Deer Count


Doc

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I am curious as to how many states actually do a live deer count as part of their management system.

Does your state do a count? I don't necessarily mean on an annual basis, but just often enough to verify their statistical calculations and assumptions. If so, what method do they use?

Doc

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Re: Deer Count

Do not believe so. I think they use harvest data to estimate the numbers if I am not mistaken. I would assume that is how they estimate by county, tags of animals checked in have to specify the county they were killed in.

I have heard of some individuals doing some research for a college study, counting deer on ground owned by the arsenal.

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Re: Deer Count

I know they do Doc but I honestly don't know exactly how they do it. I do know they had about 40 people out all night long last spring doing counts in various areas and darting some deer for some reason. Can't remember exactly what the darting was all about though.

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Guest PAT_PATTERSON

Re: Deer Count

Not to my knowledge, I have asked how they come up with numbers of average kills per year. The answer is they poll 50% of the hunters in my state (FL) and assign numbers. with no check stations or check ins period (except for a few WMA's) they have to just SWAG it I guess.

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Re: Deer Count

PA had an aerial count with a heat sensor and only in the counties in the middle of the state. Not sure how accurate it was, but they contracted a company from out West to conduct the study and they had problems getting it done because of weather.

Andy

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Re: Deer Count

Quite a while ago, I visited the website of the outfit that was doing that survey for PA. Sorry, I do not remember their name. However, they were talking some pretty impressive accuracy numbers, as I recall. They also had some pictures of the typical count fly-over, and I was quite impressed with the clarity and detail of the images. They were showing pictures of an elk count that they had done out west somewhere, and there was absolutely no confusion about what kind of animal it was or how many were in each group. I have no idea what they charge, but it sure looked like good way to get an accurate look at the population.

Doc

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Re: Deer Count

I'm a little disappointed that we didn't hear from more states on this question than we did. I was hoping that I could get an idea just what states saw some value in attempting some kind of a deer count, and just how they were approaching it.

I think that I am a believer in periodically doing some kind of deer count just to verify that the statistical methods are not drifting too far astray from reality over the decades.

Doc

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