DNR Deer study

[JohnWester]

in case you  missed it... interesting data from a study about deer hunting.  I actually was one of the ones that participated in this.

Early antlerless seasons and antler-point restrictions are among hunters' top choices for regulations that might put more harvest pressure on antlerless deer during Minnesota's deer season, according to a recent survey from the Department of Natural Resources (DNR).

The survey, conducted by the University of Minnesota, was mailed to a statistically representative sample of 6,000 deer hunters age 18 or over throughout Minnesota?s different deer hunting zones. The 3,300 hunters who responded provided background information and their opinions about various deer management regulations. Unlike any survey ever conducted in Minnesota, hunters were also presented several management scenarios and asked to rank different regulation choices for each scenario. The unweighted margin of error for the survey was 1.7 percent.

The survey was designed to determine hunter preferences for hunting regulations designed to manage deer populations within goal levels under various population scenarios.

For example, one scenario asked hunters what regulation options they would prefer to increase antlerless deer harvest if the population was 25 percent above goal. Other scenarios examined hunter preferences for options under higher or lower population situations. Overall, of the population regulation alternatives that were presented to hunters, support was as follows:

- early antlerless seasons, which reduce the number of antlerless deer, received 50 percent support

- antler-point restrictions, which restrict the harvest of 1?-year-old bucks, received support of 47 percent of hunters who responded to the survey

- 46 percent of hunters supported a prohibition on cross-tagging for bucks

- 37 percent of hunters supported earn-a-buck regulations, which require hunters to harvest an antlerless deer before taking a buck

- a buck license lottery and moving the season out of the rut and received 29 and 28 percent support, respectively

- prohibiting cross-tagging for all deer received 27 percent support. Similar to surveys conducted in 2001 and 2004, a majority of deer hunters (65 percent) wanted to see more mature bucks in the deer population. The goal of this survey was to examine regulations directed at deer population management, not large buck management. However, a number of the population management hunting regulations intended to increase antlerless deer harvest would also reduce pressure on bucks and allow more bucks to survive to an older age.

Hunters were also asked about their perceptions of local deer populations and the number of mature bucks in the area they hunt most often. Survey responses included:

- 57 percent had heard about or seen big bucks in the area they hunt

- 43 percent were satisfied with local buck quality and 39 percent were satisfied with the number of mature bucks

- 77 percent were satisfied with the number of antlerless deer in their area

- 67 percent were satisfied with the total number of deer.

?Our intent is to find regulatory alternatives that are acceptable to hunters and will achieve our deer management goals,? said Lou Cornicelli, DNR big game program coordinator. ?With this survey, we can see clear patterns in effective regulations that hunters would accept under certain circumstances.?

Currently, DNR is examining different regulatory packages that might increase antlerless deer harvest and also lead to higher survival for antlered bucks. Overall, Cornicelli said hunters indicated a strong preference for continuing to hunt even though they may not agree with regulation changes. As evidenced by the low support for a buck license lottery, hunters clearly wanted the opportunity to hunt bucks every year.

?These results suggest that buck license lottery would likely not be a prudent management course in Minnesota,? he said. ?Early antlerless seasons, antler point restrictions, eliminating party hunting for bucks, and even earn-a-buck might be accepted by the hunting public.?

In a separate process, the DNR has recently been working with stakeholder groups and individual hunters to update deer population goals throughout the state. With these new goals, Cornicelli said, it?s probable that alternative deer regulations will eventually be introduced in certain parts of the state so that deer populations can be kept within the goal levels.

?With all the work we?re doing regarding setting deer population goals,? Cornicelli said, ?alternative deer management research on state parks, and these hunter preference surveys, I believe that in the not-to-distant future, Minnesota hunters will see some of these regulations applied in deer areas.?

A sampling of other responses to survey questions includes:

- the average age of Minnesota deer hunters is 39 and they have been hunting an average of 25 years

- 54 percent hunted on their own land, 80 percent hunted on land they didn?t own, and 52 percent hunted on public land

- 90 percent hunted the same location every year

- 76 percent were satisfied with the 2004 firearm deer season

- 80 percent indicated they knew a ?great deal? or a ?moderate amount? about the Minnesota deer program and 83 percent were satisfied with their ability to understand the deer regulations

- 51 percent were satisfied with the amount of public land available to deer hunting and 50 percent were satisfied with the amount of private deer-hunting land

- 95 percent were satisfied with their hunting experience with family and friends

- 71 percent were satisfied with their success regarding killing a deer

- 39 percent were satisfied with the number of mature bucks and 67 percent were satisfied with the total number of deer in local populations

- 51 percent were satisfied with the number of other hunters in their area.

?This survey not only provides the DNR with good baseline information, it gives us some direction on what regulations our hunters can support,? said Dennis Simon, DNR Wildlife Section chief. ?In order for regulations to achieve the desired result, they must be supported by the hunting public.?

[blazer]

Interesting stats on deer hunting.  Is the DNR planning an overhaul of the deer regs?

[JohnWester]

not overall... they'll be looking at doing some specific zone things I think.  Not until next year though.