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 slightly 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, and
50 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
did combine to suppress deer numbers for the last two seasons. In
2018 we took 61 bucks and 37 antlerless deer. The kill last season
was down to 50 bucks and 43 doe. That indicates a herd size below
our 30 to 35 deer per square mile target. The variables of weather,
acorns, antlerless kills, and non-acorn habitat complicate population
predictions. 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.
Current 2020 Deer Status and Plans:
This year’s spring and summer wildlife survey counts were down.
Although this data is not statistically valid, it is directionally consistent
with the lower population estimates based on last season’s kill. This
year’s acorn production is good with very good acorn numbers on
enough oaks over the entire Ranch. Acorn size is some concern. 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.
Deer numbers are safe enough to allow some herd growth by not
issuing 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 typically 40 deer.
A forecast 60 bucks plus the 40 doe will bring the total 2020 kill to
100 deer. That modest doe kill should bring the herd up to the
sustainable 30 to 35 deer per square mile density. Those antlerless
goals and Tag quantities will be reviewed October 31 with the firsthand
experience of early season observations and harvest rates.
Adjustments will be recommended if appropriate.
2020 Deer Season Overview
Strategy:
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.
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The CCR population goals are based on:
• professionals’ assessment of the overall habitat quality of
the Ranch
• 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 to the Board of Directors by the Conservation
Committee on August 8, 2020
Approved by the Board of Directors on August 22, 2020.
Anterless Deer on CCR
The current CCR deer herd is estimated to be below the goal
of 30-35 deer per square mile. The Conservation Committee
has determined that allowing the herd to safely increase to
that goal is now a viable option. At this time no CCR antlerless
permits are planned to be issued (except to youth hunters)
for the upcoming 2020 firearms season. For that reason the
Committee is asking CCR archery hunters to “consider” limiting
their antlerless harvest to one animal this year. Additionally,
the Committee would like to remind archery hunters
that CCR’s “cull areas” remain a viable option for harvesting
antlerless deer.
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.
August 2020
— from 2020 CCR News, Deer Insert