It is important to remember that even with the best management, deer herd size will always be limited by habitat carrying capacity, the number of animals an area can support. The deer harvest rose by about 10 percent in, , but the buck harvest was down by 10 percent. As of 2018, both of these counties have grown their populations since the last census, with Philadelphia County increasing by 3.04% and Allegheny County by a more modest 0.30%. JavaScript seems to be disabled in your browser. All of those figures are consistent with long-term averages. Antler Restrictions in Pennsylvania: Are They Working? Peak of the rut is about November 14. To determine deer population sizes and harvest recommendations by management unit. Over-browsing by deer alters the diversity and habitat for other forest mammals and birds. The 2020-21 muzzleloader harvest included 1,140 antlered bucks compared to 1,260 bucks in 2019-20. In Pennsylvania, the deer population moves through the following sequence each year: Birth of fawns majority of predation 'pre-hunt' population deer hunting seasons. Deer populations were kept in check by large predators, such as mountain lions and wolves, and by people. 2004. 90.0%. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. During the depression the practice of hunting deer at night "jacklighting" became popular, made illegal in. Other seasons exist for certain WMUs. Y)*8TW. there were 723 captive shooting facilities with 35 having positives for CWD, 18 still had deer as of April. By 1930, Pa.'s deer herd had grown to record levels. Since then, deer populations increased rapidly annually. The hunting license year in Pennsylvania typically runs from July 1 to June 30 of the following year. Survival Rates, Mortality Causes, and Habitats of Pennsylvania White-Tailed Deer Fawns. Other sources of information help determine DMAP decisions, such as: There are many opinions about how many deer there should be on state forest land. 2016-17 Deer Harvest Estimates (PDF) If predation or other mortality factors were reducing the 'pre-hunt' deer population, this impact should be detected in 'pre-hunt' population trends. Estimated Hunter-days by Species. When their population is out of balance with habitat,they impact state forests and parks by browsing tree seedlings, shrubs, and wildflowers beyond their capacity to reproduce, impacting the ability to sustain a healthy, fully functioning forest. A 1971 survey counted 65 elk in Pennsylvania In 1998 a three year long trap and transfer program expanded the elk's range. Pennsylvania's population increased 7 out of the 11 years between year 2010 and year 2021. Despite predation and other mortality causes, 57 to 72 percent of fawns were still alive in Pennsylvania at 9 weeks of age. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Persons per household, 2017-2021. Then, coyotes enter the forest and eat two deer per year, but deer do not die from any other causes (such as starvation). Despite what some say, there are deer in the Big Woods. Ask The Deer Biologist - Ask a question. The previous license years breakdown is similar. In, an estimate of 1.5 million, another estimate of 1.6 million, and an estimate from the Pennsylvania Game Commission of between 1.3 and 1.5 million, or about 1.37 million. Predator Densities and White-Tailed Deer Fawn Survival. 0000002823 00000 n Field studies in Pennsylvania confirm that predators prey on white-tailed deer; especially young fawns. Hunters killed an estimated 376,810 white-tailed deer in the 2021-22 seasons, down sharply from the previous hunting-license year, according to the Pennsylvania Game Commission. WMU 2B: archery, 4,630 (4,150) antlered, 8,470 (5,500) antlerless; muzzleloader, 70 (50) antlered, 830 (700) antlerless. The Delaware study found that the greatest predictor of fawn survival is weight; fawns that are underweight are prone to higher mortality than heavier fawns. Limiting the use of motor vehicle and high-impact recreation in spring when fawns are especially vulnerable will help their survival. Deer populations rebounded quickly (Figure 1). DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK (WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D):Dec. 26-Jan. 28, 2023. About a quarter of the states deer hunters took a buck in the 2020-21 deer seasons, noted David Stainbrook, the Game Commissions Deer and Elk Section supervisor. By exhausting their major food source and obstructingforest regrowth, deer in high numbers can cause a forests ability to support future deer populations to decline. Proudly founded in 1681 as a place of tolerance and freedom. Nearly a fifth of the animals tested positive for the coronavirus. Justin K. Vreeland, Duane R. Diefenbach, and Bret D. Wallingford. Field studies from across the United States, including Pennsylvania, show that predators - notably coyotes, bears, and bobcats - prey on white-tailed deer. In Pennsylvania, the deathrate of adult white-tailed deer tends to be stable and mainly driven by hunting. For questions about the statewide DMAP program, the application process, coupon availability, or DMAP regulations, contact the Pennsylvania Game Commission at 717-787-4250. These studies indicated predators had substantial impact on deer populations on study areas in Alabama, Georgia, and South Carolina. The 2019-20 archery harvest was 145,908 (74,190 bucks and 71,718 antlerless deer). DEER, ARCHERY (Antlered and Antlerless) WMUs 2B, 5C and 5D:Sept. 17-Nov. 12; Sunday, Nov. 13; Nov. 14-19, Sunday, Nov. 20; Nov. 21-25and Dec. 26-Jan. 28, 2023. If the population trend objective was to maintain a stable population and we observed a decline, we would recommend a reduction in the antlerless allocation to return the deer population to objective. Please enable scripts and reload this page. For the best experience on our site, be sure to turn on Javascript in your browser. Anyone who hunted deer before antler restrictions can see the results. Geographic and Seasonal Patterns in Coyote Diet. PROCEDURES To obtain data on reproduction by age class, WCOs examined female deer killed by various causes from 1 February through 31 May 1999. Underweight fawns are also more likely to get caught by predators than those at a healthy weight. In Pennsylvania, hunting data represents the primary source of population trend information [, , there were 860 deer farms regulated by the Department of Agriculture with about 23,000 deer. The PGC said the harvest also points to how antlerless allocations and not length of seasons drive deer harvests. 2015-16 Deer Harvest Estimates (PDF) U.S. Census Bureau QuickFacts: Potter County, Pennsylvania QuickFacts Potter County, Pennsylvania Table (a) Includes persons reporting only one race (c) Economic Census - Puerto Rico data are not comparable to U.S. Economic Census data (b) Hispanics may be of any race, so also are included in applicable race categories Along with bobcats and black bears, coyotes are one of the few remaining predators of white-tailed deer following the extirpationregional extinctionof cougars and wolves in Pennsylvania. If the objective is to stabilize a deer population and the 'pre-hunt' deer population trend is stable, then the objective has been achieved. DEER, ANTLERED OR ANTLERLESS FLINTLOCK WMUs (1A, 1B, 2A, 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 2H, 3A, 3B, 3C, 3D, 4A, 4B, 4C, 4D, 4E, 5A and 5Bwithrequired muzzleloading license):Dec. 26-Jan. 16, 2023. To accomplish its mission of conserving Pennsylvanias forests, DCNR manages deer on its lands and promotes sustainable deer management on all commonwealth forest lands. If a fawn survives its first 30 days, it is highly likely to survive to adulthood, as it will be able to outrun potential predators. We see that in the entries coming into our Big Game Records Program, in the photos smiling hunters share, and in the deer we see when our staff visits deer processors to collect harvest data. Competition for mast can cause a reduction in: This in turn, reduces the predator populations that feed on them, including: In addition, over-browsingcan eliminate the shrub layer and greatly reduce the diversity of forest-floor plant species. Please enable scripts and reload this page. The 'pre-hunt' population is the number of deer available at the beginning of the first hunting season. at a captive deer facility in Adams county. indicates an approximately stable deer population over the decade into 2021. . : Call the Game Commission at 814-643-1831. Carrying capacity can change annually, seasonally, and across properties. If predation losses increase, the 'pre-hunt' population would decrease. The 'pre-hunt' population is the number of deer available at the beginning of the first hunting season. The deer harvest was up by 2.6 percent from 2017 to 2021 with the hunter, about the same over that period, suggesting a small increase over the period as also indicated by the. The 2020-21 estimated deer harvest topped the previous license years harvest of 389,431 by about 12 percent. Underweight fawns are more susceptible to cold and rain and therefore more likely to contract disease. The 2021 firearms deer season featured two weeks of concurrent buck and doe hunting for the first time statewide in more than a decade. In the 2018-19 license year, 147,750 bucks were harvested. WMU 2C: archery, 3,860 (4,230) antlered, 3,630 (3,939) antlerless; muzzleloader, 40 (70) antlered, 1,570 (1,854) antlerless. Assume that the population grows exponentially. Whitetail Periodicals:Life and Times of the WhitetailColumns. Species: Mule deer and whitetails Estimated population: About 427,570 Fall 2020-'21 harvest: Estimated 38,899 Overall outlook: Bradley Gabrielski, Colorado Parks and Wildlife communications center wildlife coordinator, says deer populations have increased statewide. Deer also avoid predation by predator swamping". Odocoileus virginianusSeasons and Bag Limits: For residents of Pennsylvania, the muzzleloader permit costs $11.97, and for out-of-state hunters, the permit costs $21.97. WMU 4E: archery, 3,850 (3,420) antlered, 3,420 (2,750) antlerless; muzzleloader, 50 (80) antlered, 1,280 (1,250) antlerless. In studies in Alabama and Georgia, declining or low fawn-to-doe ratios were observed. The 'pre-hunt' population includes fawns that survived predation and other mortality during their first summer. Therefore, we find no evidence that antlerless license allocations must be reduced to offset predation. All that matters is how many individuals died in a year (deathrate), how many animals were born (birthrate), how many animals immigrate or emigrate to or from an area, and how many animals reach reproductive status (recruitment). WMU 5A: archery, 1,680 (1,580) antlered, 1,920 (1,880) antlerless; muzzleloader, 20 (20) antlered, 480 (620) antlerless. Buck harvest estimates increased by more than 1,000 deer in six WMUs: 2A, 2F, 3A, 3B, 3C, and 4E. In Pennsylvania, the Game Commission has monitored over 1,500 radio-collared deer aged 6 months and older. 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