Post by hungryhuntergirl on Jun 8, 2006 16:06:47 GMT -5
We conducted an infrared camera survey during February 2005 to determine if a minimum inside spread regulation and the use of sub 4-point tags were needed to better manage the deer herd on MCWMA. We estimated deer population characteristics from the resulting photographs and used buck harvest data from past hunting seasons to supplement the camera survey data.
Twenty, passive-infrared cameras were used to sample 4,000 acres during a 10 night period. We recorded estimated age, number of antler points, and antler quality (high or low) for each unique buck photographed. To determine effects of past buck harvest on the current population, the average number of antler points was compared between camera survey data and past harvest data. Average inside spread was compared over time using harvest data only from the past 6 hunting seasons.
The survey produced 1,777 photographs, with 2,650 deer occurrences counted in the photographs. Following are the population estimates for the 4,000 acres sampled:
Bucks................................ 84
Does................................. 81
Fawns............................... 47
Total................................ 212
Buck : Doe ratio................1 : 1
Fawn Crop....................... 58%
Acres/Deer........................ 19
Camera survey data compared to past harvest data indicated that the buck population on MCWMA has been high graded over past hunting seasons. Photographed bucks of all ages averaged 1.0–1.8 fewer antler points compared to harvested bucks. Antler spread of 1.5 year old harvested bucks has decreased nearly 2 inches since 1996, while antler spread of 2.5 year old and 3.5+ year old harvested bucks has remained similar. This tells us that over the past several years, the 4-point regulation on MCWMA has decreased the average number of antler points and also somewhat reduced inside spread as a result of harvesting the highest quality 1.5 year old bucks.
Only 20% of all photographed bucks were judged to have low quality antler characteristics for the soil region in which MCWMA lies. This was most apparent in the 2.5 and 3.5 year old age classes. Antler quality of photographed 1.5 year old bucks was not judged as high or low because all were spikes – which is not uncommon for this soil region. Of all low quality bucks, 45% had less than 4 antler points, and the majority (55%) are eligible for harvest without sub 4-point tags. When buck density is extrapolated across the 6,800 acres of deer habitat, estimated buck abundance is 142. Assuming the percentage of low-quality bucks having less than 4 antler points remains constant for the entire area, only 13 bucks 2.5+ years of age would be eligible for harvest with a sub 4-point tag. However, most 1.5 year old bucks would be eligible for harvest using a sub 4-point tag.
As a result of this study, the legal buck regulation for MCWMA will be changed for the 2005-2006 hunting season to a buck having at least 4 antler points and minimum inside spread of 12 inches. This will protect practically all 1.5 year old bucks from harvest and help prevent high grading in the future. Sub 4-point tags will not be issued because most 1.5 year old bucks would be eligible for harvest with the tags, and the number of 2.5+ year old bucks having less than 4-points appears to be insignificant.
Twenty, passive-infrared cameras were used to sample 4,000 acres during a 10 night period. We recorded estimated age, number of antler points, and antler quality (high or low) for each unique buck photographed. To determine effects of past buck harvest on the current population, the average number of antler points was compared between camera survey data and past harvest data. Average inside spread was compared over time using harvest data only from the past 6 hunting seasons.
The survey produced 1,777 photographs, with 2,650 deer occurrences counted in the photographs. Following are the population estimates for the 4,000 acres sampled:
Bucks................................ 84
Does................................. 81
Fawns............................... 47
Total................................ 212
Buck : Doe ratio................1 : 1
Fawn Crop....................... 58%
Acres/Deer........................ 19
Camera survey data compared to past harvest data indicated that the buck population on MCWMA has been high graded over past hunting seasons. Photographed bucks of all ages averaged 1.0–1.8 fewer antler points compared to harvested bucks. Antler spread of 1.5 year old harvested bucks has decreased nearly 2 inches since 1996, while antler spread of 2.5 year old and 3.5+ year old harvested bucks has remained similar. This tells us that over the past several years, the 4-point regulation on MCWMA has decreased the average number of antler points and also somewhat reduced inside spread as a result of harvesting the highest quality 1.5 year old bucks.
Only 20% of all photographed bucks were judged to have low quality antler characteristics for the soil region in which MCWMA lies. This was most apparent in the 2.5 and 3.5 year old age classes. Antler quality of photographed 1.5 year old bucks was not judged as high or low because all were spikes – which is not uncommon for this soil region. Of all low quality bucks, 45% had less than 4 antler points, and the majority (55%) are eligible for harvest without sub 4-point tags. When buck density is extrapolated across the 6,800 acres of deer habitat, estimated buck abundance is 142. Assuming the percentage of low-quality bucks having less than 4 antler points remains constant for the entire area, only 13 bucks 2.5+ years of age would be eligible for harvest with a sub 4-point tag. However, most 1.5 year old bucks would be eligible for harvest using a sub 4-point tag.
As a result of this study, the legal buck regulation for MCWMA will be changed for the 2005-2006 hunting season to a buck having at least 4 antler points and minimum inside spread of 12 inches. This will protect practically all 1.5 year old bucks from harvest and help prevent high grading in the future. Sub 4-point tags will not be issued because most 1.5 year old bucks would be eligible for harvest with the tags, and the number of 2.5+ year old bucks having less than 4-points appears to be insignificant.
