Post by Woody Williams on Apr 6, 2006 18:22:32 GMT -5
Virginia Deer Harvest Stats
During the 2005 deer season 214,675 deer were reported killed by hunters in Virginia. This total included 100,927 antlered bucks, 20,357 button bucks, and 93,391 does (43.5%). The 2005 kill figure represents a 3% decrease from the 221,492 deer reported killed in 2004. It is, however, 4% greater than the past 10-year average of 206,900.
Across the state, deer kill levels were down 13% in the northern mountains, up 1% in the northern piedmont, down 11% in the southern mountains, down 2% in the southern piedmont, and up 6% in tidewater.
Archers, not including crossbow hunters, killed 17,291 deer. The 2005 bow kill was up 8% from the 16,055 deer taken by archers in 2003. The bow kill comprised 8% of the total deer kill.
Crossbows, which were legal for all deer hunters for the first time in fall 2005, resulted in a deer kill of 5,476 deer or 2-1/2% of the total deer kill.
Muzzleloader hunters killed 49,356 deer. The 2005 muzzleloader kill was up 1% from the 48,797 deer taken by muzzleloader hunters in 2004. Muzzleloading comprised 23% of the total deer kill.
Over 108,600 deer (approximately 51%) were checked using the Department's telephone checking system for fall 2005. This was up from 44% in 2004.
White-tailed deer management in Virginia is based on the fact that herd density and health are best controlled by regulating antlerless deer kill levels. Female deer kill numbers have been at record levels for the past three consecutive years.
Deer management objectives and regulations are set on a county basis, and regulations are evaluated and amended every other year on odd years. Over the vast majority of the Commonwealth of Virginia, current deer management objectives call for the deer herd(s) to be stabilized at their early to mid 1990’s deer kill levels and appear to be working fairly well over most of the state.
Data presented in this summary is preliminary.
Top 10 Counties
2004 2005
Bedford 7,748 Fauquier 7,340
Loudoun 7,056 Bedford 7,134
Fauquier 6,891 Loudoun 6,816
Shenandoah 5,268 Southampton 5,628
Franklin 5,218 Franklin 5,192
Albemarle 4,809 Albemarle 4,840
Pittsylvania 4,754 Shenandoah 4,608
Southampton 4,751 Pittsylvania 4,277
Rockingham 4.741 Rockingham 4,085
Augusta 4,281 Augusta 3,857
Bears were also reported:
During the 2005-2006 hunting season, hunters reported killing 1,440 black bears for Virginia's second highest annual harvest. The total included 871 males (60%) and 569 females (40%). This harvest was 27% greater than last year’s harvest of 1,130 and 5% lower than the record kill of 1,511 that occurred during 2003-04.
The archery harvest of 311 bears (or 22% of the total harvest) was an increase of 52% from the previous year’s harvest of 205. At 22%, the archery portion of the total harvest was slightly greater than the 35-year average of 17%.
The 4-day muzzleloading season produced 146 bears (10% of the total harvest) and was an increase of 59% over the previous year.
The regular firearms harvest totaled 983 bears. Prior to the dog-hunting season, firearms hunters during the second week of deer-gun season killed 268 bears (or 19% of total harvest; the long-term average is 30% of the total harvest). This 2005-06 no-dog harvest was 13% lower than last year’s harvest of 308. A total of 715 bears (or 50% of the total harvest) was harvested during the dog-hunting / hound season. This was nearly equal to the long-term proportion of bears typically killed during the hound season. The total dog-season harvest was 36% higher than the 2004-05 kill of 526 bears.
Bear harvests west and east of the Blue Ridge Mountains were 1,089 (up 24% from the last season) and 351 (up 39%), respectively. The 8 counties that contain the Shenandoah National Park produced 40% (577 bears) of the total bear kill, an increase of 24% over the 2004-05 season. Similar to the 2004-05 bear hunting season, 6% (89 bears) of the statewide kill came from areas of the state that were newly opened to bear hunting in 2003; the traditionally hunted areas of the mountains in western Virginia and around the Dismal Swamp accounted for 94% of the total harvest (1,351 bears).
Turkey hunters had it tough:
Fall turkey hunters reported a harvest of 4,428 birds in the 2005-06 season. This harvest was 22 percent below last years reported kill (5,656). The harvest declined 25 percent in counties West of the Blue Ridge Mountains (1,706 vs. 2,285). Counties East of the Blue Ridge declined 19 percent (2,722 vs. 3,371).
Scott led all counties with a harvest of 144 birds. Cumberland county was new to the top 10 county list of fall harvested birds.
The decrease in the fall turkey harvest was likely due to a combination of the effects of reproduction and mast crops.
Reproduction in 2005 was below average based on the ratio of juveniles per adult female in the fall harvest. Successful turkey hunters are required to report their birds to check stations where wing and breast feathers are collected. These feathers are used to determine age and sex ratios of fall harvested birds. The ratio of juveniles in the fall harvest is an index to reproductive success. Higher numbers of juveniles represent better reproduction and vise versa. In 2005-06, a ratio of 1.9 juveniles per adult female was reported from check station data. The long-term ratio of 3.2 juveniles per adult female suggests that the 2005-06 was significantly below average. Unfortunately, reproduction has been low over the past 5-years with the exception of the 2004 season (3.1). Population levels have declined in recent years with poor recruitment since 2001. These observations have been shared by adjoining states in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Region as well. Several years of above-average recruitment will be needed to restore population levels to those seen in 2001.
Department research has identified inclement weather during spring nesting and brood rearing as factors related to poor recruitment. Colder March temperatures are believed to delay the onset of breeding and nesting, which can result in diminished reproductive effort. Additionally, higher rainfall amounts in April have been associated with poor nest success. Nest predation may be higher under these conditions as predators are likely to be more successful scenting and finding nesting birds in cool moist environments. Reproductive conditions appeared to be slightly worse in the western part of the state because reproduction and harvests have been slightly lower than eastern Virginia.
Mast, acorns in particular, can have a negative relationship on harvests. When acorns are abundant, the fall turkey harvest typically declines. Conversely when there are no acorns to be found, the harvest tends to increase. The most significant impact of mast on fall turkey harvest is seen with significant changes between years in acorn crops. In other words, little change in fall turkey harvest can be expected when mast conditions are the same from year to year. However, significant changes in harvests can be expected when mast crop abundance changes from good to poor or poor to good.
In the 2005-06 season, acorn crops were generally similar with the exception of red oak and beech, which were better than last year. Similar mast crops between years should have resulted in similar harvest rates over the past 2 years.
During the 2005 deer season 214,675 deer were reported killed by hunters in Virginia. This total included 100,927 antlered bucks, 20,357 button bucks, and 93,391 does (43.5%). The 2005 kill figure represents a 3% decrease from the 221,492 deer reported killed in 2004. It is, however, 4% greater than the past 10-year average of 206,900.
Across the state, deer kill levels were down 13% in the northern mountains, up 1% in the northern piedmont, down 11% in the southern mountains, down 2% in the southern piedmont, and up 6% in tidewater.
Archers, not including crossbow hunters, killed 17,291 deer. The 2005 bow kill was up 8% from the 16,055 deer taken by archers in 2003. The bow kill comprised 8% of the total deer kill.
Crossbows, which were legal for all deer hunters for the first time in fall 2005, resulted in a deer kill of 5,476 deer or 2-1/2% of the total deer kill.
Muzzleloader hunters killed 49,356 deer. The 2005 muzzleloader kill was up 1% from the 48,797 deer taken by muzzleloader hunters in 2004. Muzzleloading comprised 23% of the total deer kill.
Over 108,600 deer (approximately 51%) were checked using the Department's telephone checking system for fall 2005. This was up from 44% in 2004.
White-tailed deer management in Virginia is based on the fact that herd density and health are best controlled by regulating antlerless deer kill levels. Female deer kill numbers have been at record levels for the past three consecutive years.
Deer management objectives and regulations are set on a county basis, and regulations are evaluated and amended every other year on odd years. Over the vast majority of the Commonwealth of Virginia, current deer management objectives call for the deer herd(s) to be stabilized at their early to mid 1990’s deer kill levels and appear to be working fairly well over most of the state.
Data presented in this summary is preliminary.
Top 10 Counties
2004 2005
Bedford 7,748 Fauquier 7,340
Loudoun 7,056 Bedford 7,134
Fauquier 6,891 Loudoun 6,816
Shenandoah 5,268 Southampton 5,628
Franklin 5,218 Franklin 5,192
Albemarle 4,809 Albemarle 4,840
Pittsylvania 4,754 Shenandoah 4,608
Southampton 4,751 Pittsylvania 4,277
Rockingham 4.741 Rockingham 4,085
Augusta 4,281 Augusta 3,857
Bears were also reported:
During the 2005-2006 hunting season, hunters reported killing 1,440 black bears for Virginia's second highest annual harvest. The total included 871 males (60%) and 569 females (40%). This harvest was 27% greater than last year’s harvest of 1,130 and 5% lower than the record kill of 1,511 that occurred during 2003-04.
The archery harvest of 311 bears (or 22% of the total harvest) was an increase of 52% from the previous year’s harvest of 205. At 22%, the archery portion of the total harvest was slightly greater than the 35-year average of 17%.
The 4-day muzzleloading season produced 146 bears (10% of the total harvest) and was an increase of 59% over the previous year.
The regular firearms harvest totaled 983 bears. Prior to the dog-hunting season, firearms hunters during the second week of deer-gun season killed 268 bears (or 19% of total harvest; the long-term average is 30% of the total harvest). This 2005-06 no-dog harvest was 13% lower than last year’s harvest of 308. A total of 715 bears (or 50% of the total harvest) was harvested during the dog-hunting / hound season. This was nearly equal to the long-term proportion of bears typically killed during the hound season. The total dog-season harvest was 36% higher than the 2004-05 kill of 526 bears.
Bear harvests west and east of the Blue Ridge Mountains were 1,089 (up 24% from the last season) and 351 (up 39%), respectively. The 8 counties that contain the Shenandoah National Park produced 40% (577 bears) of the total bear kill, an increase of 24% over the 2004-05 season. Similar to the 2004-05 bear hunting season, 6% (89 bears) of the statewide kill came from areas of the state that were newly opened to bear hunting in 2003; the traditionally hunted areas of the mountains in western Virginia and around the Dismal Swamp accounted for 94% of the total harvest (1,351 bears).
Turkey hunters had it tough:
Fall turkey hunters reported a harvest of 4,428 birds in the 2005-06 season. This harvest was 22 percent below last years reported kill (5,656). The harvest declined 25 percent in counties West of the Blue Ridge Mountains (1,706 vs. 2,285). Counties East of the Blue Ridge declined 19 percent (2,722 vs. 3,371).
Scott led all counties with a harvest of 144 birds. Cumberland county was new to the top 10 county list of fall harvested birds.
The decrease in the fall turkey harvest was likely due to a combination of the effects of reproduction and mast crops.
Reproduction in 2005 was below average based on the ratio of juveniles per adult female in the fall harvest. Successful turkey hunters are required to report their birds to check stations where wing and breast feathers are collected. These feathers are used to determine age and sex ratios of fall harvested birds. The ratio of juveniles in the fall harvest is an index to reproductive success. Higher numbers of juveniles represent better reproduction and vise versa. In 2005-06, a ratio of 1.9 juveniles per adult female was reported from check station data. The long-term ratio of 3.2 juveniles per adult female suggests that the 2005-06 was significantly below average. Unfortunately, reproduction has been low over the past 5-years with the exception of the 2004 season (3.1). Population levels have declined in recent years with poor recruitment since 2001. These observations have been shared by adjoining states in the Mid-Atlantic and Northeast Region as well. Several years of above-average recruitment will be needed to restore population levels to those seen in 2001.
Department research has identified inclement weather during spring nesting and brood rearing as factors related to poor recruitment. Colder March temperatures are believed to delay the onset of breeding and nesting, which can result in diminished reproductive effort. Additionally, higher rainfall amounts in April have been associated with poor nest success. Nest predation may be higher under these conditions as predators are likely to be more successful scenting and finding nesting birds in cool moist environments. Reproductive conditions appeared to be slightly worse in the western part of the state because reproduction and harvests have been slightly lower than eastern Virginia.
Mast, acorns in particular, can have a negative relationship on harvests. When acorns are abundant, the fall turkey harvest typically declines. Conversely when there are no acorns to be found, the harvest tends to increase. The most significant impact of mast on fall turkey harvest is seen with significant changes between years in acorn crops. In other words, little change in fall turkey harvest can be expected when mast conditions are the same from year to year. However, significant changes in harvests can be expected when mast crop abundance changes from good to poor or poor to good.
In the 2005-06 season, acorn crops were generally similar with the exception of red oak and beech, which were better than last year. Similar mast crops between years should have resulted in similar harvest rates over the past 2 years.
;D