Bowhunter Observation Survey

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1 Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Bowhunter Observation Survey 2016-Season

2 The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) sought participation from bowhunters for the inaugural Bowhunter Observation Survey from October 1 to November 31, The main objectives of this survey were: 1) to provide statewide and regional population indices of furbearers (beaver, bobcat, coyote, otter, red and gray fox, raccoon, and other species as needed), and deer; 2) to develop a long-term database of selected furbearer and deer data for monitoring and evaluating an index of species observation; and 3) to provide an independent supplement to other deer data collected by the ODWC. Bowhunters are ideal for observationaltype surveys because they typically spend a large amount of time in stands within the natural environment of many wildlife species. Invitations to participate in the survey were promoted through ODWC s general list and social media to identify bowhunters that desired to participate (i.e. voluntary self-selection). Participating bowhunters received an ed participant packet prior to archery season. Instructions on how to participate, a link to an electronic survey form and a printable copy of the survey form were included in the participant packet. Participants were asked to record their observations while they were in the field during the first two months of Deer Archery Season. The survey period began on the first day of Deer Archery Season (October 1) and concluded November 31, Participants were able to record observations in any way they preferred by using the printable survey form, a paper notepad, or an application on their cell phone (e.g. Notes). Regardless of the method chosen, participants were asked to keep in-field records to help minimize recall bias. Participating hunters could submit surveys via an electronic form, or they could record observations and submit surveys using a paper form. Surveys were accepted through December 15, Observations were standardized for each of the species to reflect the number of observations per 1,000 hours hunted in each of the 77 counties and statewide. Population indices were calculated by zoogeographic (habitat) regions for furbearers. Because this is the inaugural year of the survey, there are no trend data available for analysis. Data are subsequently described in tables. The ODWC would like to thank all hunters who participated in the first annual Bowhunter Observation Survey. The amount of data collected by bowhunters could never be duplicated by our biologists, technicians, and game wardens. Participation in this survey plays a critical role in the conservation of these and other wildlife species for the future. We look forward to continuing this partnership with bowhunters each year. When reviewing the information in the tables that follow, please note that there are many factors that could affect the observability of wildlife, such as population size, habitat, topography, and land use. In some cases, wildlife observations are based off a limited number of observation hours, and/or from a limited number of hunters. For questions or comments, please contact Jerrod Davis, Furbearer Biologist: jerrod.davis@odwc.ok.gov 1

3 10/1/ /3/ /5/ /7/ /9/ /11/ /13/ /15/ /17/ /19/ /21/ /23/ /25/ /27/ /29/ /31/ /2/ /4/ /6/ /8/ /10/ /12/ /14/ /16/ /18/ /20/ /22/ /24/ /26/ /28/ /30/2016 Number of Surveys Hunter Participation Two-thousand thirty-nine hunters signed up to participate in the inaugural Bowhunter Observation Survey. Nine hundred and fifty-two hunters submitted at least one survey form, resulting in a 47% participation rate in the project. Participating hunters submitted a total of 5,481 survey forms, accounting for 22,804 hours of wildlife observation. Hunters averaged 4.16 hours of wildlife observation per survey submission (Table 1). Bowhunter observation surveys were conducted throughout the two-month survey period, with the number of surveys tapering off from the beginning to the end of the season. Peaks in completed observation surveys can be seen on weekends (Figure 1). Table 1. Summary statistics for statewide hunter participation in the 2016-season Bowhunter Observation Survey. Hunters Signed-up 2,039 Hunters Submitting Observations 952 (47% participation rate) Total Surveys Submitted 5,481 Average Surveys Submitted per Hunter 5.8 Average Observation Hours per Survey 4.16 Total Hours of Observation 22, Number of Bowhunter Observation Surveys, by Date Date Figure 1. The number of bowhunter observations surveys conducted during the 2016-season, by date. 2

4 Table 2. Descriptive statistics for hunter participation in the 2016-season Bowhunter Observation Survey, by county. County Total Observation Hours Average Hours/Submission Total Surveys Submitted Adair Alfalfa Atoka Beaver Beckham Blaine Bryan Caddo Canadian Carter Cherokee Choctaw Cimarron Cleveland Coal Comanche Cotton Craig Creek Custer Delaware Dewey Ellis Garfield Garvin Grady Grant Greer Harmon Harper Haskell Hughes Jackson Jefferson Johnston Kay Kingfisher Kiowa Latimer LeFlore Lincoln Logan Love Major Marshall Mayes McClain McCurtain

5 Table 2 Continued. County Total Observation Hours Average Hours/Submission Total Surveys Submitted McIntosh Murray Muskogee Noble Nowata Okfuskee Oklahoma Okmulgee Osage Ottawa Pawnee Payne Pittsburg Pontotoc Pottawatomie Pushmataha Roger Mills Rogers Seminole Sequoyah Stephens Texas Tillman Tulsa Wagoner Washington Washita Woods Woodward

6 White-tailed Deer Table 3. Standardized statewide white-tailed deer observations from the 2016-season Bowhunter Observation Survey. Statewide Total deer 744 Bucks 187 Does 335 Fawns 177 Unknown 46 Table 4. Standardized white-tailed deer observations from the 2016-season Bowhunter Observation Survey, by land type. Public Land Private Land Total deer Bucks Does Fawns Unknown

7 Table 5. Standardized white-tailed deer observations from the 2016-season Bowhunter Observation Survey, by county. Bucks Does Fawns Unknown Total Deer County Adair Alfalfa Atoka Beaver Beckham Blaine Bryan Caddo Canadian Carter Cherokee Choctaw Cimarron Cleveland Coal Comanche Cotton Craig Creek Custer Delaware Dewey Ellis Garfield Garvin Grady Grant Greer Harmon Harper Haskell Hughes Jackson Jefferson Johnston Kay Kingfisher Kiowa Latimer LeFlore Lincoln Logan Love Major Marshall Mayes McClain

8 Table 5 Continued. Bucks Does Fawns Unknown Total Deer County McCurtain McIntosh Murray Muskogee Noble Nowata Okfuskee Oklahoma Okmulgee Osage Ottawa Pawnee Payne Pittsburg Pontotoc Pottawatomie Pushmataha Roger Mills Rogers Seminole Sequoyah Stephens Texas Tillman Tulsa Wagoner Washington Washita Woods Woodward

9 Furbearers Table 6. Standardized statewide furbearer observations from the 2016-season Bowhunter Observation Survey. Species Statewide Total Furbearers 137 Red Fox 9 Opossum 14 Badger <1 River Otter <1 Striped Skunk 9 Bobcat 10 Raccoon 40 Gray Fox 9 Coyote 45 8

10 Table 7. Standardized furbearer observations from the 2016-season Bowhunter Observation Survey, by land type. Public Land Private Land Species Total Furbearers Red Fox 21 6 Opossum Badger <1 <1 River Otter <1 <1 Striped Skunk 12 8 Bobcat 9 10 Raccoon Gray Fox 20 6 Coyote

Figure 2. Map of the zoogeographic regions of Oklahoma. Table 8. Standardized furbearer observations from the 2016-season Bowhunter Observation Survey, by zoogeographic regions.

11 Figure 2. Map of the zoogeographic regions of Oklahoma. Table 8. Standardized furbearer observations from the 2016-season Bowhunter Observation Survey, by zoogeographic regions. Zoogeographic Region* Red Fox Opossum Badger River Otter Striped Skunk Bobcat Raccoon Gray Fox Coyote Total Obs < <1 < *Zoogeographic Regions: 1- Short Grass Prairie; 2 - Mixed Grass Prairie; 3 - Post Oak - Blackjack Uplands; 4 - Tall Grass Prairie Rolling Hills; 5 - Oak-Hickory-Pine Ouachita Highlands; 6 - Oak-Hickory Ozark Plateau 10

12 Table 9. Standardized furbearer observations from the 2016-season Bowhunter Observation Survey, by county. Red Fox Opossum Badger River Otter Striped Skunk Bobcat Raccoon County Adair Alfalfa Atoka Beaver Beckham Blaine Bryan Caddo Canadian Carter Cherokee Choctaw Cimarron Cleveland Coal Comanche Cotton Craig Creek Custer Delaware Dewey Ellis Garfield Garvin Grady Grant Greer Harmon Harper Haskell Hughes Jackson Jefferson Johnston Kay Kingfisher Kiowa Latimer LeFlore Lincoln Logan Gray Fox Coyote Total Obs. 11

13 Table 9 Continued. Red Fox Opossum Badger River Otter Striped Skunk Bobcat Raccoon County Love Major Marshall Mayes McClain McCurtain McIntosh Murray Muskogee Noble Nowata Okfuskee Oklahoma Okmulgee Osage Ottawa Pawnee Payne Pittsburg Pontotoc Pottawatomie Pushmataha Roger Mills Rogers Seminole Sequoyah Stephens Texas Tillman Tulsa Wagoner Washington Washita Woods Woodward Gray Fox Coyote Total Obs. 12

14 Other Species In addition to the species listed in Table 10, Bowhunters reported observations for several additional species that were not listed on the form. These include a variety of bird species, mountain lions, pronghorns, mule deer, chipmunks, rabbits, armadillos, snakes, prairie dogs, beavers, turtles, bats, groundhogs, butterflies, muskrats, and porcupines. Table 10. Standardized statewide wildlife observations from the 2016-season Bowhunter Observation Survey. Species Statewide Black Bear (adult) 2 Black Bear (cub) 3 Elk (antlered) 4 Elk (antlerless) 2 Elk (calf) 2 Turkey (bearded) 77 Turkey (not bearded) 120 Turkey (unknown) 79 Gray Squirrel 248 Fox Squirrel 297 Quail 182 Feral Swine 74 House Cat 3 Domestic Dog 13 13

15 Table 11. Standardized wildlife observations from the 2016-season Bowhunter Observation Survey, by land type. Public Land Private Land Species Black Bear (adult) 2 2 Black Bear (cub) 6 2 Elk (antlered) 7 3 Elk (antlerless) 7 3 Elk (calf) 5 2 Turkey (bearded) Turkey (not bearded) Turkey (unknown) Gray Squirrel Fox Squirrel Quail Feral Swine House Cat 4 3 Domestic Dog

Bowhunter Observation Survey

Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation Bowhunter Observation Survey 2017-Season The Oklahoma Department of Wildlife Conservation (ODWC) sought participation from bowhunters for the second annual