Innovative Deer Management Plan Incorporates Landowners And Hunters To Adopt A Socially And Biologically Viable Philosophy To Herd Management

By Author: Westervelt Wildlife Services
Total Articles: 44
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Deer management at its best is a balancing act of note between animal, man and nature. Without this interaction and responsible behaviour from man, this could be disastrous to the environment and the hunting industry and heritage as it is known.
The scientific quality management of deer herds in a manner that is biologically and socially viable within an existing ecosystem and habitat can only be achieved when landowners and hunters work side by side to embrace this very important philosophy.
Young animals should at all times be protected from any harvest, whilst adequate harvesting of female deer completes the fine balancing act which contributes to the production of healthy and stable herds that will not be harmful to the environment. It is important to determine the carrying capacity of the hunting land. By entertaining this management plan, it will serve as protection for natural resources as well as an array of species, which inhabit the hunting fields, or timberlands for that matter.
The four pillars of Quality Deer Management, which is not negotiable and universal to a diverse habitat, would be the management ...
... of herds, management of habitat, the management of hunters and the monitoring of herds. These cornerstones form the foundation of any successful strategy and are integrated in so many ways.
The management of deer herds is achieved by thinning out of the herds by means of lethal hunting, live capture and relocation or practicing birth control on the female species. The size of the herd will be stunted by the decrease in birth rate. The production of fawns can be postponed by three years by means of specially designed birth control medication, which is dispensed to the doe via darting.
If these measures are ignored it leads to overpopulation of deer which is damaging to the environment and hunting land which in turn leads to depletion of food resources and less healthy animals.
There are many success stories insensitive farmers wanting to make good money from hunting, forgetting about the long-term vision, stripped where a complete turnaround took place after hunting land. It just takes about two or three hunting seasons to deplete large bucks. When implementing a strategic wildlife management plan, which is well thought through, not all is lost.
This may involve the burning of land, the creation of food plots, fertilization, and to prohibit hunting for a period while rehabilitation takes place. It can take as long as five years and diverting from the original plan to reclaim the land and mark it as a paradise for hunters, the fields yielding quality deer. Involving the services of a biologist will add immense value to the process and will support the structure of the plan.A wildlife management plan in collaboration with a deer management plan will definitely assist in the achievement ofthese defined goals.
A formal document stipulation all the role players’ duties and contributions will set solid parameters and long-term goals, and provide tools by which the plan can be implemented. It is key to have aerial photographs of the property to have a bird’s eye view and put everything into perspective. This will also back arguments that may arise when there are conflicting trains of thought in the management group.
The land manager should stipulate what can realistically be achieved within a certain period, in terms of the plan versus the reality of the resources and quality of land.
Looking at the population, condition of the habitat, studying the history to form a background picture, could be valuable information when planning the future in terms of harvesting, reducing herds, limiting hunting, planting feeding lots and overall investment in the future of the land and the herds.
To follow a long-term wildlife and deer management plan is always the best idea for sustainability and legacy of the industry for generations to come.

About Us
Westervelt Wildlife are highly esteemed,multifaceted hunting industry leaders with decades of experience in their field. Their wide reach expands to hunting leases, hunting clubs, hunting lodges, deer management programs, habitat management and conservation, and the preservation of timberland. Add to this an impeccablerecord of accomplishments dating back to 1884. Being visionaries, they have managed to produce the best hunting land in Alabama, creating unsurpassed opportunies for hunters in search of a variety of species, from whitetails, wild turkeys to pheasant hunting, since the first hunt took place in 1951. Westervelt Hunting Lodges provide quality accommodation for hunters and elevates the overall experience to new heights.
For more information, please contact us at https://westerveltwildlife.com