NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife · Title: untitled Created Date: 4/22/2010 1:45:18 PM

New JerseyDepartment of Environmental Protection

Bob Martin, Commissioner

Division of Fish & WildlifeDave Chanda, Director

Larry Herrighty, Assistant Director

Bureau of Wildlife ManagementPatrick C. Carr, Supervising Biologist

Deer Research ProjectCarole Kandoth, Project Leader

Request to include Zones 28, 30, 31, 34 & 47 in APR program.

Upcoming hunter survey on APR.

Present data from existing APR zones.

Fish & GameCouncil

Division Biologists

Data collected from field work, harvest, surveys.Input from hunters, farmers, conservationists,

homeowners, and otherinterested parties.

Possible regulatory change?

Game Code – 2 yr cycle

Quality Deer Management:

“Protection of younger bucks.”“Protection of younger bucks.”

“Quality Deer Management (QDM) is a management philosophy/practicethat unites landowners, hunters, and managers in a common goal ofproducing biologically and socially balanced deer herds within existingenvironmental, social, and legal constraints.” QDMA

“Adequate harvest of female deer to maintain a“Adequate harvest of female deer to maintain ahealthy population in balance with existinghealthy population in balance with existinghabitat conditions and landowner desires.”habitat conditions and landowner desires.”

Proper habitat management.Proper habitat management.

NJ’s APR Program

Instituted in 2000.

3 points per side.

Zone 6 removed in 2007.

Northvs.

South

But first a word on percentages versus actual numbers…

Harvest of 3.5+ year olds up by 50%!

Pre-treatment harvest: 4 deerPost-treatment harvest: 6 deer

Net gain of 2 animals

Harvest numbers by age class are extrapolated from biological samples.

Zones 27, 29, 35, 63 Antlered Harvest

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

lllllllllllll

--------------------------

Pre-APR antlered harvest: 1,876

--------------------------------------------

Post-APR antlered harvest: 1,289

Southern APR Zones – Total Antlered Harvest

Decline in antlered harvest: 31%

Southern APR Zones – Age Class by Percentage of Total Antlered Harvest

APR Zones 27, 29, 35, 63

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

1.5 yr old 2.5 yr old 3.5 yr old

lllllllllllll

Southern APR Zones – Age Class by Percentage of Total Antlered Harvest

Southern APR Zones

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006


Linear (1.5 yr old) Linear (2.5 yr old) Linear (3.5 yr old)

APR Zones 27, 29, 35, 63 – Age Class by NumberNumber 1.5 yr olds harvested

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

llllllll

--------------------Avg. Yearling Harvest

Pre-APR Harvest: 1,325 Post-APR Harvest: 613

-------------------------

Avg. 2.5 yr old Harvest

Pre-APR Harvest: 456Post-APR Harvest: 486

Number 2.5 yr olds harvested

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

lllllll

----------------- ------------------------Number 3.5+ yr olds harvested

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

1400

1600

1800

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

llllllll

Avg. 3.5+ yr old Harvest

Pre-APR Harvest: 95Post-APR Harvest: 179

------------------ ------------------------

1,2781,876Total

+84179953.5+

+304864562.5

-7126131,3251.5

N changePost-APRPre-APRAge Class

APR Zones 27, 29, 35, 63 – Age Class by Number

-712 + 114 = -598 (average number of bucks lost to harvest per year in the southern APR zones.)

On 361 sq. miles of deer range, that’s 1.7 bucks per sq. mile not harvested.

APR Zones 27, 29, 35, 63 – Harvest by Antler Points

-1-100%0118

1100%1017

00%1116

00%1115

-2-50%2414

00%4413

210%232112

1643%533711

1611%16514910

4015%3152759

111%128412738

-206-22%7289347

-523-33%103915626

-381-35%70510865

-1083-85%19412774

-742-90%818233

N%

changePOSTPREPoints

Loss of 2,938 bucks ≤ 7 pointsGain of 86 bucks with ≥ 8 points

APR Zones 27, 29, 35, 63 Antlerless Harvest

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

3,000

3,500

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Southern APR Zones – Total Antlerless Harvest

lllllllllllll

--------------------------

Pre-APR Harvest: 2,785 Post-APR Harvest: 2,637

---------------------------------------------

% antlered vs antlerless harvest

0%

20%

40%

60%

80%

100%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

antlered antlerless

Southern APR Zones – % Harvest

Total Antlered Harvest by Zone for existing APRZone 27 Antlered Harvest

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Zone 29 Antlered Harvest

0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008


0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

800

900

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008


0

50

100

150

200

250

300

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

lllllll

lllllll

lllllll

lllllll

------------------ ------------------

------------------------------------

Pre-APR antlered harvest: 476 Post-APR antlered harvest: 339 Pre-APR antlered harvest: 481

Pre-APR antlered harvest: 729 Pre-APR antlered harvest: 190

Post-APR antlered harvest: 343

Post-APR antlered harvest: 501 Post-APR antlered harvest: 119

------------------------------- -------------------------------

--------------------------------------------------------------

29% decline in antlered harvest 29% decline in antlered harvest

31% decline in antlered harvest 37% decline in antlered harvest

Age Class by Percentage of Total Antlered Harvest for existing APR

Zone 27 Aged Antlered Harvest

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

1.5 yr old 2.5 yr old 3.5+ yr old


0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006


Zone 35 Aged Antlered harvest

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006



0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006


Age Class by Percentage of Total Antlered Harvest for existing APR


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

1.5 yr old 2.5 yr old 3.5+ yr old Line a r (1.5 yr old) Line a r (2.5 yr old) Line a r (3.5+ yr old)


0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006


Linear (1.5 yr old) Linear (2.5 yr old) Linear (3.5+ yr old)

Zone 35 Aged Antlered harvest

0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

1.5 yr old 2.5 yr old 3.5 yr old Line a r (1.5 yr old) Linea r (2.5 yr old) Line a r (3.5 yr old)


0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

1.5 yr old 2.5 yr old 3.5+ yr old Line a r (1.5 yr old) Line a r (2.5 yr old) Linea r (3.5+ yr old)

-152342494Total

+3350173.5+

+31451422.5

-1881473351.5


APR Zone 27 – Age Class by Number

-188 + 36 = -152 (average number of bucks lost to harvest per year in Zone 27.)


-168337505Total

+1763463.5+

+30122922.5

-2151523671.5





-258494752Total

+1650343.5+

-371732102.5

-2372715081.5





-105105210Total

+616103.5+

046462.5

-111431541.5




On 21 sq. miles of deer range, that’s 5 bucks per sq. mile not harvested.

Recap of existing south Jersey APR Zones:

Average %s of bucks in harvest by Age Class:

14%38%48%all south

15%44%41%63

10%35%55%35

19%36%45%29

15%42%43%27

3.5+2.51.5

Average reduction in antlered harvest: 31%

For every 6.25 yearlings passed up, 1 older age class buck appears in the harvest.

Loss of 712 yearlings, gain of 114 older age class bucks.

84% of “saved” yearlings do NOT show up in harvest.

5%24%71%all south

4%22%73%63

4%27%69%35

9%17%74%29

4%28%69%27

3.5+2.51.5

Pre-APR Post-APR

Will Antler Point Restrictions Produce Trophy Bucks?

1. Age at maturity.

2. “High-grading”.

Mississippi data shows a decrease in gross B&C scores of5" to 9" for 2.5 yr olds, and 10" to 17" for 3.5 yr olds.

Where have all the yearlings gone…?

- sub-legal bucks being checkedin adjacent zones?

Surrounding Zones' Average Annual Yearling HarvestsZone Pre-APR Post-APR n diff25 288 326 3828 266 331 6530 126 117 -931 78 90 12

Total 106

Surrounding Zones' Average Annual Antlered HarvestsZone Pre-APR Post-APR n diff25 516 478 -3828 431 484 5330 209 194 -1531 135 142 7

Total 7

598 yearlings do not show upin harvest as older age class bucks

Cars, refugia, smarter!

Where have all the yearlings gone…?

NJ Deer Population Estimate

0

50,000

100,000

150,000

200,000

250,000

1988

1991

1994

1997

2000

2003

2006

Pop estharvest

- reduction in overall population?

Where have all the yearlings gone…?Antlered Harvest Set 4 & 6 Zones

0

1000

2000

3000

4000

5000

6000

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

South APR Antlered Harvest

0

500

1,000

1,500

2,000

2,500

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009

Pre-2000 avg.: 3,925

Post-2000 avg.: 4,230

Pre-APR avg.: 1,876Post-APR avg.: 1,303

Pennsylvania’s APR program:

PA Deer Harvest

Antlered Average

%age Yearling Bucks in Antlered

Harvest1999-2000 194,3682000-2001 203,221 200,2792001-2002 203,247 78%2002-2003 165,416 APR instituted 68%2003-2004 142,270 56%2004-2005 124,410 50%2005-2006 120,500 128,478 -36% 52%2006-2007 135,290 71,800 56%2007-2008 109,200 56%2008-2009 122,410 52%2009-2010 108,330 49%

Pennsylvania’s APR program:

PA Deer HarvestAntlerless Average

1999-2000 184,2242000-2001 301,379 256,1232001-2002 282,7672002-2003 352,113 APR instituted2003-2004 322,6202004-2005 284,9102005-2006 233,890 255,9632006-2007 226,2702007-2008 213,8702008-2009 213,4402009-2010 200,590 -160

Proposed APR – Zone 28

Zone 28 Antlered Harvest by Age Class

0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

1.5 2.5 3.5+

Deer Management Zone 28

0

200

400

600

800

1000

1200

Num

ber

of d

eer

harv

este

d

Antlered 552 514 472 498 443 497 509 404 471 492

Antlerle ss 961 1035 719 951 876 839 686 600 715 831

Buck goal 315 315 315 370 375 375 375 375 375 500 500

Strategy Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Stabilize Stabilize

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Reg Set 4

Deer Range = 125 sq.mi.

Extended A & B since 2003

EHD

2007 Deer Density: 30.6



0

100

200

300

400

500

600

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008

Current average antlered harvest: 465465

Predicted average antlered harvest under APR: 321

Net loss of ~ 144 yearling bucks per year. Net gain of ~ 23 older age class bucks per year.

-----------------------------------------------------

-----------------------------------------------------



050

100150200250300350

Num

ber

of d

eer

harv

este

d

Antlered 212 160 183 226 179 205 217 198 170 157

Antlerless 333 284 248 275 247 208 209 192 240 236

Buck goal 170 170 170 170 151 151 151 151 151 215 215

Strategy Stabilize Stabilize Stabilize Stabilize Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Stabilize Stabilize

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Reg Set 3




0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

1.5 2.5 3.5+



0

50

100

150

200

250

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008



Net loss of ~ 62 yearling bucks per year.Net gain of ~ 10 older age class bucks per year.

-------------------------------------------------------

-------------------------------------------------------



0

100

200

300

400

500

Num

ber

of d

eer

harv

este

d

Antlered 168 156 118 179 123 150 133 102 148 152

Antlerless 202 413 277 449 324 337 272 224 205 283

Buck goal 110 110 110 99 100 100 100 100 100 120 120

Strategy Stabilize Stabilize Stabilize Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Stabilize Stabilize

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Reg Set 4


Extended A & B since 2003

Unlimited Antlerless since 2001



0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

80%

90%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

1.5 2.5 3.5+



0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

200

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008




-------------------------------------------------------

------------------------------------------------------



0100200300400500600700

Num

ber

of d

eer

harv

este

d

Antlered 494 457 350 646 357 451 328 323 287 348

Antlerless 638 587 457 561 438 445 318 373 394 258

Buck goal 390 390 390 390 340 340 340 340 340 291 291

Strategy Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Decrease Increase Increase

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Moved from Reg Set 3 to Regulation Set 0 in 2009-10




0%

10%

20%

30%

40%

50%

60%

70%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

1.5 2.5 3.5+



0

100

200

300

400

500

600

700

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008




-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------



050

100150200250300350

Num

ber

of d

eer

harv

este

d

Antlered 113 164 101 143 111 129 97 112 120 125

Antlerless 246 298 253 257 206 189 117 129 160 184

Buck goal 85 85 85 81 81 81 81 81 81 81 81

Strategy Decrease DecreaseDecrease Decrease Decrease DecreaseDecrease Decrease Decrease DecreaseDecrease

2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Reg Set 4

Buck goal = 1.5 bu cks per square mile .


Extended A & B since 20 03

EHD



0%10%20%30%40%50%60%70%80%90%

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006

1.5 2.5 3.5+



0

20

40

60

80

100

120

140

160

180

1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008




------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Proposed APR Zones Antlered Harvest by %s of Age Class

Existing south Jersey APR Zones

Pre-APR

5%24%71%all south

4%22%73%63

4%27%69%35

9%17%74%29

4%28%69%27

3.5+2.51.5

10%32%58%All

10%33%57%47

10%43%47%34

10%30%61%31

11%30%59%30

8%26%66%28

3.52.51.5

Post-APR

14%38%48%all south

15%44%41%63

10%35%55%35

19%36%45%29

15%42%43%27

3.5+2.51.5

N = 657 418 137

N = 1,325 456 95 N = 613 486 179

substantially abovestandard>19.0

above standard>17.015.0

1,2781,876Total

+84179953.5+

+304864562.5

-7126131,3251.5


Existing APR Zones 27, 29, 35, 63 – Age Class by Number

-712 + 114 = -598 (average number of bucks lost to harvest per year in the southern APR zones.)

- 116%

+ 7%

+ 88%


On 361 sq. miles of deer range, that’s 3 miles)

In Conclusion… Division of Fish & Wildlife supports QDM

on private lands where supported by quality habitat.

APR has positives & negatives:

Positives- harvest of older age class bucks increase.- increase in higher point classes

Negatives

- decrease in overall buck harvest- number of older age classes did not equal number ofyearlings saved.- increase in higher point classes did not equal decrease inlower point classes.

Questions?

Contact:Biologist Joe Leskie609-748-2043

Documents

NJDEP Division of Fish & Wildlife · Title: untitled Created Date: 4/22/2010 1:45:18 PM