ORIGINAL: bluebird2
Presently I see no significant concerns with the statewide breeding rates, though there certainly is still room for improvement. I am also confident we will see improvements as more information becomes available from the ever continuing research and data collection.
If you see no significant concerns now that the breeding rate has dropped by 5%, why did you have significant concerns when the breeding rate was 5% higher. Before, you claimed ARs were necessary to improve the buck to doe ratio , improve the breeding ecology and breeding rates and reduce the breeding window. Now that none of that happened as predicted suddenly the lower breeding rates and lower recruitment are not a significant concern. Can you explain why you believe that now?
That is easy.
Since the deer are managed by unit instead of with those statewide results the improvements that were needed are being realized within the units where it was most needed. That is why in areas like this area both the breeding rates and window have been so greatly improved over the past half dozen years.
Some units though do seem to be experiencing some slight declines, most likely due to having populations that have grown out of the balance of the habitat. Those various habitat/deer density issues and problem areas will be addressed, on a unit by unit bases, with various management options in the future.
R.S. Bodenhorn