Hunters have definite opinions about a lot of things, from the best rifle and caliber and everything else, right down to winter underwear. But come this time of year the status of the deer herd climbs to the top of the list.
For the most part hunters form opinions on personal observations, and that’s OK. However a localized view of the deer hunting landscape within a small area is often deceiving. And granted some areas may hold more or less deer than others.
Opinions are weighted on personal observations within limited areas. Simply put, there will be fluctuations, but overall the Keystone State is doing a pretty darn good job when it comes to managing the whitetail deer resource.
Kip Adams who serves as the Director of Conservation for the Quality Deer Management Association provided a wealth of information regarding the whitetail deer. Adams spoke directly about deer numbers nationwide and within PA.
Kip Adams who serves as the Director of Conservation for the Quality Deer Management Association provided a wealth of information regarding the whitetail deer.
Adams spoke at the Kinzua Quality Deer Cooperatives Kick-Off event held recently at the University of Pittsburgh at Bradford and directly addressed deer numbers nationwide and within PA.
Adams said, “We (QDMA) are in a unique position to be able to gather data from state and provincial wildlife agencies, leading deer researchers and other sources to provide a true “State of the Wildlife” address to hunters, landowners, and natural resource professionals. So how are whitetails and deer hunters doing?”
“Yearling buck harvests remain at record low levels. The percentage of 3 ½ old and older bucks remains at a third of the total antlered buck harvest. Also 4 percent more bucks (over 1 ½ years of age) were harvested last season. This is a positive indicator,” noted Adams.
It was interesting to note a number of additional whitetail data. One was that PA is one of only five states in the nation to harvest more than 300,000 whitetails annually.
Also the 2016 PA harvest data revealed that the buck harvest in PA was 3.3 per square mile. This figure is higher than the averages for Southeastern (1.7) Northeastern (2.2) and Midwestern (1.3) states. Only Michigan shot more bucks per square mile than PA.
In 2016 and for the past seven years at least half of PA hunters that harvested bucks were 2 ½ years or older. Also PA was ranked third in the nation, followed only by Texas and Alabama in total antlered deer harvest. However there is a down side to all of this.
Adams said, “The biggest issue and negative trend is the spread of (CWD) chronic wasting disease. Last year states collected approximately 100,000 deer to be tested for CWD.”
The QDMA’s Whitetail Report 2018 can be viewed and downloaded from the QDMA’s web site atwww.QDMA.com and the site provides additional information of interest to hunters.
The Deer Season Kick-off event included an informational seminar presented by the PGC’s Courtney Colley who discussed Chronic Wasting Disease.
Also stepping into the spotlight was the Kinzua Quality Deer Cooperative.
In 2000, the idea of developing an ongoing demonstration area, keying in on quality deer management, was set into place.
The goals of the test area were simple. First, test the dynamics of managing the deer within a given area and study their relationship with a given forested habitat. To accomplish that task the Cooperative partnered with a number of forest landowners, forest managers, biologists, local business owners, and most importantly hunters.
The program was designed with the flexibility to tweak and adjust deer numbers. Hunters provided a key component to achieve those goals and to continue to play an important part in the program’s success.
So how good is the hunting and the quality of deer being harvested from the area? The answer most would agree is it is better than what many first expected.
Now don’t confuse the number of deer with the quality of deer. Fact is, the overall deer density within the KQDC is not what it was in the ’70s and ’80s, nor should it be.
The Kinzua Quality Deer Cooperative is large and the habitat within its boundaries is continually being managed. Various types of timber harvests are applied that provide for good timber management and a source of early successional habitat that provides food and cover for a wide variety of wildlife including deer. Ok, that’s great, but 74,000 acres is a large chunk of ground to find the deer habitat you’re looking for. That’s true, however there was a new tool that rolled out last fall designed to help hunters locate the hot spots when it comes to the habitat whitetails seek out.
As part of this year’s KQDC Deer Season event, a “How to Use the new On-Line Hunter Map of the Allegheny National Forest” was presented by Allegheny National Forest Staff.
The interactive map was presented at last year’s event, however since then it has been vastly improved.
The mapping program can be used by hunters to identify habitat types, timber harvests, forest age classes, roads open to hunters, along with an up-to-date Deer Density Index, all in a layering format that is quick and easy to use.
The map can be accessed by going to:
www.fs.usda.gov/detail/allegheny/recreation/?cid=fseprd560475 The site allows hunters to scout, electronically, areas they may not have considered hunting. Access provides a “know where to go” before and during hunting season.
As in the past, the KQDC will man its own deer check station. Hunters who harvest a deer, regardless of sex, can have the deer measured, aged, and weighed.
The information gained from the deer checked in will help the KQDA to understand the dynamics of the deer harvested within the study area.
To see recent trail camera photographs captured on the KQDC, log onto Facebook and type in Kinzua Quality Deer Cooperative. Take a look, and when you do it may change your mind on where you’ll be hunting this year.
Charlie Burchfield is an active member and past president of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association, an active member of the Professional Outdoor Media Association, Outdoor Writers Assoc. of America and the Mason-Dixon Outdoor Writers. Gateway Outdoors e-mail is GWOutdoors@comcast.net
