If you want to maintain stable or growing wildlife populations in general here are some of the rules I follow. On my property they are laws. Follow these 8 principles like the Quaran if you want to turn your woodlot or farm into a hot zone for local wildlife. This methodology can be applied to any suitable habitat in the world that has wildlife and I guarantee results!
1) Only shoot mature animals of the species, including predators, and generally only in years of noticable abundance (cyclical population high). This ensures proper herd age structure as the herd always has an animal to take the older animals place should it die.
2) Never shoot females of any species. You need them to breed. You are only one bad winter away from turing your population high into a population low. Remember, as a rule every doe or cow moose you shoot takes 5 animals out of your herd. The doe, it's 2 fawns of the year and 2 embryos for next year.
3) Maintain the highest density of wildlife you can on the property. The animals will establish territories with dominant individuals "ruling the roost". Subordinate animals will leave the area or be chased away if the density becomes too great or predators will move in to thin the herd.
4) If there are no 5+ year old animals to shoot on the property, shoot a cull buck/bull which has 4 points or less per side and is mature (3.5 yrs old or older). He has no trophy potential but is fully grown and will yield maximum meat. A buck is not a male deer with 10 centimeter antlers, thats's a fawn or yearling. Bucks are 3.5 years old or older, which in animal terms usually means it's old enough to breed.
5) Improve or supplement the food on the property if need be. Keeping your herds healthy means providing proper nutrition, especially so pregnant females can have many healthy fawns and helps protect your herd from disease as the animals are in the best condition that they can be in at any given time.
6) Extensive surveillance of the property ensures the manager knows what is on the property during any given year. I have 13 trail cams on the property (470 acres) which capture travel corridors, bedding areas, and feeding areas. Without adequate surveillance and population surveys you will not be able to optimally put into practice and carry out a management plan.
7) Control access to authorized personnel only. People who you can trust to carry out your management philosophy. Quality deer/trophy management in this case. Make your management plan a condition of hunting permission on the property. You do not have to grant access to your property. If you do, clearly state your expectations to the hunter, including the animals that are on the hitlist and which are not. Anyone who hunts my lands will have to put in sweat equity to improve the property if they want to come back next year. Involve your neighbours in wildlife management. Wildlife generally requires large areas of land to thrive and cooperating with neighbours to carry out some basic core priciples will go a long way to attracting, retaining, improving and increasing the quantity and quality of wildlife on your property and in the area.
8) Report trespassers and poachers. They don't help with the management plan. We have resource officers and courts for a reason. You pay a lot in taxes to have them, use them both.
1) Only shoot mature animals of the species, including predators, and generally only in years of noticable abundance (cyclical population high). This ensures proper herd age structure as the herd always has an animal to take the older animals place should it die.
2) Never shoot females of any species. You need them to breed. You are only one bad winter away from turing your population high into a population low. Remember, as a rule every doe or cow moose you shoot takes 5 animals out of your herd. The doe, it's 2 fawns of the year and 2 embryos for next year.
3) Maintain the highest density of wildlife you can on the property. The animals will establish territories with dominant individuals "ruling the roost". Subordinate animals will leave the area or be chased away if the density becomes too great or predators will move in to thin the herd.
4) If there are no 5+ year old animals to shoot on the property, shoot a cull buck/bull which has 4 points or less per side and is mature (3.5 yrs old or older). He has no trophy potential but is fully grown and will yield maximum meat. A buck is not a male deer with 10 centimeter antlers, thats's a fawn or yearling. Bucks are 3.5 years old or older, which in animal terms usually means it's old enough to breed.
5) Improve or supplement the food on the property if need be. Keeping your herds healthy means providing proper nutrition, especially so pregnant females can have many healthy fawns and helps protect your herd from disease as the animals are in the best condition that they can be in at any given time.
6) Extensive surveillance of the property ensures the manager knows what is on the property during any given year. I have 13 trail cams on the property (470 acres) which capture travel corridors, bedding areas, and feeding areas. Without adequate surveillance and population surveys you will not be able to optimally put into practice and carry out a management plan.
7) Control access to authorized personnel only. People who you can trust to carry out your management philosophy. Quality deer/trophy management in this case. Make your management plan a condition of hunting permission on the property. You do not have to grant access to your property. If you do, clearly state your expectations to the hunter, including the animals that are on the hitlist and which are not. Anyone who hunts my lands will have to put in sweat equity to improve the property if they want to come back next year. Involve your neighbours in wildlife management. Wildlife generally requires large areas of land to thrive and cooperating with neighbours to carry out some basic core priciples will go a long way to attracting, retaining, improving and increasing the quantity and quality of wildlife on your property and in the area.
8) Report trespassers and poachers. They don't help with the management plan. We have resource officers and courts for a reason. You pay a lot in taxes to have them, use them both.
