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Show V'. ' . , if : I '' I This small herd of deer seem to really eiyoy posing for the cameras Local Deer Herds Counted Contrary to many folks perception percep-tion of winter, many activities concerning con-cerning wildlife actually increase during winter months. This is particularly par-ticularly true , when concerning transplants of animals or making population counts. Things really get going by mid November on into December when the annual deer classification survey is conducted. Utah Division of Wildlife Resources biologists and conservation officers make many look-n-see trips to various portions of each management unit. The end result is that up to 1,000 deer on each unit are individually observed and classified as to buck, doe, or fawn. Additionally, the bucks are noted as to number of antler points in an attempt to determine the general gen-eral age of the animal. Each deer unit has several management man-agement goals, such as total population popu-lation (computer modeled), an after the hunt buckdoe ratio, and a percentage per-centage of bucks that are three points or larger. All management units in the Garfield-Kane county area, with the exception of the Paunsaugunt Unit, have as a management man-agement goal of a post-season buckdoe ratio of 15 bucks to 100 docs, with 30 of the bucks being three points or larger. The Paunsaugunt Paun-saugunt goal is an after hunt season ratio of 30 bucks per 100 does with at least 50 percent of the bucks being three points or larger. Seven units encompass the two county area of the Southern Region. Re-gion. The following is the current status of each unit as to the proposed pro-posed management population of the unit, sample number classified, number of fawns per 100 does, number of bucks per 100 does, and percentage of bucks that are three point or larger. Panguitch Lake: 8,500 goal, 1179 sample, 57 fawns per 100 does, 1 1 bucks per 100 does, and 42 percent of bucks three points or larger. Zion: 7,000 goal, 1460 sample, 58 fawns per 100 does, 10 bucks per 100 does, and 36 percent of bucks three points or larger. Mt. Dutton: 2,400 goal, 445 sample, 56 fawns per 100 does, 10 bucks per 100 does, and 44 percent of bucks three points or larger. Kaiparowits: 1,200 goal, 130 sample, 59 fawns per 100 does, 20 bucks per 100 does, and 80 percent of bucks three points or larger. Plateau (Boulder mtn. part) : 6,000 goal, 297 sample, 47 fawns per 100 does, 14 bucks per 100 does, and 32 percent of bucks three points or larger. Beaver: 10,000 goal, 1914 sample, sam-ple, 55 fawns per 100 does, 12 bucks per 100 does, and 37 percent of bucks three points or larger. Paunsaugunt: 6,500 goal, 750 sample, 63 fawns per 100 does, 30 bucks per 100 does, and 65 percent of bucks three points or larger. Several years ago, the Utah Wildlife Board mandated that all 'open deer units be managed for an after hunt ration of 15 bucks per 100 does. A cap was imposed restricting re-stricting total number of hunters, thus decreasing the annual buck harvest. Most all units have since responded with an increase in the buckdoe ratio. More restrictions may yet be necessary if the mandated man-dated goal is to be achieved on all units. Deer mortality occurred on most units during the hard winter of 1992-93. Since then, both deer numbers have increased and number of deer taken in the annual hunt increased, that is, until 1997. Harvest Har-vest results are not yet in, but is was evident to most hunters that this past deer season was a slow one. Some hunters have speculated that the deer population somehow decreased since 1996. However, the winter of 1996-97 was not a killer, and the deer had excellent feed this past summer. Fawn recruitment was not great, but was adequate for population growth. So where were the deer? Both feed and water were abundant abun-dant in 1997. Deer were able to utilize areas that are usually not so good. A warm, open fall kept the deer from gathering in areas where .some hunters normally hunt. In addition, a bright moon occurred during much of the hunting season. Deer fed and watered at night and bedded in thick cover during the warm days. Many of the deer continued con-tinued to stay scattered and on higher rangelands until mid-January. mid-January. It has only been in late January and February that the deer have started showing up in numbers on the more normal wintering areas. ar-eas. So far this winter has been a boon to wildlife. Good feed from the wet summer of 1997 and an open winter without severe temperatures tem-peratures have helped the critters stay in good shape. Hopefully, the weather will continue to cooperate during the remainder of the winter and into the birthing season. Winter Win-ter survival and recruitment of young are key elements of the status of each year's population. For deer, 1998 may be a good one. Hopefully, for deer hunters also. |