Today's Strategy, Tommorow's Wildlife January 1983 Third Edition

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U) 800 600 :) 400 0 F 200 160 0 Q 120 U) 0 80 40 250 200 0 150 D 100 0 F 50 1000 800 z 600 � 400 0 1 200 HISTORICAL OBJECTIVES THUNT POPULATION 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 HARVEST 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 HUNTERS 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 RECREATION DAYS 1960 1970 1980 1990 2000 OBJECTIVE To provide for an increase of 30 percent in deer populations, 65 percent in harvest, 22 percent in numbers of hunters and 35 percent in recreation days by 1988 compared to 1980 base year levels. MANAGEMENT STRATEGIES Regulations which control antlerless deer har- vest will be continued in order to manage deer populations properly. We will continue to encour- age participation in low harvest seasons— arch- ery and muzzleloading rifle —by maintaining adequate hunting season opportunities. Manage- ment policies will provide more public recreation benefits from available deer numbers and improve hunter distribution by manipulating the hunting season framework. Additional hunting opportunities will be realized from growing deer numbers on the eastern plains. Hunting seasons will be designed to accommodate the highest pos- sible number of hunters to maximize recreation opportunities. The hunter success rate should fluctuate between 30 and 50 percent during the next 15 years. Efforts will be made to protect existing deer winter ranges and to acquire addi- tional key wintering areas. Statewide Priority STRATEGIES - - -_- - - -- - - -- - --------------- -- Provide information on deer habitat needs for use in land management decisions and seek mitigation for deer losses when impacts are t unavoidable. Improve our ability to match harvest regulations with available deer 2 populations through better counts and better analysis of count data. Increase carrying capacities of deer habitats on public lands through 3 controlled burning, chaining, fertilizing, timber management and similar methods. Improve relationships between landowners and deer hunters through efforts to improve hunter ethics and recognition of the landowner's 4 role in providing habitat. Develop regulations to maintain and improve deer hunting quality and quantity. Consider options for quality hunts and methods to insure 5--that annual harvest objectives will be met. Increase control of critical deer habitats through purchase, lease, easement or agreement where necessary to assure acceptable deer nnniilntions or hunter access. Reduce nonhunting mortality of deer . through intensified law 7 Pnforcement efforts and predator control where necessary. - - Regional Priority NE NW SE SW 2 3 1 2 3_2 2 1 1 3 4_3 1 6 4 6 5_4 5 4 6 5 6 5 7 7 7 7 17