Interesting article in September 2000 North American Whitetail. Looks like Kentucky is taking a leadership role and trying new things - on State land at that. Also, note the new definition of an antlerless versus buck deer in Kentucky - The new definition includes all deer with polished antlers visible above the hairline, as bucks, no longer treating them as antlerless.
Kentucky Takes Steps for Healthier Deer Herd
Throughout deer-management circles, Kentucky is regarded as one of the most progressive states in the United States, and that reputation only figures to be strengthened by some recent actions on the part of wildlife officials there.
In a move deer-program coordinator Jon Gassett says is planned to "increase hunter opportunity and provide a better hunting experience," the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission has greatly liberalized doe hunting and has taken steps to limit the harvest of immature bucks, including those on five public hunting areas.
In states that traditionally have had short gun seasons, adding hunting days is "ong the most effective ways to increase doe harvest. Another option is to make more low-cost antleriess tags available to hunters over the counter. Kentucky has taken both steps.
In the past, Kentucky broke the state into six zones for deer management. This year, the wildlife commission has reduced the number to four, with each age of the bucks within the state's population.
In some states, wildlife officials apparently believe public hunting lands are all but impossible to manage for a healthy deer herd. But in Kentucky, the potential of public land for deer hunting is viewed differently. "Our WMAs (wildlife management areas) should be showpieces of quality hunting," claims Gassett.
With that goal in mind, this fall the harvest of antlered deer at Higginson- Henry, Green River, Dewey Lake, Pemyrile-Tradewater and Yellowbank WMAs will be limited to bucks with outside antler spreads of at least 15 inches. The goal is to reduce the number of yearling (I 1/2-year-old) bucks that are killed.
The 15-inch minimum is designed to protect the youngest, most vulnerable antlered bucks from harvest. Even with great nutrition, yearlings rarely have such wide racks. And, in most cases, a 15-inch outside spread can be verified even under field conditions.
"A simple way to determine whether a deer fits these criteria is if the antlers reach outside the tips of the animal's ears," Gassett notes.
Using antler spread as a harvest criterion is becoming a popular way to limit buck harvest. The technique was proven effective in Dooly County, Georgia, during the 1990s. There, in a first-of-its-kind program (funded in part by WHITETAIL), all lands within the county were placed under antler- spread restrictions. Landowners and hunters liked the program so well it now is used in some other counties as well. -Gordon Whittington
county's zone designation based on the herd's population trends. In zones I and 2, the regular gun season has been lengthened from 10 days to 16 (Nov. I 1 -26), but the added days (Nov. 2 1 - 26) are strictly for hunting antlerless deer. In zones 3 and 4, gun season remains 10 days (Nov. 11-20), with antlered deer legal on all days.
Zone I counties have more deer than the habitat can provide for in good health, and thus they are targeted for herd reduction. Hunters still are limited to one antlered buck per year, but there no longer is a limit on the number of antlerless deer that can be taken. Special Zone I antlerless permits are available at two for $IO.
Zone 2 counties have achieved deer numbers the wildlife agency considers desirable, and Zone 3 counties are approaching such densities. In addition to one antlered buck per year, hunters in either zone can take one antleriess deer on a statewide tag and can buy up to two bonus archery permits ($10 each) for taking extra does.
In Zone 4 counties, deer densities still are low enough that the herd will be allowed to keep growing. Hunters can take one antlered deer on a state- wide tag and can use the statewide antleriess permit during bow season. Up to two bonus archery permits can be purchased for taking additional does during bow season.
<b><u>The state also has adopted a more liberal definition of antlered deer, another move that should reduce the killing of young bucks.</u></b> Previously, a buck could be tagged as an antlerless deer if his antlers were less than 4 inches in length. The new definition includes all deer with polished antlers visible above the hairline.
Kentucky's stature as a top deer state is based largely on the fact that despite heavy rifle-hunting pressure during the rut, good numbers of mature bucks consistently show up in the harvest. This speaks to the effectiveness of the management program already in place - especially the annual bag limit of one antlered buck, regardless of weapon type.
The state's trophy output has risen noticeably since this buck bag limit was adopted over a decade ago. As is the case in neighboring Ohio, the limit has tightened the buck-to-doe ratio in Kentucky and has raised the average.
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Boyd
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Quality Deer thru Sound Deer Management
Kentucky Takes Steps for Healthier Deer Herd
Throughout deer-management circles, Kentucky is regarded as one of the most progressive states in the United States, and that reputation only figures to be strengthened by some recent actions on the part of wildlife officials there.
In a move deer-program coordinator Jon Gassett says is planned to "increase hunter opportunity and provide a better hunting experience," the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources Commission has greatly liberalized doe hunting and has taken steps to limit the harvest of immature bucks, including those on five public hunting areas.
In states that traditionally have had short gun seasons, adding hunting days is "ong the most effective ways to increase doe harvest. Another option is to make more low-cost antleriess tags available to hunters over the counter. Kentucky has taken both steps.
In the past, Kentucky broke the state into six zones for deer management. This year, the wildlife commission has reduced the number to four, with each age of the bucks within the state's population.
In some states, wildlife officials apparently believe public hunting lands are all but impossible to manage for a healthy deer herd. But in Kentucky, the potential of public land for deer hunting is viewed differently. "Our WMAs (wildlife management areas) should be showpieces of quality hunting," claims Gassett.
With that goal in mind, this fall the harvest of antlered deer at Higginson- Henry, Green River, Dewey Lake, Pemyrile-Tradewater and Yellowbank WMAs will be limited to bucks with outside antler spreads of at least 15 inches. The goal is to reduce the number of yearling (I 1/2-year-old) bucks that are killed.
The 15-inch minimum is designed to protect the youngest, most vulnerable antlered bucks from harvest. Even with great nutrition, yearlings rarely have such wide racks. And, in most cases, a 15-inch outside spread can be verified even under field conditions.
"A simple way to determine whether a deer fits these criteria is if the antlers reach outside the tips of the animal's ears," Gassett notes.
Using antler spread as a harvest criterion is becoming a popular way to limit buck harvest. The technique was proven effective in Dooly County, Georgia, during the 1990s. There, in a first-of-its-kind program (funded in part by WHITETAIL), all lands within the county were placed under antler- spread restrictions. Landowners and hunters liked the program so well it now is used in some other counties as well. -Gordon Whittington
county's zone designation based on the herd's population trends. In zones I and 2, the regular gun season has been lengthened from 10 days to 16 (Nov. I 1 -26), but the added days (Nov. 2 1 - 26) are strictly for hunting antlerless deer. In zones 3 and 4, gun season remains 10 days (Nov. 11-20), with antlered deer legal on all days.
Zone I counties have more deer than the habitat can provide for in good health, and thus they are targeted for herd reduction. Hunters still are limited to one antlered buck per year, but there no longer is a limit on the number of antlerless deer that can be taken. Special Zone I antlerless permits are available at two for $IO.
Zone 2 counties have achieved deer numbers the wildlife agency considers desirable, and Zone 3 counties are approaching such densities. In addition to one antlered buck per year, hunters in either zone can take one antleriess deer on a statewide tag and can buy up to two bonus archery permits ($10 each) for taking extra does.
In Zone 4 counties, deer densities still are low enough that the herd will be allowed to keep growing. Hunters can take one antlered deer on a state- wide tag and can use the statewide antleriess permit during bow season. Up to two bonus archery permits can be purchased for taking additional does during bow season.
<b><u>The state also has adopted a more liberal definition of antlered deer, another move that should reduce the killing of young bucks.</u></b> Previously, a buck could be tagged as an antlerless deer if his antlers were less than 4 inches in length. The new definition includes all deer with polished antlers visible above the hairline.
Kentucky's stature as a top deer state is based largely on the fact that despite heavy rifle-hunting pressure during the rut, good numbers of mature bucks consistently show up in the harvest. This speaks to the effectiveness of the management program already in place - especially the annual bag limit of one antlered buck, regardless of weapon type.
The state's trophy output has risen noticeably since this buck bag limit was adopted over a decade ago. As is the case in neighboring Ohio, the limit has tightened the buck-to-doe ratio in Kentucky and has raised the average.
------------------
Boyd
Quality Deer thru Sound Deer Management
