Kip Adams

Managing Public Lands

Kip Adams Wildlife Biologist – Director of Education & Outreach Quality Deer Management Association

Deer Herd

Habitat

Deer Herd Habitat Deer Herd Habitat

Deer Herd Habitat

Deer Management Strategies • Traditional Deer Management • Trophy Deer Management • Quality Deer Management

Traditional Management is… The approach where any legal buck, regardless of age or antler quality, is harvested and few (if any) does are harvested.

Traditional Deer Mgt. Harvest

Habitat Destruction

Deer – Human Conflicts

Trophy Management is… The approach under only fully mature bucks with high scoring antlers (except “culls”) are harvested and does are aggressively harvested to maintain low deer density and optimum nutrition for remaining animals.

Trophy Deer Management

Quality Management is… The approach under which young bucks are protected from harvest, combined with an adequate harvest of female deer to produce healthy deer herds in balance with existing habitat conditions.

Traditional

QDM

Trophy

Public Land = Multiple Use

Four Building Blocks of QDM

Herd Management Simplified

The most important halfinch in deer management

Hunters like to shoot bucks

Too many still don’t like to shoot does

Preseason Deer Estimate

2003 2005 2007

Oh io W isc on sin

Illi no is In dia na Mi ch ig an

1800000 1600000 1400000 1200000 1000000 800000 600000 400000 200000 0

Antlerless Deer Harvest

2003 2005 2007

Oh io W isc on sin

Illi no is In dia na Mi ch ig an

350000 300000 250000 200000 150000 100000 50000 0

Antlered Buck Harvest (1.5+) 300000 250000 200000 150000

2003 2005 2007

100000 50000 Oh io W isc on sin

Illi no is In dia na Mi ch ig an

0

Antlered Buck Harvest (% 1.5 yrs)

2001 2003 2005

Oh io W isc on sin

Illi no is In dia na Mi ch ig an

70 60 50 40 30 20 10 0

Antlered Buck Harvest (% 2.5 yrs)

2001 2003 2005

Oh io W isc on sin

Illi no is In dia na Mi ch ig an

40 35 30 25 20 15 10 5 0

Michigan is one of the few states that shoots more antlered bucks than antlerless deer

Hunters like to shoot bucks

But do young bucks provide the same opportunities & excitement as mature bucks?

And do young bucks fulfill the role of mature bucks in a population?

Antlered Buck Management

Common Buck Harvest Restriction Methods • Minimum number of antler points

• • • • •

Minimum antler spread Age - body characteristics Gross Boone and Crockett score Buck quotas or limits Combination approaches

All have advantages and disadvantages

Which Strategy is Best? From a biological standpoint, age restrictions are typically best because they are the most precise and flexible way to achieve management goals. From a practical standpoint, harvesting by age may not be possible due to varying skill levels among hunters. The chosen strategy should be biologically sound, objectively monitored, and supported by the majority of hunters and landowners. Education is the key!

Antlerless Deer Management

Common Antlerless Deer Harvest Strategies • • • • •

Increased antlerless permits/tags Increased antlerless bag limit Additional antlerless seasons Earn-a-buck Combination approaches

All have advantages and disadvantages

Selective Antlerless Harvest

What will work in Michigan?

What will work on public and private land?

Common Buck Harvest Restriction Methods Private • Antler points

• • • • •

Antler spread Age/body characteristics Buck quotas or limits Earn-a-buck Combination approaches

Statewide

Common Buck Harvest Restriction Methods UP/NLP • Antler points

• • • • •

Antler spread Age/body characteristics Buck quotas or limits Earn-a-buck Combination approaches

SLP

Common Antlerless Deer Harvest Strategies Private • Increased permits

• • • •

Increased bag limit Additional seasons Earn-a-buck Combination approaches

Statewide

Common Antlerless Deer Harvest Strategies UP/NLP • Increased permits

• • • •

Increased bag limit Additional seasons Earn-a-buck Combination approaches

SLP

Wildlife management is an art and a science, and it’s the blending of the two that permit successful wildlife programs Tailoring deer management programs to a specific locale is exciting and challenging, and it’s one reason biologists enter the field Michigan DNR has the knowledge and experience to implement a successful program, so voice your input and then do your part as a hunter/manager to improve the deer herd.

Quality Deer Management Association

www.QDMA.com 1-800-209-DEER