CCR Conservation Committee Annual Report
The Conservation Committee would like to thank the Board of Directors , the employees of Canada Creek Ranch and all the CCR members who supported CCR ’ s Conservation effort throughout 2021 . Below is a summary of this past year ’ s efforts :
DEER ON CCR AND THE 2021 DEER SEASON Background Reference : Four consecutive good acorn crops and easy winters in 2012 , ‘ 13 , ’ 14 , and ‘ 15 accounted for strong herd growth and the 98 buck harvest in 2015 . That was in spite of aggressive antlerless deer harvests ( avg . 81 per year from 2013 thru 2016 ). Since that 2015 population peak the CCR herd has returned to densities at , and now below our 30 to 35 deer per sq . mile target . The 2016 and 2017 acorn crops were very poor and the buck kills dropped from 98 in 2015 , to 67 in 2016 , 77 in 2017 , 61 in 2018 , 50 in 2019 , and 24 last year . The doe kill objectives in 2016 and 2017 were kept high in spite of the poor acorn crops ( 98 registered in 2016 and 105 in 2017 ). Mild winters and healthy habitat ( fields and forest browse ) seemed to offset the historical population drops after poor mast crops . However , the aggressive 2017 antlerless kill ( 105 ), the late winter break-up ( late- April ’ 18 blizzard ), and multiple ice storms in 2019 perhaps combined to suppress deer numbers for the last three seasons .
The kill last season was down to 24 bucks and 37 doe . Miserable opening day weather contributed in-part to the low buck kill ( 24 ) and exaggerated the already low population perception . The herd size was clearly well below our 30 to 35 deer per square mile target . Fawn and yearling buck cohorts appeared weak and antler growth was below normal . The variables of weather , acorns , antlerless kills , and non-acorn habitat complicate population predictions . There is no clear explanation to reconcile the poor 2020 herd condition . Swings in herd numbers can be expected in the non-agricultural wildlands in the Gaylord Snow Belt . The CCR objective has always been to minimize these swings . Habitat protection continues to be the priority for long term wildlife stability .
Current 2021 Deer Status and Plans : This past winter was moderate and access to last year ’ s good acorn crop should have encouraged deer movement onto the Ranch during the winter . Good survival and healthy fawn production is likely . This year ’ s spring Green-up Survey was similar to last year ( low ). The Summer Wildlife Survey counts were slightly up . This data can be helpful but is not statistically valid , so tracks and trail camera observations are also used to evaluate herd status . Overall track evidence , especially fawns , appear to be up from last year . The encouraging fawn numbers bode well for buck numbers in ’ 22 and ’ 23 , but not for this year . However , good survival and natural dispersal should provide some improvement in buck numbers this season . Even with the loss of future winter forage deer numbers are safe enough to allow some herd growth from the 2020 low . The 2021 recommendation is therefore to not issue CCR Firearms Antlerless Tags
( except to youth hunters and Liberty Hunt participants ). The doe kill without the Tags is not trivial . The typical registered antlerless harvest with bow , youth members , and off-CCR kills is still typically about 40 deer .
22
A forecast kill of 50 bucks plus 45 doe is the optimistic outlook for 2021 . Taking 50 bucks assumes favorable weather conditions for the first few days of the rifle season .
The CCR Board voted ( 5-4 ) in June to place a two year moratorium on logging on CCR . Because of this the 30 to 35 deer per square mile density goal is probably not compatible with the habitat quality over the coming few years . Realistic objectives will have to be reestablished based on the new habitat status .
2020 CCR Big Buck Contest : Member Gil Olds won the big buck contest on the Ranch in 2020 . Coyote Bounty : A $ 25.00 coyote bounty will continue to be paid to members who harvest a coyote on CCR . The bounty will be yearround .
Cabin Area Deer Population : The increasing cabin deer herd population continues to be monitored . The high cabin deer herd could easily develop into a major problem for the Ranch if Bovine Tuberculosis ( or other diseases ) gets into the herd . This could then easily spread throughout CCR ’ s entire deer herd . The Committee frequently reminds the membership that feeding deer is not only illegal ; it can create an unhealthy , human dependant deer herd . The Conservation Committee also encourages CCR ’ s hunting members to participate in the antlerless only ( archery equipment only ) cull areas that surround the cabin area . Cull area maps are available at the Ranch office .
Whitetail Banquet : The Whitetails Unlimited Banquet scheduled for April was canceled for the second straight year due to the Covid19 restrictions .
ELK STATUS
TUS CCR elk numbers continue to be a concern . Elk sightings this spring and summer have been visibly high ; notably cows and calves . Current estimates indicate the elk population on the Ranch is now 2-3 times higher than the current goal of 1.5 animals per square mile ( Note : The DNR Pigeon River Forest goal is 1.0 elk per square mile ). The DNR has substantially increased state land logging surrounding CCR ( especially to the north ) which will hopefully help draw some elk off the Ranch and into that new growth .
A total of ( 29 ) elk were harvested during the 2020 ( December ) elk hunt on and around CCR . This included ( 21 ) cows and ( 8 ) bulls . As of September 1 st , 2021 , CCR is totally booked for elk hunters for the December elk hunt with several hunters on a waiting list .
The annual CCR / DNR elk meeting was held “ on-line ” in April . The DNR reported that one “ collared ” elk traveled over 20 miles in just two days . It was also noted that ( 5 ) elk were harvested south of Lewiston in 2020 .
Continued on page 23