model, hydrography, roads, cities and hunting district boundaries for geographic references.
Process date: 0
Process step: Edit the coverage based on MFWP wildlife biologist review.
Process date: 1996
Process step:
Biologist review of existing line work and distribution classifications. No edits necessary.
Process date: September 2003
Process step:
Add item OWNSHIP to land ownership/stewardship layer (available at http://nris.state.mt.us/default.asp) and calculated as private, public, tribal, water or unknown based on codes in OWN field. Dissolve land ownership/stewardship on OWNSHIP field. Ownership accurate as of May 2003 based on metadata of land ownership/stewardship layer.
Process date: January 2004
Process step:
Identity of mule deer distribution with dissolved ownership layer.
Process date: January 2004
Process step: Identity mule deer layer with MFWP regional layer.
Process date: January 2004
Process step: Populate CLASS and LIMIT fields based on biologist review.
Process date: May 2004
Process step: Metadata imported.
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Spatial Data Organization Information:
Point and vector object information:
ESRI feature type: Polygon
ESRI feature count: 57424
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Spatial Reference Information:
Horizontal coordinate system definition:
Projected coordinate system name: NAD_1983_Lambert_Conformal_Conic
Map projection:
Map projection name: Lambert Conformal Conic
Lambert conformal conic:
Lambert Conformal Conic
Standard parallel: 45.000000
Standard parallel: 49.000000
Longitude of central meridian: -109.500000
Latitude of projection origin: 44.250000
False easting: 600000.000000
False northing: 0.000000
Planar distance units: meters
Geodetic model:
Horizontal datum name: North American Datum of 1983
Ellipsoid name: Geodetic Reference System 80
Semi-major axis: 6378137
Denominator of flattening ratio: 298.257
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Entity and Attribute Information:
Entity type label:
MULEDR2004
Entity count: 57424
Entity type definition: Polygon Attribute Table

Attribute label: FID
Attribute definition: Internal feature number.
Attribute domain:
Sequential unique whole numbers that are automatically generated.

Attribute label: Shape
Attribute definition: Feature geometry.
Attribute domain: Coordinates defining the features.

Attribute label: LIMIT
Attribute definition:
Limiting factors for Montana mule deer populations. Limiting factors in Montana were based on private and public land ownership patterns within MFWP regional administrative boundaries.


Attribute
Value		 Definition of
Attribute Value
0 Domestic livestock forage competition
1 Habitat succession/maturation
2 Urban expansion
5 Riparian impacts/habitat over utilization
6 Timber harvest impacts
10 Habitat conversion (plowing, burning, etc)
17 Competition with other wild ungulates
18 Special situations (tribal lands, national parks)

Attribute label: COMMENT
Attribute definition: Comment

Attribute label: CLASS
Attribute definition: Habitat classification.


Attribute
Value		 Definition of
Attribute Value
B Spring, Summer, Fall Range. That part of the overall range where 90% of the individuals are located between spring green-up and the first heavy snowfall. Summer range is not necessarily exclusive of winter range; in some areas winter range and summer range may overlap.
D Winter range. That portion of the overall range where 90% of the individuals are located during the average five winters out of ten from the first heavy snowfall to spring green-up, or during a site-specific period of winter.
F Yearlong Range (non-migratory populations). An area that provides year-round range for a non-migratory population of mule deer. The resident deer use all of the area all year.
BD Winter/Yearlong Range
FD Winter/Yearlong Range

Attribute label: EDIT_SCALE
Attribute definition: Digitizing or edit scale for the polygon.

Attribute label: LAST_EDIT
Attribute definition:
Date the polygon or it's attributes were modified by MFWP Information Services Unit. Expressed as mmddyyyy.

Attribute label: BIO
Attribute definition:
Last name of MFWP biologist responsible for reviewing the data.

Attribute label: OWNSHIP
Attribute definition: Land ownership status.


Attribute
Value		 Definition of
Attribute Value
Private Lands classified as privately owned in land ownership layer.
Public Lands classified as owned by federal, state, or local governments in ownership layer.
Tribal Lands classified as tribal or BIA in ownership layer
Water Areas classified as water in the land ownership layer. These areas were treated as publicly owned for the purpose of classifying habitat and limiting factors.
Unknown -

Attribute label: REG
Attribute definition: FWP Wildlife Administrative Region
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Distribution Information:
Distributor:
Lydia Bailey
GIS & Natural Resource Data Manager
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
1420 East 6th Ave
Helena, Montana 59620-0701


Telephone: 406-444-5365
E-Mail: lbailey@mt.gov


Resource description: Downloadable Data



Standard order process:
Digital form:
Format name: ESRI Shapefile
Transfer size: 26.599
megabytes
Online option:
http://fwp.mt.gov/insidefwp/gis/shapefiles/muledr2004.zip
Fees:
For-profit organizations must pay our costs to reproduce the
data. Fees can be waived if doing government work.
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Metadata Reference Information:
Metadata date: May 28, 2004
Metadata contact:
Lydia Bailey
GIS and Natural Resource Data Manager
Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
1420 East 6th Ave
Helena, Montana 59620-0701


Telephone: 406-444-5365
E-Mail: lbailey@mt.gov


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