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Note: Session titles beginning with an asterisk (*) have student presenters.
AUTHORS: Andrew R. Little, University of Georgia-Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources; Gino J. D’Angelo, University of Georgia-Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources; Charlie H. Killmaster, Georgia Department of Natural Resources–Wildlife Resources Division; Kristina L. Johannsen, Georgia Department of Natural Resources–Wildlife Resources Division; Karl V. Miller, University of Georgia-Warnell School of Forestry and Natural Resources
ABSTRACT: Most state wildlife agencies collect harvest data to inform management decisions. However, these data are typically considered across relatively short time periods and are rarely revisited. We present a case study using historical records to investigate potential agents influencing the declining white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) population in northern Georgia. We used historical black bear (Ursus americanus) and deer harvest data, and indices of forest stand conditions from 1979-2015 on 8 Wildlife Management Areas (WMAs) in northern Georgia. During 1979-2015, harvest of male and female deer declined by 85% and 97%, respectively. Over the same time period, mean yearling male body weight increased by 21%, mean antler diameter increased by 62%, and mean antler beam length increased by 92%. We observed a 97% reduction in availability of early successional forests (0-10 years old) and a 53% increase in volume of large diameter (> 27.9 cm) oak species, suggesting increasing homogeneity of forest stands across all 8 WMAs. Simultaneously, black bear populations grew at an annual rate of 1.07 for males and 1.08 for females. Our analyses indicated that despite the reduction in early successional habitats, deer condition indices improved suggesting that a habitat-driven change in fecundity was not responsible for the decline. However, increasing fawn predation coupled with a decline in available fawning cover may be reducing recruitment rates and should be investigated as potential causes for the observed population decline. Our research also illustrates the importance of maintaining historical data, especially the value offered to evaluate long-term trends.
Tuesday October 31, 2017 11:40am - 12:00pm EDT
Carroll Ford