Deer Harvest by Zone

Northern Zone: While the overall numbers stayed relatively unchanged, the Northern Zone showed a decrease in antlerless take by a margin of 8% with a larger drop in buck take dipping to 21% from the previous year. The DEC reported that these numbers reflected a return to levels seen in 2005 and 2006. The DEC summarized that the warm weather in November contributed to the fall in numbers by slowing the activity of both deer and deer hunters. Early season take usually accounts for the larger portion of the Northern Zone deer harvest. Warm weather and lack of snow cover during this period can easily account for the decrease.

Southern Zone: In the Southern Zone, numbers where right on target with last year. With the take virtually unchanged, DEC biologists noted that an increase in take would have been likely if colder temperatures and sufficient snow cover had been present in the Southern Zone during the regular deer season last fall.

Western Zone: In keeping with years past, the Western Zone remains the state leader in total harvest densities. The DEC pointed out that the number of Deer Management Permits (DMPs) had a large influence on the numbers skewing the outlook. The DEC suggests looking at buck harvest numbers for the Northern Zone as they create a more accurate depiction of relative deer population densities. This in mind, the top five counties were Wyoming, Orange, Genesee, and Ontario.

Notable Points of Interest

• Chronic Wasting Disease surveillance by the DEC has continued with no additional cases found in the state.
• Nearly 16,000 14- and 15-year-olds signed up for the “Junior Big-Game License”.

Download/Open the FULL New York State 2009 Deer Harvest Report (PDF)

2009 Deer Harvest Comparison

Yearling antler growth is affected by several factors, including quality of habitat, date of birth, severity of the past winter and to lesser extent genetics.

A deer’s date of birth is a critical consideration for yearling antler growth. Fawns in NY are typically born in late May or early June. Fawns that are born later in the year as a result of late conceptions almost always lag in physical development in comparison to fawns born during the traditional period. Late-drop fawns are weaned to solid food later in the summer. The period of time needed for normal body growth before the onset of winter is reduced and overall their physical stature is diminished. If they are lucky enough to survive their first winter, late born male fawns become yearlings and will typically display the tiny yearling spike or “pencil” racks hunters often observe. In contrast, fawns that have a normal period of time to mature before winter tend to have the typical long spikes as yearlings and some will grow a small “basket rack”.

Quality of habitat is another key factor in yearling antler growth. Not all deer habitat is equal. Yearlings that have consistently better nutritional rations of natural foods available to them will have larger body sizes, larger antler beam diameters and higher point-counts on basket racks as yearlings. Having more and better food results in better body condition.

A wild card in yearling antler growth is winter severity. Even during mild winters, deer rely on their stored fat reserves to make up for the lack of green succulent vegetation in their winter diet. Fat is stored in three locations in their bodies and will be found under the skin, in the gut cavity and in bone marrow. In hard winters, fat reserves are depleted rapidly. If deer are able to survive the harsh conditions and lack of food, they will need to replenish their overall body condition before resuming normal growth and restoring fat reserves. As a result, male deer of all age classes will show smaller beam diameters, less antler mass and lower point counts during the next fall because they needed to both replenish their fat reserves and body condition before resuming normal growth.

Bucks that survive their yearling fall continue to mature as they enter the next fall when they will be 2 ½ years old. In addition to having more body mass, antler growth will increase significantly. The pedicels, or bases of the antlers found

on the skull tend to shift to the sides as the animal matures. This causes antlers to appear to grow more outward over the ears. Spike antlers on 2 ½ year old deer are extremely rare in NY. I’ve checked and aged thousands of deer in the field in southeastern NY and I’ve only encountered a handful of 2 ½ year old bucks that had spikes for antlers. Most occurred after the really tough winters such as 1977-78 and 2002-03 when starvation and winter mortality were widespread. In the few other instances 2 ½ year old bucks with spikes had an earlier body injury that affected antler development.

Lastly, while the genetic contribution of a deer’s parents can certainly play a role in the size and mass of deer antlers, it is extremely difficult, if not impossible to attempt to manage that specific genetic trait in a free ranging deer herd that is subject to hunting on vast acreages of public and private lands. Keep in mind that one half of the genetic contribution to a fawn’s future antler characteristics comes from the doe. Without knowing the lineage of the doe it is virtually impossible to predict which does might carry a higher quality gene for larger antler development. While controlled pen studies done with captive deer herds and known lineage for certain physical characteristics can be done, it is simply not possible to hope to be capable of duplicating that level of precision breeding in free ranging herds.

“Once a spike, always a spike” was a common refrain I heard when going afield with my deer hunting elders in Ulster County in the late1950’s. Nothing could be farther from the truth – a yearling buck with spike antlers is similar to a 12-year-old boy…an energetic, excitable and highly mobile individual with a lot of growing that needs to occur to his physical stature before he reaches maturity.

Sportsman are Urged to Take Action

Yellow Tail Wine Gives Money to HSUS

Sportsmen Urged to Voice Protest

The Australian maker of  Yellow Tail Wine has pledged $100,000 to the Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), the nation’s largest anti-hunting organization. This partnership offers further proof of HSUS’ work to spin its animal rights message in a way as to seem mainstream.

As HSUS states on its website:

“… the HSUS has paired with [yellow tail] for the “tails for tails” program. Through the end of March, you’ll see special [yellow tail] displays bearing The HSUS name and logo in stores across the country.

Through “tails for tails,” [yellow tail] is donating $100,000 to support us and our programs to help animals, including our Spay Day Online Pet Photo Contest.”

Alerted to this relationship, the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance (USSA) immediately contacted the American distributor of the wine, W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd., and urged them to ask Yellow Tail to sever its relationship with HSUS.

A copy of the letter the USSA sent to management can be found by clicking here.  Thus far, the USSA has not heard from W.J. Deutsch regarding our request.

“This wine maker has fallen into the same trap as other companies who donate money to HSUS,” said Bud Pidgeon, president of the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance.  “They believe they are helping animals in shelters when in fact they are funding an agenda from an animal rights group that is largely divergent from the vast majority of Americans.”

Take Action! Sportsmen should contact W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd. and inform them that they disapprove of Yellow Tail Wine’s relationship with the HSUS.  It is important that W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd understand that each dollar given to HSUS is another dollar that can be used to attack hunting, fishing and trapping rights.  Further, tell them that sportsmen will be forced to select alternative brands if the relationship with HSUS is not severed.

W.J. Deutsch and Sons Ltd. can be contacted at:

108 Corporate Park Drive
White Plains, NY 10604
Tel: 914-251-9463
Email: info@wjdeutsch.com

Ask to speak to Bill Deutsch, W.J. Deutsch’s chairman or Peter Deutsch, the company’s chief executive officer.

For more information regarding the U.S. Sportsmen’s Alert Network, call 614-888-4868, or email Greg R. Lawson, director of communications at glawson@ussportsmen.org or Sharon Hayden, assistant director of communications at shayden@ussportsmen.org.

U.S. Sportsmen’s Alliance
801 Kingsmill Parkway
Columbus, Ohio 4322929
614-888-4868
www.ussportsmen.org
info@ussportsmen.org

At Vassar College, Poughkeepsie, NY

Background

The Vassar Farm and Ecological Preserve,  situated in the Town of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New York consists  of  530 acres of open space that is actively  managed  for education, research, athletics, food production, composting, and recreation. Concurrently managing  for biodiversity and ecosystem health, the property has gradually experienced increasing negative effects as a result of a locally over abundant white-tailed deer herd. The integrity and mission of the Preserve have been placed in jeopardy by the presence and impacts of a burgeoning white-tailed deer population overbrowsing the landscape. After lengthy deliberations Vassar College adopted a plan of action to lower the standing deer population on the farm. Officials contracted with White Buffalo, Inc, a 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization to cull deer under the provisions of a Nuisance Deer Permit from the New York State Department of Environmental Conservation (DEC). On the evenings of January 7 and 13, 2010, staff from White Buffalo carried out a sharp-shooting program and removed a total of 64 deer.  All of the deer collected during the cull were retrieved and donated to the Federation of Dutchess County Fish and Game Clubs, Inc for inclusion in their venison donation program.  All of the deer carcasses were processed into ground meat in accordance with provisions of DEC’s Venison Donation Program. The Hudson Valley Chapter of the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA) an organization of volunteers dedicated to the sound management of white-tailed deer, offered to assist the effort and to collect biological data from the culled deer.  Information regarding the biological parameters of unhunted, suburban deer populations in the Hudson Valley is lacking and collection of this data may prove to be valuable in helping to guide any future efforts in dealing with free ranging deer populations in similar urban/suburban scenarios. Culling operations began at or shortly after sunset and continued into the evening hours, concluding at 11:00 pm.  After each culling event QDMA members collected age/sex data, live body weights, antler growth, qualitative abdominal fat deposition levels, fecundity and other gross observational data.  Collection of fecundity data was limited on the first day of sampling as a result of manpower limitations and time constraints including a critical need to have all deer field dressed in a timely manner.

Age and Sex Distribution Data

A grand total of 64 deer were taken during the cull and the age and sex distribution of the culled deer are displayed in Table 1.  Deer were aged using standard tooth wear and replacement techniques. All age classes are represented in the cull sample, although only five young-of-the-year (fawns) were present. Recruitment of the current year age class to the population appears to be lacking, while expected numbers of yearlings are present. Older age classes are present in expected numbers, declining as chronological ages increase. Survival among the cohort of middle-aged females  (4 ½ years thru 7 ½ years) appears to be consistent, and then begins to linearly decline. Adult male specimens, especially yearlings, appear to be grossly under-represented for a deer population that has not been subjected to annual hunting mortality.  Annual yearling buck emigration from a suburban deer population with landscape constraints may account for the lack of older males in the age structure.

Table 1.  Age and sex distribution data the January 2010 cull from Vassar Farm

Live Body Weights

Live body weights (entrails included) were taken for all deer in the sample using a calibrated Hanson 300 lb spring scale. The heaviest animals were a 155 lb 3 ½ year old male and a 188 lb 6 ½ year old female. Female deer displayed a decline in body size after peaking at 6 ½ years old. Fawn and yearling weights are comparable with recorded body weights of white-tailed in the northeastern United States. The sample sizes of older males are too small to make any reasonable body condition comparisons.

Table 2.  Average live body weights by sex and age class from the January 2010 deer cull at Vassar Farm.

Reproductive Data

A grand total of 23 of 53 adult female reproductive tracts were examined. Four of the 23 tracts (17%) appeared to be unbred, however given the dates of the collections, recent conceptions might have not been detected by gross examination. There were an average of 1.54 embryos per bred adult female (1 ½ years+) The observed sex ratio of the embryos collected was 56% male / 44% female (17 of 30). Calculated conception dates ranged from October 29 to December 2, a range of 34 days. Parturition dates ranged from May 15 to June 18, with similar range of 34 days.

(1)   Although this yearling female was not bred, teat length suggests that it had lactated as a fawn. Table 3. Selected data from Reproductive tracts examined.

Reproductive Data (cont)

Figure 1. Graph of Vassar Cull Deer Conception Dates (2009)

Figure 2. Fetal size variation with a 34 day range of conception dates.

Antler Data

Six adult males (1.5 years+) were taken during the cull. Antler beam diameter taken 1” above the base of the burr and antler point totals were collected. Antler beam diameters are consistent with 2008 average antler beam diameters from deer taken in Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 3F.  Average beam diameters for WMU 3F were 16.96 mm for yearlings, 24.22 mm for 2 ½ year old bucks and 25.33mm for 3 ½ year old bucks. All of the males with the exception of one of the 2½ year old specimens were in good  body condition with heavy depositions of mesentery and kidney fat.  However based upon limited sample sizes, live body weights of the two older age classes of bucks appear less than noted in adjoining habitats. No bucks  were observed to have shed their antlers at the date of collection.

Table 4.  Selected antler data from bucks taken during the cull. Gross Morphology and Anomalies One 3 ½ year old doe had abnormal mesentery fat depositions with fat appearing to be amorphous, large and very hardened to touch. Two specimens had external cutaneous fibromas, or papillomas, on the mandible and abdominal regions.  These localized wart-like growths are a viral reaction to the bite of an insect and are not uncommon in portions of southeastern New York. Fecal samples were also taken for use in white-tailed deer diet studies being conducted by Vassar College researchers.

General Observations

• Young of the year (fawns) of both sexes are poorly represented in the age structure of the sample, however reproductive tract examination reveals a high level of fecundity.  Recruitment of the current years cohort into the population appears to be lacking, suggesting a high level of mortality to fawns during the neonatal period. As reported by the shooter, only four observed deer escaped the culling operation, only two of which were fawns. The diminished number of fawns suggests poor survival of the current year class beyond six months after parturition. Possible causes of this low recruitment could include predation by domestic dogs and coyotes, motor vehicle collisions, human interference and lack of suitable fawning habitat as a result of diminished ground cover.
• The extended period of parturition could also contribute to poor fawn survival. A range of 34 days during which fawn drop occurs subjects them to an extended period of time during which the newborn fawns are immobile and subject to higher levels of depredation.
• The absence of adult males 1 ½ years and older in the age structure in this unhunted, suburban deer population is also evident.  Poor adult male/adult female ratios are more common in populations subject to heavy annual hunting mortality, often to the detriment of the population.  On Vassar Farm high fawn mortality, coupled with emigrations of yearling males out of the area could lead to diminished numbers of adult males. Urban barriers could similarly be precluding immigration of yearling males from other areas onto the farm property.
• Given the high level of fecundity observed the potential exists for the deer population on Vassar Farm to rebound quickly.  Recurring removal of deer will likely be required to maintain deer densities and reduce browsing to levels needed to maintain the integrity of the vegetation on Vassar Farm.  Data collections in any subsequent deer removal operations should continue, as should additional investigations concerning deer abundance and distribution.

Richard J. Henry Big Game Biologist (Ret) Hudson Valley QDM

The technique was developed using “crown-to-rump” measurements of known-aged fetuses. Therefore, by measuring the length from the forehead (crown) to the junction of the tail and back (rump) of a fetus on the fetal scale, you can determine the fetus’s age. Then, you can use the scale to backdate and determine the date the fetus was conceived, and foredate to estimate the date it would have been born. This analysis is the preferred method for determining the length of and especially the peak of the rut across the whitetail’s range, and it allows managers to detect changes in breeding dates with respect to herd management programs.

Getting Started

Expensive equipment isn’t necessary. All you need is an $8 fetus scale, available from QDMA, and a little knowledge about where to find the fetuses. Fetuses are located in the reproductive tract, and that lies low and at the back end of the abdomen (just above the udder). If you hang a doe for field dressing, hanging her by the hind legs makes locating the reproductive tract very easy. It will be hanging below but close to the bladder and above the intestines. If you field dress a doe on the ground, it is easier to locate the reproductive tract before you remove the entrails. That way blood and/or stomach contents (for those who aren’t careful with their knife) don’t cover everything and make identification more difficult.

Once you locate the reproductive tract make one incision and cut it away from the body. Then place the tract on a flat surface. The tract consists of the uterus (or birth canal), which branches into two halves that each contain an ovary. There may be a fetus in each half of the tract, only one half, or no fetuses. Cut into the tract and remove any fetus(es). You can cut the umbilical cord flush with the body. It’s that simple, and it’s even easier than pulling a jawbone. However, make sure you collect a fetus and not a cotyledon. Cotyledons are part of the placenta, have a capsule-like appearance and may look somewhat similar to very young fetuses. However, a quick inspection will easily distinguish between the two. Once the fetus is in hand, you can age it and determine conception and birth dates in less than five minutes at camp or on your tailgate using your fetus scale. If you don’t have a scale, store the fetus(es) in the freezer for analysis at a later date.

For Example

Let’s say you harvested a doe on December 15, and you determined the age of the fetus was 51 days. The “Julian date” of December 15 is 349, which is provided for you in a chart on the back of your fetus scale. This number minus the fetal age in days (51) is 298. The Julian date of 298 occurs on October 25. This is the date of conception. The number of days to parturition, or birth, was 147. This number, added to the Julian date of the harvest (349) is 496. The Julian date of 496 occurs on May 11. That is the date the fawn would have been born.

Graphing the Data

Once you determine conception dates, it’s time to graph the data. According to Joe Hamilton, a simple bar chart works well, and you plot the number of pregnant does in your harvest data (the sample size) on the vertical axis. Plot the conception dates on the horizontal axis and group them on a weekly basis. This chart will reveal the range of breeding dates and the peak of the rut for your area.

In all deer populations, there will be does that are bred earlier and later than most, and this occurs for a variety of reasons. Thus, the conception date from one pregnant doe is not reliable as an indicator of rut timing. With more does in your data set, you will gain a more complete picture of local rut timing.

In general, as a deer population goes from unmanaged and unbalanced toward a balanced sex ratio and increased health, the span of time from first to last conception date will be shorter, and the peak of the rut will be stronger.

Fetal Aging For Everyone?

Fetal aging is a great way to determine the relative length and peak of the rut in your area. You simply need a fetal scale and some fetuses. Unfortunately, that second requirement can be difficult to collect in some northern locales. Crown-to-rump measurements are an accurate technique for aging fetuses, but fetuses must be at least 35 to 40 days old for the technique to work (and about 60 days old to determine sex). This isn’t a problem in areas with late deer seasons and/or early ruts. However, many northern firearms seasons coincide with or immediately follow peak breeding. In some areas of the South, the rut peaks later in the year, near the end of hunting season. Thus most harvested deer, even if pregnant, have fetuses far younger than 35 to 40 days. If this is the case in your area you can still check for fetuses as some does breed early. For example, in Pennsylvania peak breeding generally occurs between November 10 and 20, but Game Commission conception data shows breeding routinely occurs in October. The fetuses from these early-bred does would be old/large enough during the firearms season to determine conception date using the fetal scale.

Many states have late antlerless or primitive weapons seasons where you could collect fetuses from harvested does. A word of caution, however: Don’t wait until these late seasons to achieve the majority of your antlerless harvest simply to collect fetuses. The benefits of early antlerless harvests far outweigh the benefits of collecting 35-day-old or older fetuses. A third option is to collect fetuses from road-killed does during winter or spring. This option is a little messier, and it is illegal in some areas, so be sure to check your local regulations. A final option is to contact your state or provincial wildlife agency and ask for conception dates in your area. This may not be as representative as data you can collect locally, but it’s better than nothing.

Is It Flawless?

Researchers in Mississippi recently determined fawns from the Lower Coastal Plain (lower-quality habitat) were lighter and shorter than fawns from the Thin Loess and Delta soil regions (higher-quality habitats) in Mississippi. The researchers also found twins were lighter and shorter than singletons, and males were heavier than females. This research may have implications for the accuracy of the fetal scale. However, since 82 percent of fetal growth occurs during the final trimester of pregnancy, 35- to 135-day-old fetuses (first and second trimester fetuses) may not exhibit the differential growth rates identified in Mississippi’s different soil regions. Fortunately the vast majority of harvested does will have fetuses less than 135 days old, and the technique described above should be accurate for management purposes.

The technique may not be perfect, but it’s been successfully used across the whitetail’s range for more than 20 years. This is due in part to rigorous testing during development of the criteria and scale. Joe and his colleagues compared measurements between males and females, singletons and twins, fresh and preserved fetuses, and fetuses from 1½- to 3½-year-old does, and found negligible differences. The researchers suggest using the average length of twins or triplets, but otherwise the scale is robust with respect to sex, number and “freshness” of fetuses and mother’s age (at least through 3½ years).

Not a Make-or-Break Proposition

Aging versus not aging fetuses won’t make or break your management program, but it is a quick and simple technique to collect valuable data about the deer population you’re managing. The data can provide insight to the relationship between the deer population and the habitat’s ability to support it, the adult sex ratio, the adult age structure and even herd health. More importantly, it provides solid data on the best dates to be firmly positioned in your favorite deer stand.

The Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership and the Hudson Valley Quality Deer Management Association presents:  Oh Deer!

The population and habits of white-tailed deer have changed over time, and so has the need for and approaches to management of deer in our region. Ethan Pierce, Deer Program Manager at Mohonk Preserve, and Dick Henry, Biologist with the Hudson Valley Quality Deer Management Association, will discuss the changing role of deer in our landscapes and what’s being done to address their impacts.

The Lecture will be held on Thursday January 21, 2010 7-8:30 p.m. and are open to the public and free of charge (no advance registration is necessary) and is sponsored by the State University of New York at New Paltz Biology Department.  The lecture will take place at the SUNY New Paltz Lecture Center, Room 100. For directions and a campus map, see www.newpaltz.edu/map. The Lecture Center is located between the Library and the Humanities Building on the west side of the campus. No parking permit is required if you park after 6:30 p.m.

For more information, visit http://www.mohonkpreserve.org/index.php?events or contact Nadia Steinzor,Mohonk Preserve, at (845) 255-0919, or Cara Lee, The Nature Conservancy, at 845-255-9051. Cancellations due to winter weather will be listed on area radio stations. Effort will be made to reschedule any cancelled lectures in early March.

Composed of non-profit and public agencies, the Shawangunk Ridge Biodiversity Partnership is dedicated to protecting the sensitive wildlife habitat and other natural resources of the Shawangunk Mountains. Informed by field research and scientific analysis, partners manage over 40,000 protected acres of the Shawangunks, provide environmenal education, and work with local communities to preserve open space on the slopes of the ridge.

For more information, visit www.gunksfireplan.org.