dnr numbers down

[rick]

For those that don't get e-mail

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Dec. 3, 2009

Contacts: Brent Rudolph 517-641-4903 or Mary Dettloff 517-335-3014


DNR Preliminary Estimates Show Firearm Deer Harvest Declines 10 to 20
Percent from Last Year

Initial estimates indicate Michigan firearm deer hunters killed 10 to
20 percent fewer deer this year than in 2008, according to the
Department of Natural Resources. Decreased harvests were most noticeable
in the Upper Peninsula and less apparent in the southern Lower
Peninsula.

Weather -- both a harsh 2008-2009 winter and unseasonably high
temperatures during most of the firearm season -- likely contributed to
the decreased harvest, wildlife officials said. Although weather across
the state was good to ideal for hunters to sit in the woods, it was less
than optimal for encouraging deer movement.

DNR biologists estimate the harvest was down by 20 to 30 percent in the
Upper Peninsula, 15 to 25 percent in the northern Lower Peninsula, and 5
to 10 percent in the southern Lower Peninsula.

*The season has gone pretty much as we expected in the Upper
Peninsula,* said DNR deer program leader Brent Rudolph. *We set
antlerless quotas lower in anticipation of a smaller deer herd following
last winter. We may have had fewer hunters in the Upper Peninsula. If
you have fewer deer, fewer hunters, and deer moving less than usual,
those factors are going to have an effect on your deer harvest.*

Biologists were a little surprised by the size of the decrease of the
harvest in the northern Lower Peninsula, where a more modest decline was
anticipated.

*Check stations reported a lower than usual percentage of 1*-year-old
bucks in the Upper and northern Lower Peninsula, an indication of poor
survival of last year*s fawns,* Rudolph said. *Antler development
was below average as well, another indication of the impact of last
winter*s severity.*

In southern Michigan, a cool summer that caused corn to mature late and
a wet October put the corn harvest far behind schedule, providing
additional sanctuary for deer in many areas.

*The corn harvest was around 35 percent by Nov. 16,* Rudolph said.
*In an average year it*s 80 percent. So it*s likely that some deer
never left the standing corn. That may become apparent during the
muzzleloader season.*

Rudolph emphasized the preliminary estimates show a wide range in the
harvest because of changes in data collection this season.

*Because we operated so many fewer deer check stations, we could not
utilize the models as we have in previous years for our preliminary
estimate of the firearm season harvest,* he said. *But we*ll have
solid numbers next spring after the mail survey is completed and those
are the numbers we use for making management decisions.*

The DNR is committed to the conservation, protection, management,
accessible use and enjoyment of the state*s natural resources for
current and future generations.

[swoosh]

Weather -- both a harsh 2008-2009 winter and unseasonably high
temperatures during most of the firearm season -- likely contributed to
the decreased harvest, wildlife officials said. Although weather across
the state was good to ideal for hunters to sit in the woods, it was less
than optimal for encouraging deer movement.

Is it me or in their first release did they not say the weather being warmer had hunters in the woods and would help increase the kill

Next year is going to be one of the better years for MI hunting

[tubejig]

Hey swoosh, if its not one thing its another with their estimates, so this comes as no surprise to me. You never know, it could change next week, depending on the weather of course.

[swoosh]

Early Reports of 2009 Firearm Deer Season Typical to Recent Years Contact: John Niewoonder 616-794-2658
Agency: Natural Resources


Nov. 19, 2009
The 2009 firearm deer season is underway and the first few days have been typical of recent years, the Department of Natural Resources said.
Good weather -- a lack of snow and little rain, warm temperatures and generally light winds - created excellent conditions for sitting outdoors. Hunter numbers are about the same as last year, though Upper Peninsula personnel report a slight decrease in hunter numbers, especially in the west end. Hunter attitude seems good statewide.
Hunter success is similar to last year statewide, though a reduction in the number of DNR deer check stations makes it difficult to gauge. Deer are in good to very good body condition, though antler development is sub-par in the northern two-thirds of the state.
Here's a look at the first few days on a regional basis:
Upper Peninsula -- Hunters have brought in a large number of two and one-half year-old bucks, though a number of them have been spikes or small fork-antlered deer. The number of deer checked is down. Some hunters have complained of low deer numbers. License agents report high sales of firearms licenses compared to combination licenses.
Northern Lower Peninsula -- Most deer checked do not appear to have a lot of body fat, which was not unexpected after last winter. More older bucks are coming to check stations, though antler development is below par. Overall harvest appears to be down somewhat. Some hunters expressed concern about low deer numbers. Southern Michigan -- Hunter success appears to be a little bit better than last year with more older bucks being harvested. Hunting pressure appears to be up significantly on public land over last year. Both body condition and antler development of deer are good. The slow corn harvest is a major subject of discussion among hunters, though many report seeing good numbers of deer. Conservation officers are busy with increased complaints of illegal baiting. Firearm deer season continues through Nov. 30 with archery season resuming Dec. 1. For more information about hunting opportunities in Michigan, go online to www.michigan.gov/dnrhunting.

We went from being UP in the SLP to down in 2 weeks

[Blueump]

Originally Posted by rick

Biologists were a little surprised by the size of the decrease of the
harvest in the northern Lower Peninsula, where a more modest decline was anticipated.

and from the DNR's 2009 pre-season forcast:

The deer population for the NLP is expected to be similar to the last few years. "Despite a more severe winter this past year, deer came through in good condition. A few fawns were lost, especially on private land providing poor quality wintering habitat. Fawn production appeared to be good this spring although there were some reports of more does with only single fawns," said Larry Visser, DNR Northwestern Management Unit wildlife supervisor.

Sounds to me like they have NO CLUE how many deer they have!

[Ieatantlers]

Sounds like a good excuse for OBR! There aren't enough to shoot 2!

[rick]

Quote *Because we operated so many fewer deer check stations, we could not
utilize the models as we have in previous years for our preliminary
estimate of the firearm season harvest,* he said. *But we*ll have
solid numbers next spring after the mail survey is completed and those
are the numbers we use for making management decisions.*


Why do they bother with deer check stations if they don't use those numbers. By next spring we will be hearing it was an average season.
I would be ok with mandatory check in. Numbers are of the utmost importance and I feel they should do everything possible to get those numbers right. Just my opinion.

[cantonrat]

Originally Posted by Blueump

and from the DNR's 2009 pre-season forcast:



Sounds to me like they have NO CLUE how many deer they have!

Bingo. The DNR has no clue. These types of scattered statements could be gleaned from this forum, or many others. They're worth nothing, when you're talking about managing over an entire state, or even a portion of a state.

We could start saving state money by disbanding any DNR group associated with the creation of fluffy nonsense like this. Just go with car/deer accident data, year over year, and estimate deer populations based upon that alone.

[tommy-n]

We could start saving state money by disbanding any DNR group associated with the creation of fluffy nonsense like this. Just go with car/deer accident data, year over year, and estimate deer populations based upon that alone.
Quote

You may have a very good point there

I'm afraid as time went on though they would say the cars stop better now and theres less accidents leading to flawed numbers again

[giver108]

Originally Posted by swoosh

Is it me or in their first release did they not say the weather being warmer had hunters in the woods and would help increase the kill

In years past the DNR stated that the warmer temperatures did not have an impact on the deer harvest as it created conditions where hunters are more apt to sit longer in the woods thereby shooting just as many deer.

Maybe it was just me but I did not feel that the weather the first couple of days of firearm season had the impact many people feel it did. Temps in the mid 30's to mid 40's aren't that warm. I have hunted many openers warmer than the one we had this year and always seen deer. The difference is back then there were actually deer where I hunted.

[tjays]

I like how the DNR reported in the spring that it was a milder winter then last and then issued 1000 doe permits for this area then come fall the tells us how hard the winter was and deer numbers are down.

[Big Ben]

Ya and next year they will be reporting the deer herd to be 1.8 million just like they always do. Funny how you can shoot 500,000 + deer every year and never put a dent in the population.....I sure don't miss MI deer hunting.

[Rustyaxecamp]

It makes me laugh that typically the people who complain of the DNR not having an idea on deer kill #'s are the same ones who scream and hollar about instituting a mandatory deer registration.

Until hunter are required to register every kill, the number is just an "educated" guess.

[William H Bonney]

Originally Posted by Blueump

and from the DNR's 2009 pre-season forcast:



Sounds to me like they have NO CLUE how many deer they have!

Really???



.

[codybear]

Didn't the DNR release something earlier this year like a report of the herd by region and what we can expect to see in those areas? I thought they usually do that? If so, did they mention anything about the numbers being lower in the U.P. due to last winter? Surely they had to know that prior to the season so WHY wouldn't they say something to cover their butts and avoid the scrutiny? Maybe they truley didnt know?

CB