DEER PROGRAM REPORT DEER ROGRAM REPORT

2006-2007 WMA Deer Harvest NarrativesLittle Biloxi WMAWritten by: Russ WalshThe 15,622-acre Little Biloxi WMA is a popular hunting destination for many coastal countyresidents. Access to roads and food plots across the hurricane ravaged area was muchimproved for the 2006-2007 season. Man-days showed a significant increase of 66% (1,995)over the previous hunting season. Reported harvest also increased to pre-hurricane numberswith 10 bucks and 9 does harvested. Conditions will continue to improve on the WMA with therecent addition of a wildlife manager.Season Harvest Man-days2004-2005.................19............... 2,7132005-2006...................6.................. 6622006-2007.................19............... 1,995Mahannah WMAWritten by: Jackie FleemanMahannah WMA is a 12,675-acre area located approximately 12 miles north of Vicksburg. Deer hunting is by permit only except for theJanuary archery hunt which is open to the public. This was the fourth year under the regulations that required legal bucks to have a 15-inchminimum inside spread. Also, hunters could apply for a tag that would allow them to harvest a buck with at least one unforked antler forresearch purposes. Four hundred twenty-four of these special buck tags were issued on Mahannah WMA and sixteen were turned in asbeing used. Both of these regulations appear to be supported by the majority of deer hunters on the area. Deer man-days decreased slightlyto 1,755. Deer harvest increased to 152. Doe harvest increased from 51 to 106 due to hunters being entered in a draw for a special huntif they harvested an antlerless deer. Buck harvest decreased from 75 to 46. Buck condition indices remained good with weights remainingstable and antler measurements increasing slightly. Lactation rates were very good at 86% for 3½+ year-old does, and 64% in 2½year-old does. Doe body weights remained stable at 125 pounds for 3½+ year-old does. The percent of 3½+ year-old does in the harvestremained good at 42%. Below normal rainfall for much of the summer and fall resulted in fairSeason Harvest Man-days2004-2005.................87............... 1,4592005-2006...............126............... 1,7662006-2007...............152............... 1,755browse conditions. Acorn production was poor in most species but good in overcup. The warmweather during much of the winter resulted in limited deer movement which caused a reductionin deer sightings.A deer herd health evaluation was conducted on Mahannah WMA on February 19, 2007. Atotal of twelve does were collected with two does being 1.5 years old, and ten does being 2.5years old or older. Overall, the current herd health indices on Mahannah WMA are below theexpected values for the WMA and the region as a whole. Dressed weight, reproductive potential, and kidney fat indices are all lower thanthe expected values for the WMA and region. Reproductive timing is slightly late with a mean breeding date of January 6. The reproductiverate is higher than normal. One primary concern is that the range of conception dates was almost 2 months long. Conception dates rangedfrom December 9 until February 5The deer herd health evaluation suggests that the decreased antlerless harvest in 2004 and 2005, coupled with the poor browse conditionsin the summer and winter of 2006 and the poor acorn production in 2006, has caused a decrease in the overall health of the antlerlesspopulation on Mahannah WMA. A selective timber harvest was started in 2006 to increase browse and an intensified antlerless harvestprogram was begun in 2006 to help in future years of poor habitat conditions. Hopefully, these management practices will reverse the currenttrends.Malmaison WMAWritten by: Brad HolderMalmaison WMA is a 9,483-acre area located near Grenada, MS in Grenada and Carroll Counties. Twenty-four bucks and 61 does wereharvested during the 2006-2007 season. Man-days were at a 3-season low; however harvest remained similar to last season. Annualharvest continues to follow a decreasing trend particularly when compared to 1997-2005seasons when doe harvest regularly surpassed triple digits. Man-days have decreased over the Season Harvest Man-dayspast three seasons. Doe weights, particularly in the 2.5 and 3.5+ year old classes, decreasedby 7% and 11% compared to past seasons. The lactation rate for 2.5 year old does decreasedby 43% when compared to past seasons. Buck weights seem to be stable or increasing in each2004-2005...............118............... 2,8602005-2006.................89............... 2,3942006-2007.................85............... 1,727age class. Deer density appears to be fairly high as indicated by summer browse pressure onnative vegetation and food plots, decreasing doe weights and lactation, and a large percentage of 3.5+ year old does in this past season’stotal doe harvest. Antler measurements seem to be improved when compared to years past. This is probably due to progressive antlerregulations on the area which many hunters support. Acorn production from white and red oaks was average to below average this year.Deer used food plots early and often this past season. Above average winter temperatures seemed to reduce deer movements. Winter foodplots developed well following cooler temperatures and increased rainfall in late fall and early winter.WMA Na r r at i v e s2006-2007 Mississippi Deer Program Report15