How is the Deer Herd in NC?
Alex Webb of the N&O interviewed Evin Stanford, the deer biologist with the N.C. Wildlife Resources Commission on how the deer herd is doing. The whole story is very enlightening and a worth while read. Some of the things that stood out to me;
Q: The drought has been on everybody’s mind this year. How does drought affect deer in general?
A: The drought typically does not have much of an impact on deer directly. They actually get a lot of their water intake from the vegetation they eat, and as a by-product of rumination whenever they are breaking down vegetation, it actually releases water. What it does affect more than anything is that it affects habitat. It affects the quality of the forage they are consuming. It can degrade that, and it can lower the nutritional value of a lot of the vegetation that is out there. … I get this question a lot; people just don’t understand that drought doesn’t affect deer.
On the topic of anterless deer and the new bonus tags he reports that 2000 of these bonus tags have already been issued considering that less 1% of hunters use all 6 of their tags this is an interesting development. He also talks about the importance of taking does;
One of the best things they can do, I think, is to increase the take of antlerless deer, particularly doe deer. Our survey information shows that 70 percent of hunters don’t even shoot a doe every year, so we are relying on 30 percent of our hunters out there to basically manage our deer herd.
As a wildlife agency, we can set all kinds of rules and regulations, but ultimately the true manager is the person out there pulling the trigger.
I must admit that 70% number is a bit shocking I expected it to be in the high 50’s low 60’s but it’s worse then I thought. Not me I drop the hammer on does no problem. I hope more do the same this year to help keep the number of deer in check. He talks about the urban areas and the fact the deer herd is growing fast because there is no hunting to help control the population. It seems two cities have signed on for the special urban archery season but I think the earliest that can happen is January 2009. Over all a good read and some great information about how the deer herd is doing.
I shoot does too. They’re much better tasting. Last season I was limited in my chances to hunt and I ended up only taking 1 very large buck. I was proud to put him on the wall, but frankly the meat was fairly tough. Give me the backstraps from a young doe any time!
As for habitat, in the part of the state that I hunt I’ve seen a big transition from farmers planting cotton to soybeans and corn, driven (I presume) by demand for bio-fuels. The upside is that the deer on our lease had access to 1,000 acres of soybeans when historically there has only been cotton. I haven’t seen deer so well fed in quite some time, drought or not. Once the beans are harvested I’m guessing they’ll have a bit harder time this winter.
Comment by GrillingGreg — October 12, 2007 @ 12:30 am
No doubt the does are good eating and I’ll try to take a few this year. I’ve only ever had one real gamy tasting deer and that was an old doe. With all the crops you got around you the deer should be fat and tasty. Good Luck Greg.
Comment by Moose — October 12, 2007 @ 4:15 pm
That is a high number of hunters not shooting does thats for sure. I would’ve never guessed it to be that high. Around my area, you better take your does early before the weekend warriors get out in full force, once that occurs, most all of the deer become very nocturnal with the exception of a lone button buck or small buck cruising for does that are bedded up in the thick stuff.
Comment by Brad — October 13, 2007 @ 7:28 am
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