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Deer Counts
There are two primary forms used for Reed Ranch deer counts, a daylight observation form and a night count form. There are instructions for how to use these forms and how to conduct the counts on each forms. Often time these counts are supplemented by hunter observation records recorded during the season.
On the night count a 5.6 mile line has been drawn and computed according to visibility. The night counts are taken to provide an estimate of the acres per deer and the various daylight counts are used to compute an estimate of the number of buck, doe and fawn per acre. The night count line has a visibility of about 378 acres, or about 21% of the entire 1,780 acre ranch. The assumption is that this 21% visibility (when repeated about 3 times over a several week period of time and averaged) will give a fair approximation of the deer herd count in the geographic area in which the ranch is located.
Here's some Ranch Specific Guidelines to follow when doing daylight counts.
Census & Observation Records
The first census of deer was taken in 1991 on the Reed Ranch. Since that time a total of 12 census counts have been complete. Here are some of the results from the first part of the 90's, the mid 90's and the first part of the 2000 years.
Years
Ac / Deer
Doe / Buck
Fawn / Doe
Bucks
Does
Fawns
Buck/Doe Ratio
Deer Per 1000 Ac
1991-92
6
6
.4
10%
63%
27%
1:6
180
1994-95
11
4
.3
17%
66%
17%
1:4
84
2000-01
5
2
.6
26%
48%
26%
1:2
205
2002-02
8
1.7
.4
30%
49%
21%
1:2
199
Here are what the most recent years of census records look like:
Years
Ac / Deer
Doe / Buck
Fawn / Doe
Bucks
Does
Fawns
Buck/Doe Ratio
Deer Per 1000 Ac
1999
4
5
.4
12%
60%
28%
1:5
261
2000
5
2
.4
23%
54%
23%
1:2
200
2001
5
2
.7
29%
48%
28%
1:2
210
2002
7
1.4
.4
34%
46%
20%
1:1.4
143
2003
8
1.4
.5
31%
45%
24%
1:1.4
124
2004
11
1.2.4
.3
23%
57%
20%
1:2
85
2005
8
3.4
.2
20%
66%
14%
1:3
119
2006
9
2.3
.3
25%
57%
18%
1:2
107
Here are what the most recent years of night counts look like:
Years
1st night count
2nd night count
3rd night count
Total counted
Average Counted
1999
81
116
No Count
197
98
2000
70
79
78
227
76
2001
71
57
100
228
76
2002
77
73
105
255
85
2003
53
56
32
141
57
2004
32
No Count
No Count
32
32
2005
43
47
No Count
90
45
2006
44
35
43
122
41
In 2002, hunter collected observation data after deer season began. This observation data was used to confirm the information collected by the census counts and has been factored into the 2002 data above. Overall hunter observation was collected from the beginning of the season through the first of November.
Oct 2002 Observation
Doe
197
Fawn
85
Buck
104
Unknown
45
--
--
Total
431
During the Fall of 2002, the data on buck was extended through the mid-part of November to compute the number of points on a buck. During this time there were a total of 152 bucks observed from the beginning of the season through the mid-part of November. Number of points data was collected on 112 of these 152 bucks. Here's what the information looks like in terms of the number of points for the 112 bucks observed.
2002 #
2002 %
Spikes
27
24%
3 pts
2
2%
4 pts
32
028%
5 pts
4
4%
6 pts
13
12%
7 pts
3
3%
8 pts
24
21%
9 pts
4
4%
10 pts
2
2%
11 pts
0
0%
12 pts
0
0%
Don't know
40
N/A
--
--
--
Total
152
100%
Harvest Records
The age and weight (gutted) for each deer harvested is record, plus the antler measurements for buck taken. Here are some numbers from most recent harvest recorders:
Years
Buck Trophy
Buck Cull
Adult Does
Female Fawns
Male Fawns
Total Harvest
1998
3
0
9
0
0
12
1999
3
0
33
2
1
39
2000
5
1
34
1
1
42
2001
3
7
33
3
5
51
2002
3
5
16
2
3
29
2003
5
4
19
2
1
31
2004
1
2
15
0
1
19
2005
7
1
20
0
2
30
Total
30
20
179
10
14
253
An antlerless deer form and a buck form is used to record information on each deer taken. All deer taken on the Reed Ranch must have a MLD Permit (Managed Lands Deer Permit) attached. Year by year harvest records include Club Member Deer and Game 2009-10, Club Member Deer and Game 2008-09, Club Member Deer and Game 2007-08, Club Member Deer and Game 2004-05 and subsequent years of harvest records.
Aging Deer
Deer Aging Video
Good deer management says take only mature bucks (bucks 4 1/2 years of age or older).
Each club member is encouraged to learn how to age deer on the hoof. There's a video tape available which can be used for training purposes. This same video tapes teaches a hunter how to age a deer by examining the teeth in a jaw bone.
This video is available for ordering from Forestry Suppliers, Inc. at 1-800-647-5368. The cost (as of Fall 2004) is $27.95 plus shipping.
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