DEER PROGRAM REPORT DEER ROGRAM REPORT

2006-2007 WMA Deer Harvest NarrativesCalhoun County WMAWritten by: Brad HolderCalhoun County WMA is a 10,900-acre area located near Bruce, MS in Calhoun County. This area is unique because it offers extensiveopportunity to those who hunt deer with dogs. Deer man-days increased by 29% compared to the 2005-2006 season. Harvest on the WMAcontinues to be skewed towards bucks. Thirty-six bucks and 21 does were harvested this pastseason. We would like to see more does than bucks harvested during future seasons. Buck anddoe weights and lactation were down 5-15% for 1.5 and 2.5 year old classes compared to pastseasons. However, buck weights for 3.5 and 4.5+ year old classes increased slightly, althoughdata was from a small sample size. Antler indices increased slightly for all age classes duringthe 2006-2007 season. Weights and lactation rates for 3.5+ does increased significantly. Again,sample sizes were low (3 does). Those who hunt deer without dogs continue to find huntingSeason Harvest Man-days2004-2005.................40............... 1,7392005-2006.................57............... 1,4062006-2007.................57............... 1,990conditions less favorable in the aging pine stands on Calhoun County WMA. The canopy closure occurring in the mid-rotation pine standsand 2-4 year old clearcuts on most of the WMA are making it harder to encounter deer. However, timber thins and small clear-cuts continueto improve habitat to an extent. The logging decks and lanes provide additional areas that can be planted or maintained as openings. Acornproduction was low on the area. Food plots were slow to develop until cooler temperatures and increased rainfall arrived during November.Canal Section and John Bell Williams WMAsWritten by: Jerry HazelwoodCanal Section WMA (32,500 ac.) and John Bell Williams WMA (3,000 ac.) share common boundaries and harvest data is combined.These areas stretch approximately 54 linear miles along the west side of the Tennessee-Tombigbee Waterway from MS Hwy. 4 at BaySprings Lake to 5 miles south of MS Hwy. 45 at Aberdeen. These WMAs lie in Tishomingo, Prentiss, Itawamba, and Monroe counties.During the past deer season, a total of 3,912 man-days were recorded for deer hunting with a harvest of 131 deer, consisting of 83bucks and 48 does. The majority of usage and harvest occurred during the gun seasons with 2003 man-days and 55 bucks harvested (doeharvest was not allowed during gun season). The man-day usage total increased 25% while harvest increased 96%. There were no changesin regulations or habitat to explain these increases.Antlered buck harvest criteria and bag limit are the same as statewide. Approximately 250 acres of the area is handicapped hunting only,200 acres is archery only and 100 acres is primitive weapon only for deer hunting.The WMAs have 164 winter food plots and 79 summer food plots. The winter food plots onthe area did not do well due to late acquisition of seed and fertilizer which led to late plantingdates with little or no seed bed preparation. Acorn production throughout the WMA was verypoor.Season Harvest Man-days2004-2005...............133............... 3,9292005-2006.................67............... 3,1402006-2007...............131............... 3,912Caney Creek WMAWritten by: Chad M. DacusCaney Creek WMA is a 31,000 acre area within the Bienville National Forest located near Forest. For the third year bucks must have 4 ormore antler points and an inside spread of 12 inches or more to be legal for harvest and antlerless deer had to weigh at least 65 poundslive weight. The 2006 – 2007 season was the second year that antlerless deer were legal for harvest during gun season. Antlerless deerwere legal for harvest on the 2 statewide doe daysDeer harvest numbers consisted of 19 bucks and 44 does. Total harvest decreased by 21% from last year and hunter effort decreasedslightly. This is the fourth year in a row that reported hunter effort and harvest has decreased. This could be attributed to an actual decreasein effort or hunters are becoming more apathetic in regards to filling out permit cardsSeason Harvest Man-days2004-2005...............111............... 3,3332005-2006.................79............... 2,3712006-2007.................63............... 2,347when hunting on the area. Hunter apathy can also account for the reduction in reported deerharvested.Historically, antlerless harvest was by permit only during the gun seasons and duringarchery and primitive weapon seasons. This year antlerless deer were legal for harvest on the 2statewide doe days.During the 2007 – 2008 season, the antlerless opportunity during gun season will be available during archery, primitive weapon seasonsand during the gun without dogs season (December 15 – 23). This is the first year for antlerless opportunity during the gun without dogsseason.Measures are being taken to improve habitat conditions on the area. The U. S. Forest Service conducted timber harvest operations onCaney Creek WMA and continue spring prescribed burns, which should increase available browse for deer and other wildlife. As a resultof the timber harvest operation, the MDWFP will be allowed to maintain several areas as permanent wildlife openings, which will improvehabitat conditions on the area for years to come.WMA Na r r at i v e s2006-2007 Mississippi Deer Program Report11