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Deer Harvest Expected To Be Smaller In 2009

Wisconsin DNR

MADISON Wi – -(AmmoLand.com)- Wisconsin wildlife biologists anticipate the statewide deer harvest will be lower than last year.

“There are a number of factors coming together in 2009 that will most likely lead to a lower total deer harvest,” said Keith Warnke, big game ecologist for the Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources. “There are fewer herd control units and no earn-a-buck requirement except in the Chronic Wasting Disease Management Zone, below average fawn production in the past two years, a reduced number of antlerless permits in northern Wisconsin due to lower deer populations in that region and a delayed corn harvest. All these will contribute to a lower antlerless deer harvest and a lower total harvest.”

Herd control and earn-a-buck hunts encourage or require the harvest of antlerless deer and without their broad application, the antlerless harvest and therefore the total harvest are almost certain to drop, say wildlife managers.

“Hunters told us they wished to return to a more historically traditional hunt,” said Warnke. “They will see that traditional hunt in many deer management units in the north and central forest where deer populations are at or close to a healthy goal, and where there will be no earn a buck and few or no antlerless permits issued. Herd control and earn-a-buck are accomplishing what they were intended to do, bringing deer numbers down to healthy population goals in parts of the state.”

A byproduct of the 2009 season structure may be an increase in the proportion of bucks harvested in some units. Biologists note that local populations are the most important factor to the hunters and that can vary widely. Scouting, patterning and lining up alternative hunting spots could make the difference.

“As every year, hunters will need to do their homework and scouting and find areas deer are using,” said Warnke. “Hunters who spend time getting prepared are most likely to be in the ranks of successful hunters. Annually, fewer than 40 percent of hunters bag a deer.

“But deer hunting is a whole lot more than just killing a deer,” Warnke added. “For most deer hunters, it’s about spending time with family and friends getting outside in the autumn air, observing wildlife and enjoying the various traditions associated with the deer season. Some hunters will bag a deer and some won’t. It’s always been that way.”

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A Season Of Promise For Pennsylvania Black Bear Hunters

Pennsylvania Black Bears

Pennsylvania Game Commission

HARRISBURG, PA –-(AmmoLand.com)- Last year’s black bear harvest was the second highest on record, and weather permitting, the Pennsylvania Game Commission expects hunters to have similar opportunities afield in the upcoming bear seasons.

“Pennsylvania’s black bear population has numbered near 15,000 for almost a decade,” said Carl G. Roe, Game Commission executive director. “Because our bear population now covers more than three-quarters of the state – and includes a number of world-class trophy bears – Pennsylvania is recognized as one of the top states for bear hunters. Every year, we have a number of bears exceeding 500 pounds included in the harvest.”

The 2008 bear harvest of 3,458 is second only to the 2005 bear harvest, in which hunters took a record 4,164 bears. Other recent harvests were: 3,075 in 2000; 3,063 in 2001; 2,686 in 2002; 3,000 in 2003; 2,972 in 2004; 3,122 in 2006; and 2,360 in 2007. Over the past nine years, hunters have taken more black bears than in any other decade since the Game Commission began keeping bear harvest records in 1915.

“Our black bear population is a remarkable resource,” said Mark Ternent, Game Commission black bear biologist. “Every year since 2000, more than 100,000 hunters have headed afield in pursuit of bears, with harvests exceeding 3,000 bears most years, yet many local bear populations across the state have remained stable or increased. It’s a good time to be a bear hunter.”

Pennsylvania’s primary bear season is three days, statewide, just prior to Thanksgiving, Nov. 23-25. There also is a two-day archery bear season – Nov. 18 and 19 – in Wildlife Management Units 2C, 2D, 2E, 2F, 2G, 3A, 4A, 4B and 4D. Additionally, concurrent with the first week of the firearms deer season, there is an extended season that is open Nov. 30-Dec. 5, in portions of WMUs 3B, 2G and 4E; and Dec. 2-5, in all of WMUs 4C, 4D, 4E, 5B and 5C. (For details, please see pages 34-36 of the 2009-10 Digest.)

“We expect bear population levels to be comparable to last year or possibly higher in areas where the harvest was down last year,” Ternent said. “The exception may be in parts of the state’s northeast, where we have been trying to reduce local bear populations through the use of an extended season. Hunters should take around 3,500 bears if good weather prevails, maybe more if there is snow-cover in the upcoming bear seasons.”

Since 1992, six bears with an estimated live weight of 800 pounds or more have been taken in Pennsylvania. The possibility of another 800-pounder being taken by a hunter is always in play when Pennsylvania’s bear season opens.

The heaviest bears taken in Pennsylvania typically come from the state’s Northeast Region. And, in 2008, the largest bear taken was a 716-pound (estimated live weight) male taken in Tobyhanna Township, Monroe County, by Morgan C. Neipert, of Tobyhanna, on Nov. 25. In all, 12 bears were taken in 2008 by hunters weighed 600 pounds or more, continuing to reinforce Pennsylvania’s status as a major bear hunting destination.

“License sales indicate that the number of bear hunters may be up this year,” Ternent said. “Couple that with what appears to be at least a stable, and possibly larger, bear population and it could translate into good bear hunting.”

Ternent noted that the two most important factors for big game hunting, such as bear, are weather and the availability of fall foods.

“While weather predictions are too difficult at this time, our fall food survey suggests that almost all hard and soft mast species produced well,” Ternent said. “The lack of gypsy moth defoliation this past spring has improved acorn production this fall, which should wildlife to be more widespread in forested areas. Pre-season scouting will be important.”

Last year, bears were taken in 54 of the state’s 67 counties. The state’s top three counties were: Potter, 294; Lycoming, 252; and Tioga, 236. A majority of the bears – 2,951 – were taken in the three-day firearms season before Thanksgiving. In addition, 69 bears were taken in the archery season, and 438 were taken in the extended seasons.

The bear harvest by WMU for all three seasons combined (archery, 3-day, and extended), including 2007’s harvest results in parentheses, were: WMU 1A, 21 (7); WMU 1B, 67 (29); WMU 2A, 1, (1), WMU 2C, 227 (238); WMU 2D, 166 (94); WMU 2E, 117 (50); WMU 2F, 246 (224); WMU 2G, 729 (545); WMU 3A, 313 (186); WMU 3B, 392 (214); WMU 3C, 177 (145); WMU 3D, 199 (193); WMU 4A, 145 (100); WMU 4B, 43 (42); WMU 4C, 105 (54); WMU 4D, 456 (184); WMU 4E, 53 (54); and WMU 5C, 1 (0).

Bear licenses must be purchased prior to Nov. 30. Licenses must be displayed while hunting.

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