HomeMy WebLinkAbout2 White Buffalo Inc 2010 ReportSUMMARY REPORT
2010 Deer Management Program
Iowa City,Iowa
by
White Buffalo,Inc.
Site Description
Iowa City contains a matrix of suburban/commercial development,agricultural fields, parks and
open grasslands. As a result of no legal hunting opportunities and fertile soils,the deer population had
increased to a level incompatible with some land uses and human activities. Although deer physical
condition is not an issue, there is concern regarding deer/vehicle collisions and damage to garden and
landscape plantings. As part of the 2010 comprehensive deer management program under the
authorization of the Iowa Department of Natural Resources this is the 10th year,taking the 2002-2003
winter off, in which a population reduction program was implemented.
Deer Management Program Overview
Prebaiting was conducted from 18 December 2009— 10 January 2010. Deer removal activities
conducted from II -21 January 2010. Eleven days of fieldwork were required to achieve the harvest of
57 deer.
Field Methods
We followed the operations protocol outlined in the contract. Seventeen bait sites were selected
throughout the area of operation. Bait sites were shut down during the program as productivity declined,
initial prebaiting activity demonstrated little deer activity, or weather conditions deemed the sites
inaccessible.
Deer were shot on a first opportunity basis. This means that deer were shot only when, 1)a safe
opportunity presented itself,and 2)maximal harvest efficiency would be achieved. Carcasses were then
tagged and delivered to Ruzicka's Meats for processing.
Harvest Demographics
The entire data set generated from harvested deer is represented in the spreadsheet entitled "City of Iowa
City—Deer Harvest by Date: 11 -21 January 2010" (Appendix A). We harvested 39 females(68%) and
18 males (32%). The overall harvest demographics are summarized in Table 1. Eighteen (32%) fawns
and 39 (68%)adults were harvested.
Table 1. Age class and sex distribution of deer harvested in Iowa City, Iowa from 11-2] January 2010.
AGE MALE (%) FEMALE (%) COMBINED
Fawn 11 (19.3) 7 (123) 18
Adult 7(12.3) 32 (56.1)39
Harvest by Deer Management Zone
To allow for a more comprehensive population management program,we summarized all the
harvest data by management zone(Table 2)relative to deer concentration identified by the City's 2008
aerial snow count, no count was conducted in 2009. The most productive sites were within Zone D and
the combination of Zone H&I,where 22, 7,and 15 deer were removed respectively(77%of the total
harvest).
Table 2. Ten year comparison of harvest data by deer management zone.
ZONE 1999-2000 2001 2002 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009* 2010
A 15 2 27
B 186 74 48 31 13 19 8 3 6 3
C 57 123 51 49 44 17 13 7 18 6
D 102 122 93 117 48 66 29 33 23 22
F 19 10 3 8 7 20 2 4 4
H&1 21 41 41 129 44 18 22
Total 360 340 250 200 154 150 199 89 69 57
Discussion
Three sites initially prepared for culling operations were shut down before removal efforts began
based on our inability to access the sites due to the persistent deep and drifting snow. All three sites were
located on University of Iowa property. Two additional sites were shut down due to lack of deer activity.
Of the remaining 12 sites,all but two received two sharpshooting attempts(removal effort). In every
case the second seated attempt resulted in a significant decline in productivity(deer harvested/man hour).
Harvest demographics this year indicate fawn recruitment to be 0.56 fawns per adult doe. This
ratio is further confirmed by the limited number of fawns seen in the field (i.e.,those not harvested).
Many times, adult does harvested in groups would have no fawns present. Historical fawn recruitment
based on past cull data was—1.1 fawns per adult doe. This is the second year in a row where fawn
recruitment is significantly below the historical average.
Adult male(males that had shed their antlers)harvest is similar to past years(-12.5%), with the
exception of 2009 where 15%more adult males were harvested due to a later start date of operations(i.e.
more males had shed their antlers). As stated in previous years, we would likely remove<1% adult
males if the entire permit were valid starting 1 December.
Thirty six antlered males were observed while field operations were being conducted, additional
antlered males were observed though infrared camera data. Individual animals were identified based on
antler characteristics, no male was counted twice and if any doubt existed they were not added to the
total. If snow counts are conducted,they should be interpreted with caution as, generally, there are a
significant number of adult males(relative to adult females)present at most harvest sites. The ratio of
observed yearling/adult males to yearling/adult females was—1:1. Therefore,the population growth
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potential relative to observed density will be greatly diminished. Again,next year's harvest projections
should reflect this change in demographics.
Recreational feeding of deer on Saint Joseph's Cemetery continues to hamper our ability to
manage deer in the Northwest corner of Hickory Hill Park and the surrounding area. Deer densities in
this area appear(based on track sign and visual observations)to be significantly higher than the rest of
town. The wood lot on the Southeast corner of Interstate Highway 6 and Hawkins Road also has
substantial feeding activity from the residents of the Hope House (University of Iowa). Nine percent of
the deer/vehicle strikes in town occur proximate to this location.
Deer vehicle strikes are down significantly from 1999 when 103 collisions were recorded.Thirty
three collisions were recorded in 2009(a 68%reduction),with 15 (45%)of those occurring on Highway
218 or Interstate 80,where town boundaries prevent adequate management activities to occur.
Total harvest has dropped significantly from 2007 to 2010. There are a number of reasons for
this decline; however it should be noted that our effort per site has increased (at most sites)as deer
densities continue to fall. Trend data suggest an overall herd reduction in all zones where culling activity
occurs. A good example of this is Zone B, 186 deer were removed in 1999-2000 cull operations, only 3
animals were removed this year with two seated attempts. Harvest in this zone has stabilized in the
single digits. Similar results occur in all zones.
Future Program Suggestions
Based on low recruitment over the last two years, dramatically reduced deer vehicle strikes (and
corresponding deer densities), and a generally insignificant amount landscape damage we suggest that
Iowa City consider delaying any additional deer management activities until winter of 2011-2012. At
this time the State permit will again need to be made valid early to maintain the reduced densities on the
University property(i.e., during the Christmas break). Also, if the State sees value in protecting males, I
recommend that the general City-wide permit be made active by 1 December so males can be avoided
nearly all yearling and adult males will have visible antlers).
Acknowledgments
We would like to thank Kathi Johansen,City Manager's Office, Glenn Pauley, Iowa City Fire
Department,Jeff Ruzicka of Ruzicka's Meats and his crew,and all the participating landowners for their
cooperation and continued support. We also are grateful to IDNR for continued support of this program.
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2009 Deer-Vehicle Accidents (Page 1)
Human Result
Conditions Driver Age - - -Injury to Deer
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