Counting Deer
Posted By
michigan
at
12/13/2009 12:00:00 AM
I'd like to start this discussion by reiterating what I said in Monday's show: I'm not looking to simply bash the Michigan DNR. I'm not afraid to say when I think they're wrong but I don't think it really does anyone any good to just bicker with them. They need us. We need them. Let's make it work.
Now, onto the topic of discusssion. Recently the DNR released its estimate of how many deer were killed during the gun season and said it thinks the kill was down 10-20 percent. Personally, I think that estimate is too low. I think the kill was down at least 20 percent. Probably closer to 30. The southern Michigan estimate was a 10 percent decrease and I think that's pretty optimistic. No one I've talked with had anywhere near the season they expected. That's not a complaint really, just a statement of personal observation and opinion. The standing corn certainly hurt the kill numbers. But it's more than that. I think that in our efforts to kill more deer, we've actually hit a wall and our efforts are backfiring. Think about it. When do you stop seeing deer? When do you see the most deer movement? For me, I see the vast majority of daylight movement when the hunting pressure is at its lowest. As soon as that pressure increases, the deer disappear. They're still out there. They just don't move until dark.
We've just had a 16-day gun season followed four days later by a 16-day muzzleloader season. The day after that ends another gun season begins for antlerless deer. In theory all those hunting days should mean more deer killed. But it doesn't. My records show that it has become increasingly tougher to kill deer during the later stages of the season as more days have been added to gun seasons. I'm not anti-gun. Not at all. But you have to admit that gun seasons are high impact affairs. Deer know what's happening when they hear guns booming. Personally, I think we need to build in some days of rest during December. Why not wait 7-10 days before opening the muzzleloader season? What's so wrong with having a one-week antlerless season in January? Yes, I know that some bucks will have shed their antlers. But Ohio's muzzleloader season doesn't start until mid-January. Iowa has a does-only gun season in January as well. Both of those states see significant amounts of my money for non-resident hunting opportunities. And both are stellar whitetail states.
So the topic of the day is counting deer. The DNR's preliminary estimate is based on a combination of check station data, highway observation counts and such. Well, this year the DNR had very, very few check stations because of budget cuts. I think that had to have had an impact on the accuracy of their estimate and understandably so.
The "real" numbers come out in the spring after the DNR has had a chance to do mail and Internet surveys. Now, I've heard all kinds of arguments for mandatory deer checks. But, to be honest, I'm just not a believer. There is plenty of evidence that shows statistical samples are just as -- if not more -- accurate than mandatory checks. Why? Becuase people don't always comply with the mandatory check-in requirements. In Ohio, it's estimated that perhaps as many as 30% of hunters don't check their deer. So just how accurate is the data then? With the state of Michigan's economy, I just don't see mandatory check stations as being a wise use of our license dollars. Do I think a mandatory deer check system would improve hunter trust in the numbers? Absolutely. And that may be the best reason of all to do a mandatory check system. Hunters need to be able to trust the DNR.
So did your season go the way you hoped? Do you think the DNR needs to make some changes? Well, the only way any change ever happens is if someone forces that change. Just talking about the things you'd like to see doesn't cut it. You have to get involved. Join a group like Michigan United Conservation Clubs or QDMA or whatever group you choose that works with the DNR on hunting issues. Your voice does matter. In fact, you can make your voice heard right now. The DNR is currently conducting its annual Internet survey of deer hunters. It only takes a few minutes to complete. Click here to participate. I make sure I give my feedback every year. Has it helped? Well, I can't say that it has.
But I do know this: It doesn't hurt to try.
Tony H.
Now, onto the topic of discusssion. Recently the DNR released its estimate of how many deer were killed during the gun season and said it thinks the kill was down 10-20 percent. Personally, I think that estimate is too low. I think the kill was down at least 20 percent. Probably closer to 30. The southern Michigan estimate was a 10 percent decrease and I think that's pretty optimistic. No one I've talked with had anywhere near the season they expected. That's not a complaint really, just a statement of personal observation and opinion. The standing corn certainly hurt the kill numbers. But it's more than that. I think that in our efforts to kill more deer, we've actually hit a wall and our efforts are backfiring. Think about it. When do you stop seeing deer? When do you see the most deer movement? For me, I see the vast majority of daylight movement when the hunting pressure is at its lowest. As soon as that pressure increases, the deer disappear. They're still out there. They just don't move until dark.
We've just had a 16-day gun season followed four days later by a 16-day muzzleloader season. The day after that ends another gun season begins for antlerless deer. In theory all those hunting days should mean more deer killed. But it doesn't. My records show that it has become increasingly tougher to kill deer during the later stages of the season as more days have been added to gun seasons. I'm not anti-gun. Not at all. But you have to admit that gun seasons are high impact affairs. Deer know what's happening when they hear guns booming. Personally, I think we need to build in some days of rest during December. Why not wait 7-10 days before opening the muzzleloader season? What's so wrong with having a one-week antlerless season in January? Yes, I know that some bucks will have shed their antlers. But Ohio's muzzleloader season doesn't start until mid-January. Iowa has a does-only gun season in January as well. Both of those states see significant amounts of my money for non-resident hunting opportunities. And both are stellar whitetail states.
So the topic of the day is counting deer. The DNR's preliminary estimate is based on a combination of check station data, highway observation counts and such. Well, this year the DNR had very, very few check stations because of budget cuts. I think that had to have had an impact on the accuracy of their estimate and understandably so.
The "real" numbers come out in the spring after the DNR has had a chance to do mail and Internet surveys. Now, I've heard all kinds of arguments for mandatory deer checks. But, to be honest, I'm just not a believer. There is plenty of evidence that shows statistical samples are just as -- if not more -- accurate than mandatory checks. Why? Becuase people don't always comply with the mandatory check-in requirements. In Ohio, it's estimated that perhaps as many as 30% of hunters don't check their deer. So just how accurate is the data then? With the state of Michigan's economy, I just don't see mandatory check stations as being a wise use of our license dollars. Do I think a mandatory deer check system would improve hunter trust in the numbers? Absolutely. And that may be the best reason of all to do a mandatory check system. Hunters need to be able to trust the DNR.
So did your season go the way you hoped? Do you think the DNR needs to make some changes? Well, the only way any change ever happens is if someone forces that change. Just talking about the things you'd like to see doesn't cut it. You have to get involved. Join a group like Michigan United Conservation Clubs or QDMA or whatever group you choose that works with the DNR on hunting issues. Your voice does matter. In fact, you can make your voice heard right now. The DNR is currently conducting its annual Internet survey of deer hunters. It only takes a few minutes to complete. Click here to participate. I make sure I give my feedback every year. Has it helped? Well, I can't say that it has.
But I do know this: It doesn't hurt to try.
Tony H.
