Italy Valley QDM Co-op Summary

[fasteddie]

  This is a report that I received in an E-mail ...........         

Co-op Guidelines:

·        Refrain from harvesting bucks < 14” outside

·        Harvest does based on herd density

·        Refrain from harvesting “button bucks”

·        Maintain and submit observation & harvest information

Dear Co-op Member,                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                                          January 31, 2011

Attached are summaries of the observation and harvest information submitted by our members for the 2010 deer hunting season.  If you submitted observation information you are receiving a comparative summary with the data that you submitted along with the Observation Log data summary for the Co-op as a whole.  This was done in an effort to allow you to compare your property’s specific results with that of the entire Co-op.  If you did not submit observation information, you are receiving summary data for the Co-op as a whole.  All members are receiving the Co-op Harvest Summary.  As always, no one is receiving observation or harvest information containing identifiable results from any other property.

Our 2010 observation hours totaled 2,271 which align closely with our 4 year average of 2,200 hours per year.  This represents a very significant level of observation.  Put in perspective, it is equivalent to more than one “man year” of observation, or a person in the field observing our local deer herd across a 10,000 acre area 8 hours per day, seven days per week for one year, one month, and 5 days without missing a day – yet compressed into a 9 week hunting season.  This level of observation has once again resulted in meaningful summary data which are logical and mutually supportive across the variables that we measure.  That said, it would be great to have even more Observation Log participation, so if you haven’t kept observation data in the past, please consider doing so next season.  Highlights of 2010 observation and harvest data follow.

“14 Inch Buck” sightings were up 30% compared to the previous year, and have increased 70% vs. our 1^st season in 2007.  Letting yearling bucks “walk” clearly results in significant increases in older year-class buck sightings in subsequent years.  In terms of harvest, 14”+ bucks made up fully 1/3 of our total reported harvest vs. an average of around 25% in previous years.

“Total Deer Observed” increased by 17% vs. 2009 and has increased an average of 13% each year.  This could suggest more deer on Co-op properties due to habitat improvements, hunting style changes, a growing area deer population, or a combination of these or other variables.  An increasing deer population may not seem to be supported by a decreasing recruitment rate as mentioned below.  But based on our relatively modest doe harvest, our herd can grow at a 15 – 20% annual rate with a recruitment rate as low as .70 and possibly lower.

Our “Recruitment Rate”, or the number of fawns observed per adult doe decreased by 19% vs. 2009 and at .74 was lower than any previous year.  Although this reduced level could reflect random year-to-year variation, it could also indicate something more significant such as inadequate pregnant female nutrition which could result in aborted fetuses, still births, or fawns born too weak to survive.  One remedy would be to reduce our deer population through increased doe harvests in an effort to provide more food for the remaining deer.  The decrease in fawn sightings could also be due to predation by coyotes and bears.  However, our Co-op’s 2010 data reflects a 75% year-to-year decrease in coyote sightings with only 4 reported.  But our bear population is clearly on the rise in Italy Valley based upon increased sightings and trail cams photos each year.

I’ve attached a summary of some recent NYSDEC research, “Reproductive Status of Deer in NYS” which contains a great deal of locally generated information including calculated rut timing in our area.  As it relates to fawn survival and recruitment rates, note that the research found that pregnant mature does were found to be carrying an average of 1.73 fetuses per doe and that yearling does were found to average 1.46 fetuses.  Yet by the fall of the year, we know from our observations that only about half (+/-.80) of these fetuses survive in the womb, through birth, and through the first few weeks of life to be recruited into the fall deer population.  Between inadequate nutrition and large predators, fawn survival is far from a sure thing.

We are currently working on a date for our 2011 QDM Co-op member meeting where the winners of the 2010 “Big Buck” and “Dough” contests will be determined.  We’ll let you know the details when meeting plans are finalized.

Please keep in mind that the legislation which allowed us to use rifles for big game hunting here in Yates County was temporary and it “sunsets” before the start of our 2011 big game season.  The Yates County SCOPE chapter will lead an effort to get new legislation allowing rifle use written and signed into law.  Letters and phone calls from constituents to legislators will be critical in getting new legislation passed, so I hope that you can be counted on to help when the time comes.  I’ll keep you posted.

[phade]

“14 Inch Buck” sightings were up 30% compared to the previous year, and have increased 70% vs. our 1^st season in 2007.  Letting yearling bucks “walk” clearly results in significant increases in older year-class buck sightings in subsequent years.  In terms of harvest, 14”+ bucks made up fully 1/3 of our total reported harvest vs. an average of around 25% in previous years.

While 8% may be statistically important in some studies, I'm not so sure I'd want to tout that.

What does "fully 1/3" mean, exactly? Is that different from 33%, somehow?

In 4 years of this co-op, they've managed to increase harvest of 14"+ OS bucks by 8 percent?

To me, if the deer quality is getting better, either the hunters are still making poor choices when pulling the trigger, or they're not very good hunters, on a whole.

I'm wondering if that's a typo or something. 

If that includes does (as mentioned by total harvest) then that's a bit better to swallow, but they should clarify that, specifically. I'd also be curious to know if their "total" harvest reference just buck harvest in that segment.

[SteveB]

Sounds like they are still shooting most of the young deer - just a few more have a little wider racks.