2019 Deer Season Overview
Current 2019 Deer Status and Plans:
• professionals’ assessment of the overall habitat quality of
the Ranch
Since the population surge in 2015 with 98 bucks killed, the
CCR deer herd has returned closer to target levels of 30 to 35
deer per square mile. Four consecutive good acorn crops in
2012, ‘13, ’14, and ‘15 coupled with favorable, non-confining
winter weather conditions probably accounted for that very
strong herd growth. That was in spite of aggressive antlerless
deer harvests (avg. 81 per year from 2013 thru 2016). 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, and 61 in
2018. 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) and late winter break-up (late April blizzard) did
appear to suppress deer numbers last season. Kill rates were
down through both the bow and firearms seasons. 61 bucks
and 37 antlerless deer was the total 2018 kill. That indicates a
herd size slightly below our 30 to 35 deer per square mile
target. The variables of weather, acorns, and non-acorn
habitat, have become less predictable indicators of
population size and direction. Swings in herd numbers can
be expected, but the objective is to minimize these swings.
Habitat protection continues to be the priority for long term
wildlife stability.
• the increased elk harvest quotas since 2006.
• the ongoing forest regeneration / rejuvenation which
provides increasingly dispersed healthy forage and browse,
plus the downed tree tops each winter to divert feeding from
new regeneration sites
• the increasing food, diversion, and distribution; Reference
the planted and maintained CCR gas well sites; fields; closed
logging trails, pipeline, gas site trails, random small clover
patches, and managed wild grasslands
Recommended by the CCR Conservation Committee – 8-3-19
Approved by the CCR Board of Directors – 8-24-19
DNR Deer Check Stations
Successful CCR deer hunters are encouraged to get
their deer checked at any DNR check station. The
Biologists can sort through their computer data after
the season and provide CCR with age structure date
for our deer harvest.
This year’s acorn production is abundant with a good to very
good acorn crop over the entire Ranch. That should attract
deer onto Ranch property, but more importantly it provides
the nourishment to support winter survival, healthy fawn
production next spring, and a diversion from young forest
regeneration sites. Herd growth is expected for next season.
CCR Blind Tags
(purpose and assumptions)
• Help minimize in-field misunderstandings between
members.
• Presumes courtesy and sportsmanship
• Inform hunters that another member already plans to
hunt that blind/area.
• Provides opportunity for those members hunting
common sites, to communicate prior to, and during
the season (share plans to use and not use the site).
• Assumes a shared understanding that the tags do
not provide the hunter with regulated exclusive rights
to a site, and especially at times when it is not being
hunted by the tag holder.
• There is no right to use another member’s personal
equipment without permission.
• The tags can provide some degree hunter isolation,
but only if other hunters respect the tags as giving the
tag holder priority to hunt that site.
The total registered antlerless (bow, gun, on, and off CCR)
harvest objective for 2019 is 52 deer. 100 CCR Firearms
Antlerless Tags will be issued to achieve part (20) of that
goal. The 52 antlerless deer combined with a forecast 65 bucks
(117 total deer kill) should bring the herd up to the sustainable
30 to 35 deer per square mile density. Those antlerless goals
and Tag numbers will be reviewed Oct. 26 with the first-
hand experience of early season observations and harvest
rates. Adjustments will be made if appropriate.
Background:
Ongoing efforts to monitor the forage pressure from deer
and elk, together with professional evaluations of our
habitat’s long term sustainability suggest goals of 30 to 35
deer per sq. mile are compatible with current CCR habitat.
CCR elk numbers have a direct and significant impact on the
size of our deer herd. Monitoring the habitat pressure is
essential and CCR must always be prepared to react with
deer herd reduction if necessary. Protecting the habitat is the
first priority. Regeneration sustainability must be protected.
Deer populations bounce back very quickly as we’ve seen
over the Ranch history. However, once habitat is damaged
beyond a critical level, the loss can be long lived, and
sometimes not fully recoverable.
August 2018
— from 2001 CCR News, Deer Insert
The CCR population goals are based on:
3