population

Trophy Deer Management & QDM

To expand upon our last post of the role of harvesting wildlife, one of the ways that wildlife managers can manipulate hunting to influence wildlife populations is Trophy Deer Management and Quality Deer Management (QDM). These obviously relate specifically to deer populations, but these large herbivores are one of your biggest revenue streams and need…

Wildlife & Harvest: Part II

In a continuation of our last post, where does hunting (or harvest) fit in? When properly managed and regulated, harvest (be it hunting, trapping, or fishing) can be used to take the place of some forms of natural mortality. Harvest should be a replacing form of mortality, it should replace some of the mortality which…

Wildlife & Harvest: Part I

Now its time to go over your personal feelings about hunting with a fine-toothed comb. Harvesting animals is one of the wildlife managers most useful and effective tools. Before we get into how harvesting (hunting, fishing, and trapping) fits into your tool belt (and your feelings about it), lets discuss the reasons why. In most…

Population Size & Reproduction

Environmental factors that may influence the reproductive process (e.g., nutrition, weather, crowding, predation, disease) often have more severe impacts on reproductive success when wildlife populations are HIGH rather than low. Why? In large populations there is more competition for both quantity and quality of food and cover, which leads us into a discussion of density-dependent reproduction….

Wildlife Reproduction

In a stable animal population, reproduction must offset natural mortality – especially if the animals are harvested! It’s important for the wildlife manager to monitor reproductive success and be aware of the factors that can impact reproduction! Before we get started, here are some terms to know: Fecundity: Ability of an animal to produce eggs or…