By: Stephanie Ray and Sarah Phipps

Transcription

1 Hobbs Deer Spotlight Census 2012 By: Stephanie Ray and Sarah Phipps

2 Deer Population The deer population in Northwest Arkansas has become a very important issue in recent years. Areas like Pea Ridge Military Park appear to be extremely over populated while others are very under populated. This census shows how well Hobbs State Park Conservation Area (SPCA) is managing their deer population.

3 Hobbs History Hobbs SPCA is the only state park in Arkansas that allows hunting. The property was purchased by the Department of Parks and Tourism in 1979 from Roscoe C. Hobbs and encompasses 12,056 acres of mountainous terrain.

4 Wildlife at Hobbs Wildlife is an integral part of what Hobbs SPCA is all about. The park has permit hunts for deer during the modern gun and muzzleloader seasons due to the overpopulation of deer at this state park. This was the first year that the state of Arkansas opened bow season early: It started on September 15, 2012, two weeks before its previous October 1 st opening.

5 Purpose of Deer Spotlight Census The purpose of this census was to provide an accurate estimate of the deer population which help Hobbs SPCA staff in maintaining a good, strong, healthy deer herd. The data collected from the census will help determine the number of permits that we be issued for the next years hunting season. In recent years, there has been a trend by hunters to harvest bucks which has negatively affected our doe to buck ratio. By doing this census, Hobbs SPCA hopes to be able to see how their deer population is doing in producing bucks and maintaining a good doe to buck ratio to possibly change the hunting regulations.

6 Census History The deer census was first started in the spring of 1999, and has continued each following semester. The data is a continuation of the original census with the latest data gathered in September 2012.

7 Other Wildlife Spotted during Spotlighting Census The volunteers saw 14 skunks, 5 opossum, 14 raccoon, 1 coyote, 5 owls, 28 wild cats, 1 bob cat, 11 rabbits, 3 fox, 3 mice/rats, 10 armadillo, and 6 snakes.

8 Deer Spotlight Census The Deer Spotlight Census lasts for five days, usually starting the week after a full moon. Volunteers for the census meet at Hobbs Maintenance Facility and from there the volunteers split into two groups. One group explored the west side of the property, while the other explored the east side. Two park rangers including a driver, a recorder, and two people in the bed of the truck are included in the spotlighting census.

9 What is Recorded on the Census The volunteers recorded the deer as to whether the deer were in the woods or a field, bedded down or standing. They also recorded if the deer was a buck, doe, fawn, or unknown. Aside from gathering very useful information, the census provided an educational experience for students.

10 Results from Deer Spotlighting 2012 A total of 549 deer were seen, which is the highest fall count since the project started. The average number of deer spotted on the west side in the fall of 2012 was 53, and the average on the east side was 57, with a total average daily of 110 deer.

11 Deer Spotted in the East and West Sides of Hobbs Spotlight Survey: Sept /10/2012: East Deer- 21, West Deer- 50, Total- 71 9/11/2012: East Deer- 54, West Deer-59, Total-113 9/12/2012: East Deer- 103, West Deer- 45, Total /13/2012: East Deer- 67, West Deer- 51, Total /17/2012: East Deer- 39, West Deer- 60, Total- 99 Total Spotted on East Side: 284 Total Spotted on West Side: 265 Total for Both: 549 Percent of Deer Spotted on East Side: 52% Percent of Deer Spotted on West Side: 48% Average Number Spotted Per Day, East: 57 Average Number Spotted Per Day, West: 53 Average Number of Deer Spotted Per Day, East and West: 110

12 Deer Spotted Sept Survey East Deer West Deer Total

13 Spring and Fall Deer Spotlight Survey Data, 1999 Through Spring Fall

14 Results This fall, the total number of deer spotted has significantly increased from the spring of The highest numbers of sightings were on the east side due to unequal hunting pressure. Hunting permits are now being revised from season to season based on the results of deer population surveys in an attempt to maintain herd health. The question of hunting pressure has always been a concern for Hobbs SPCA, which is why they conduct a yearly spotlight census to collect data for the upcoming muzzleloader and gun permit seasons.

15 In Conclusion The high deer population data collected over the years clearly shows why hunting is important to keep this state park functioning. The future of Hobbs relies on what hunters, wild life officers, and Hobbs staff decide to do in their quality whitetail deer management plan.