Whitetail Aerial Surveys Flawed.....

[Mayfly]

Is it just me or are winter aerial surveys incredibly flawed...

I don't know about your area but where I hunt, deer tend to "yard up". They condense in small areas and make a real mess. Last winter in one small area of woods I jumped 23 deer up. Any other time of the year I would never see that many deer in that area.

What are your thoughts on winter deer surveys?

[FireRanger]

I think that all aerial surveys are just a glance at the total number of whatever animal they are looking to find a population of. They are subject to weather, movement and timing of course. Deer do yard up but doesn't mean they'll stay there for the whole season. They can move into and out of an area for many reasons. So, to say there there are a certain number of deer either here or there is a mute point. I think the survey should be taken for what it is. A number of deer in a certain place at a certain time and thats it.

[Joe@deerhunters]

I was not aware they (DNR) did aerial surveys for deer. Do you have some data to share?

[deadeye]

I don't know how they survey to determine deer density.  If you believe the papers, they go by number of car deer collisions reported by insurance companies.   
I'm sure it's not an exact science.  Number of deer registered must weight in someplace.  I doubt it will change but I would like to see smaller areas.  The area I hunt in covers a vast array of deer habitat.  Some areas are virtually void of deer while others have an abundance.  The area has been (and still is) intensive harvest.  Some places have been way over harvested and others are not.  I've heard hunters (who shoot everything) say, "The DNR wants us to reduce the number of deer, that's why it's intensive harvest"  Maybe so, but it's very hard to controll the population of a large area with this approach.  Oh, so just how do they determine deer density?   

[Joe@deerhunters]

They use a computer model. The data entered includes deer harvested and registered, hunter success rates, number of hunters in the deer managment unit, (They ask you what unit you will hunt the most in when you buy your license) probably some other stats. put it all in and it kicks out an estimated number.

I am sure it is not perfect. It it is not possible to micro it down to each square mile of habitat. But can you imagine what it would cost to fly over and count deer all over MN or send people in the field to count deer pellets. There are folks complaining about raising the license fees to $30 I can't imagine what it would need to be to more than the current system.

Bottom line it is up to each hunter to deside what and how many they shoot.