Capturing Mule deer does by Helo

[MADMAX]

In January it starts
Seems to me that pregnant and possibly stressed by winter animals should be left alone until a different timeframe like over the summer
Thoughts ?


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WDFW NEWS RELEASE
Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife
600 Capitol Way North, Olympia, WA 98501-1091
http://wdfw.wa.gov/

January 2, 2020
Contact: Sara Hansen, Wildlife Program, (509) 892-1001 ext. 310
Staci Lehman, Public Affairs, (509) 710-4511

WDFW to use helicopters to capture mule deer

SPOKANE- Starting in early January, the Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) will conduct mule deer captures from helicopters in three study areas along the east slope of the Cascades in Okanogan, Chelan, and Kittitas counties.

The Department will use contracted professional crews to capture approximately 50 adult female mule deer in each area. Humane methods and experienced crews are used to make the captures as safe as possible for both deer and humans.

The deer will be fitted with GPS/satellite collars so wildlife managers can track them to evaluate movement and migration patterns and learn more about habitat use of the populations. Each animal will be collared and released at the site where they are captured. The collars are programmed to remain on the deer for four years before dropping off.

The studies in Chelan and Kittitas counties are funded by the US Fish and Wildlife Service. They are part of a major collaboration between the U.S. Department of the Interior and WDFW. Captures and collaring in Okanogan County are part of an ongoing collaboration between WDFW and the University of Washington called the Washington Predator-Prey Project that is studying interactions between mule deer and large carnivores in the Methow watershed.

"The information gained from these studies will be used to assess the movements of each population and help prioritize habitat conservation and management efforts in eastern Washington," said Sara Hansen, WDFW Deer Specialist.

Mule deer have lost winter habitat in recent years along the lower elevations of the east slope of the Cascades due to human development. This could impact mule deer populations in the long term.

Captures are scheduled to begin in Okanogan County the first week of January and continue south as work is completed in each study area.

Mule deer are broadly distributed in Washington from the crest of the Cascade Mountains east to the Idaho border, providing hunting and viewing opportunities for thousands of people each year.

WDFW is the state agency tasked with preserving, protecting and perpetuating fish, wildlife and ecosystems, while providing sustainable fishing, hunting and other outdoor recreation opportunities.

[Bango skank]

In the summer when they have little fawns?  Doesnt sound like a good idea.  In the fall during hunting seasons everynody would bitch.  I think this is probably the best time to do it.

[daddyelk]

They have been contacting farmers in south eastern Washington about doing it on their land also. I am not a fan to say the least.

[elkboy]

Warm season captures can greatly stress the animals, and their core temperatures can rise to dangerous levels.  Capture myopathy, which is an often lethal response complex, is more likely during warmer temperatures.  I don't think there is ever a perfect time to capture wild critters, but early winter isn't the worst!

[Remnar]

In the summer when they have little fawns?  Doesnt sound like a good idea.  In the fall during hunting seasons everynody would bitch.  I think this is probably the best time to do it.

[MADMAX]

I see your point on summer and fall
Guess there is no optimum time

[jackelope]

Seems to me lots and lots of orgs and agencies do captures and relocations in the winter. The antelope from Nevada brought here was done over winter. Seen lots of mountain goat captures documented by the goat alliance. I watched a video yesterday of the Canadians net gun 4 pregnant caribou on purpose. Drugged them abs relocated them to a brooding pen where they could give birth without predator issues.  All done in winter.

[idahohuntr]

I think this is probably the best time to do it.

Also, animals usually more concentrated, easier to find...equals less effort/expense to get target animals, so overall less harassment. 

[hunter399]

I think this is probably the best time to do it.

Also, animals usually more concentrated, easier to find...equals less effort/expense to get target animals, so overall less harassment.

With the way our biologist count deer populations doing so great this shouldn't take long.Ohh ya I forgot they have to find deer that are not in the back yard.

They have been contacting farmers in south eastern Washington about doing it on their land also. I am not a fan to say the least.

I'm sure they have been trying to get permission
Getting kinda hard to find em on public land these days.

[jackelope]

I think this is probably the best time to do it.

Also, animals usually more concentrated, easier to find...equals less effort/expense to get target animals, so overall less harassment.

With the way our biologist count deer populations doing so great this shouldn't take long.Ohh ya I forgot they have to find deer that are not in the back yard.

They have been contacting farmers in south eastern Washington about doing it on their land also. I am not a fan to say the least.

I'm sure they have been trying to get permission
Getting kinda hard to find em on public land these days.

Really they’re all on private ground during winter. Deer have never been easy to find on public land in SE WA for that matter.

[meatwhack]

If this will be used for good active wildlife management then I say it’s great.

[snake]

Shouldn't have to go through all this trouble, just put it up for a vote on what should be done. The people in Seattle will know what to do.

[Bango skank]

Shouldn't have to go through all this trouble, just put it up for a vote on what should be done. The people in Seattle will know what to do.

Yup, theyll know just the trick.  Obviously with our herds declining, we need to import more wolves because the wolves only kill the sick and weak, thus making the herd stronger.  Its the obvious solution.

[hunter399]

Shouldn't have to go through all this trouble, just put it up for a vote on what should be done. The people in Seattle will know what to do.

Yup, theyll know just the trick.  Obviously with our herds declining, we need to import more wolves because the wolves only kill the sick and weak, thus making the herd stronger.  Its the obvious solution.

Then by the time they do the science/study all the while deer populations are so far in the gutter .You don't need a degree/ or study to see that .Seattle might as well decide now.

[bigmacc]

We killed an absolute monster 4 by 4 back in the 80,s that had a radio collar on it, think I already told the story, oh well. We killed him in a migration route we know of that actually comes out of Canada . Where we killed him at was about 50 miles from his summer turf in Canada and we found out later he was about 10 miles from his winter turf around Winthrop. We killed him while he was in route, he was with about 60 other deer including about a dozen of those being bucks. We contacted Game Dept. personnel and sent in the collar. We were sent back a very nice thank you letter and a history of the buck. Turns out he was captured using a chopper during the winter after the rut in the Winthrop area, he was tranquilized, checked out and radio collared, they tracked him for a few years until the batteries died, they had no contact with him for a few years until we killed him. The letter said they had often wondered what happened to him, road killed, natural causes, predation etc., they just didn't know until we followed the directions on the collar. Turns out the fella that did all the work on this buck, it was his first. He hung the collar and brass tag above his fireplace last we heard. Years and years earlier when I was a boy, I remember my grandpa taking me over in the winter after the rut to watch the "deer roundups". They had some big "net pens" set up by Sullivan's Pond and guys on horses and on foot would round up groups of deer and funnel them towards an opening while other folks would bang pots and pans to direct then towards the opening and into the pens, if I remember right there were helicopters involved also.