Post by: wolfbait on April 08, 2010, 10:11:40 PM
Mild winter leads to high fawn-survival rate
By Joyce Campbell
The mule deer population is back on the upswing with populations the highest in five years.
“It’s good in terms of survivorship for fawns,” said Scott Fitkin, state wildlife biologist for the Okanogan region. “In any given year, an average of half the fawns die,” said Fitkin. He roughly estimates the mule deer herd in western Okanogan County at 20,000.
Fitkin, assistant biologist Jeff Heinlen and Forest Service wildlife biologist John Rohrer all worked on the spring survey to get a ratio of fawns to adults to compare the numbers with the aerial winter survey taken in the first week of December. This year there are about 40 fawns per 100 adults, which is better than average, Fitkin said.
“Given the mild winter, we expected that,” said Fitkin. Winterkill is largely due to starvation, he said. The last two winters were not bad, but during the previous three winters, an estimated 70 percent of the fawns died.
Hiking and driving routes in the Methow and Okanogan valleys west of the Okanogan River, the biologists counted deer concentrated in their spring range. The spring and winter range overlap somewhat in shrub-steppe and ponderosa pine parkland, according to Fitkin. In spring, the deer also forage on open, south-facing slopes where there are no shrubs but a lot of early green-up.
“I saw more bucks with antler than ever before,” said Fitkin. Generally, the bucks have all dropped their antler by now. “We saw 10 or 12 with antler, and we don’t know why.”
“The majority are already following the green up,” he said. “They’ll pause in early June to drop fawns and continue on.”
Photo by Sue Misao: Fawns, such as this one photographed last year, enjoyed a higher-than-average survival rate over the winter this year, thanks to mild weather. Most winterkill of deer is due to starvation.
http://www.methowvalleynews.com/story.php?id=3307 (http://www.methowvalleynews.com/story.php?id=3307)
Post by: hookset on April 08, 2010, 10:28:15 PM
Post by: wolfbait on April 08, 2010, 10:44:41 PM
Thats good to hear that there are more fawns in the methow :) The game department must be doing something right
Yep and you can buy some ocean front property in Utah also! check into: washingtonwolfinfo.com, saveelk.com lobowatch.com!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Then take a little trip to the Methow and tell me you see 300 head of deer where we use to five years ago!
Post by: mountainman1 on April 08, 2010, 11:21:40 PM
Post by: carpsniperg2 on April 08, 2010, 11:36:07 PM
Post by: bearpaw on April 09, 2010, 12:33:38 AM
Post by: Skyvalhunter on April 09, 2010, 05:56:07 AM
Post by: boneaddict on April 09, 2010, 06:01:49 AM
Post by: ICEMAN on April 09, 2010, 07:20:12 AM
Post by: jackelope on April 09, 2010, 07:41:13 AM
Post by: boneaddict on April 09, 2010, 08:15:41 AM
Post by: Viszla on April 09, 2010, 08:17:47 AM
Post by: Idabooner on April 09, 2010, 08:36:57 AM
Off topic, but Bone, can you explain why the deer "crap themselves to death"...after the spring green. Inquiring minds want to know... thanks.
The deer on the west side probably don't have spring *censored*s like our deer, they have green all winter. Here on the east side they have been living on sage brush, pine and fir needles, tree moss, even tree bark. When the green grass starts growing behind the snow melt, there is no food value, or fiber in it, mostly water but it tastes and smells good, so that's what they go after, and it just runs right threw them. That's where the saying comes from, "running for grass". Horses and mules that have wintered out have the same problem, they will loose a 100 pounds running for grass in the spring.
Post by: Axle on April 09, 2010, 09:35:02 AM
Hello McFly! anybody home!!!
Post by: Axle on April 09, 2010, 09:36:55 AM
Quote
Thats good to hear that there are more fawns in the methow The game department must be doing something right
So......what department or region do you work in?
Post by: Axle on April 09, 2010, 09:48:38 AM
The reason they want to tout a high fawn survival is to keep up the notion that wolves and cougars are not taking a toll on the game populations. I'm sure fawn survival is higher this year but it is a small thing considering what our herds have gone through the past 20+ years. To sell this idea to everyone (deer herds are fine and growing) keeps their agenda alive (adding more predators). Even some hunters will buy into until they aren't allowed to hunt due to extremely limited ungulate numbers. Hunters who have been successful for many years are far too smart to buy into bad propaganda.
Post by: mulehunter on April 09, 2010, 09:19:36 PM
“I saw more bucks with antler than ever before,” said Fitkin. ???
People DOESNT EXPEIRENCE this such thing when U or I saw those DEAD FAWNS from WOLVES Trust me I have see A LOT and they DONT!
No worry if thing way you BELIEVE just because YOU SEE and they dont. So Just dont buy TAGS! My Suggest.... maybe just buy SMALL GAME kinda cheaper and just to keep you busy hunting on Coyote's pups LEGALLY!
Mulehunter ;)
Post by: bearpaw on April 11, 2010, 10:50:00 PM
The doe deer coming off a hard winter do not have a high rate of fawns. Often the fawn rate is lower than the mortality for the rest of the year from all causes. Thus you still have a small deer herd going into the mild winter (this last winter). Now that we are into the spring after that mild winter, the herd has had no chance to grow. Until fawns are dropped in June it is impossible to begin to have a recovery. Then it usually takes several years of good fawn crops and mild winters to significantly grow a herd. Throw predators into the equation and if the herd numbers are too low, a recovery may never occur for many years and the herd may cointinue to decline. This is exactly what has happened in Idaho's Lolo Zone.
It was the tough winters that started the Lolo decline, but a growing wolf population nailed the lid on the coffin. :twocents:
Post by: AKBowman on April 12, 2010, 10:10:07 AM
The 'squirts' is also called scours. I've seen it in deer on the west side but not often. I've seen the scours wipe out a lot of deer in western Oregon in the spring and early summer. Washington is much thicker and it is harder to see the deer out and about and when one dies, it does so in the thick stuff where nobody can see it.
The reason they want to tout a high fawn survival is to keep up the notion that wolves and cougars are not taking a toll on the game populations. I'm sure fawn survival is higher this year but it is a small thing considering what our herds have gone through the past 20+ years. To sell this idea to everyone (deer herds are fine and growing) keeps their agenda alive (adding more predators). Even some hunters will buy into until they aren't allowed to hunt due to extremely limited ungulate numbers. Hunters who have been successful for many years are far too smart to buy into bad propaganda.
They pulled the same BS up in AK. ADF&G does a great job compared to WDFW its just 100X harder up there being that it is 10X the size with little to no access anywhere. Anyhow, there are wayyyy too many predators (bears/wolves) than ungulates (moose, caribou, sheep) in a few areas. The ADF&G realized it and opened the area back up to arial wolf hunting, upped the limit to 5 black bears and 2 brown bears a year and two years later things were back in check in that GMU (still too many wolves if you ask me)
Between the bears/wolves/cougars the deer in Okanagon dont have a chance. Studies in MT have shown the constant stress put onto the herds by too many predators (mostly wolves) can do real strange things as well like the herds are more likely to develope diseases, not eat well, water well etc from the constant stress.
Post by: bearpaw on April 12, 2010, 10:41:24 AM
There is no doubt that the WDFW policy on Endangered Species is a lost cause, our only hope is to generate as many letters to the Wildlfie Commission asking for reasonable management and asking for replacement of Dept personnel who doctor the data to support wolves. This is unacceptable behavior and does not accomplish the requirements set forth by legislative mandate.
The Washington Department of Fish and Wildlife (WDFW) is dedicated to preserving, protecting and perpetuating the state’s fish and wildlife resources. The department operates under a dual mandate from the Washington Legislature to:
- Protect and enhance fish and wildlife and their habitats.
- Provide sustainable, fish- and wildlife-related recreational and commercial opportunities.
Department policy is guided by the Washington Fish and Wildlife Commission composed of nine citizen members appointed by the Governor. Department operations are led by a Director and an Executive Management Team. The Director is appointed by the Fish and Wildlife Commission.
I urge all of you to write the Wildlife Commission and point out that wolves must be managed responsibly so that legislative mandates are met and that any doctoring of data by WDFW personnel is unacceptable and reason for dismissal. :twocents:
Post by: HuntingFanatic on April 12, 2010, 01:37:08 PM
Like I said these are my observations. In the past I have given the wdfw the benefit of the doubt....but know I am a bit more skeptical.
Post by: wolfbait on April 13, 2010, 07:41:27 PM