Managing Ohio’s deer herd is a complex undertaking using input from farmers as well as hunters
Managing Ohio’s deer herd is a complex undertaking with many factors considered and much data analyzed. With the results of a record deer harvest fresh in mind, I thought now would be a good time to review how important the Ohio Division of Wildlife views input from farmers in making harvest regulations.
The division’s goal regarding whitetail deer is to “provide a deer population that maximizes recreational opportunity including viewing, photographing, and hunting deer while minimizing conflicts with agriculture, motor travel, and other areas of human endeavor.” This has been the division’s goal for over 45 years and public surveys indicate strong support for this approach.
While the Division of Wildlife recognizes that all Ohioans share the cost associated with deer, opinion surveys of farmers, hunters and general citizens indicate that farmers and motorists shoulder the greatest share of the burden. Therefore, beginning in 1979, and consistent with the minimum conflict deer population objective, the division began using periodic (approximately every five years) surveys of Ohio’s farmers to aid in defining optimum population levels in all but our most heavily urbanized counties, where the number of deer-vehicle accidents have been used. Survey results are the foundation for harvest regulations that are designed to allow a deer population to increase, decrease, or stay the same.
This strong reliance on survey input from farmers has drawn criticism by some who feel such an approach results in unnecessarily low levels of deer. Opponents argue that farmers generally hold a negative opinion of deer. However, the Division of Wildlife has found that farmers generally value deer and hold opinions of deer that are pretty consistent with that of the general public. Ohio’s farmers generally believe that the benefits of wildlife outweigh the costs.
Deer hunters also provide important input into the management of Ohio’s deer herd. In addition to voluntary comments, the division polls a representative sample of deer hunters about once every five years. Hunters representing every Ohio county are included in the survey, which provides information on opinions and attitudes toward season length, legal hunting devices, bag limit, hunting pressure, and deer population level. Where appropriate, this information is incorporated into the deer management process.
In recent years, the population of deer in Paulding County as across most of Ohio has grown. At the same time, the number of deer damage complaints has increased. In response, the Division of Wildlife has proposed increasing the bag limit by including Paulding and several other northwest Ohio counties in Deer Zone B for the 2010-11 deer season. If you’re a hunter concerned that too many deer might be taken, statistics show that when given the opportunity to take two or more deer, only 17 percent of deer hunters do so.
In other outdoor notes, anglers are reminded to purchase a new fishing license. The 2010-11 license year began on March 1. Licenses may be purchased at the Ace Hardware (Paulding), Charloe Store, Mead’s Hardware (Oakwood), Payne Pro Hardware, Riverside Hardware (Antwerp), or online at wildohio.com.
Lastly, there’s a lot of important dates to remember this month, including St. Patrick’s Day. And, being of Scots-Irish ancestry, that’s a day to celebrate! However, I’ll begin now by sharing this great, traditional blessing. “May you have walls for the wind and a roof for the rain and drinks beside the fire. Laughter to cheer you and those you love near you and all that your heart may desire.” Enjoy Paulding County Outdoors!