DEER PROGRAM REPORT DEER ROGRAM REPORT

2006-2007 WMA Deer Harvest NarrativesBody weights of bucks and does remained stable or increased slightly. Lactation rate of 2½+year-old does was 64%. Mast production on pecan trees was poor. Below normal rainfall duringthe summer and fall resulted in fair browse conditions. The mild winter resulted in limiteddeer movement which caused a reduction in deer sightings.Season Harvest Man-days2004-2005.................10.................. 6222005-2006.................20.................. 6282006-2007.................28.................. 840Stoneville WMAWritten by: Jackie FleemanStoneville WMA is located about 4 miles north of Leland, MS. Most of the timber on the area was cut in the mid to late 1990’s. This WMAhas abundant browse and escape cover. Only primitive weapons and archery equipment are allowed for deer hunting. This was the fourthyear under the regulations that required legal bucks to have a minimum 15-inch inside spread. Also, hunters could apply for a tag thatwould allow them to harvest a buck with at least one unforked antler for research purposes. Nineteen of these special buck tags were givenout for use on Stoneville WMA and none were turned in as being used. Both of these regulations appear to be supported by the majorityof deer hunters on the area. Hunting pressure decreased to 590 man-days in 2006 – 2007. Deer harvest decreased to 12. This harvestincluded 5 bucks and 7 does. No other scientific data was collected because no personnelare assigned to this WMA. Below normal rainfall during summer and fall resulted in only fairbrowse conditions. Acorn production was poor. The mild winter resulted in limited deer movementwhich caused a reduction in deer sightings.Season Harvest Man-days2004-2005...................7.................. 5422005-2006.................13.................. 7212006-2007.................12.................. 590Sunflower WMAWritten by: Jackie FleemanSunflower WMA is a 60,000-acre U.S. Forest Service area in Sharkey County.This was the fourth year under the regulations that required legal bucks to have a 15-inch minimum inside spread. Also, hunters couldapply for a tag that would allow them to harvest a buck with at least one unforked antler for research purposes. Two hundred of thesespecial buck tags were issued on Sunflower WMA and six were turned in as being used. Both of these regulations appear to be supportedby the majority of deer hunters on the area. Overall, body weight and antler dimension indices remained stable or increased slightly. Belownormal rainfall during summer and fall resulted in intermediate browse conditions. The mild winter resulted in limited deer movementSeason Harvest Man-days2004-2005...............119............... 5,2762005-2006...............146............... 5,1232006-2007.................95............... 3,771which caused a reduction in deer sightings during the later deer seasons. Acorn productionwas spotty. Flooding was not a factor in November and December, as it commonly is. Buckharvest decreased from 85 to 49 in 2006 - 2007. Doe harvest decreased from 61 to 46. Mandayswere down from 5,123 to 3,771.A deer herd health evaluation was conducted on Sunflower WMA on February 26-27, 2007.A total of 11 does were collected with one doe being 1 ½ years old and 10 does being 2 ½years old or older. Overall herd health indices on Sunflower WMA are consistent with the expected values for the WMA and the region asa whole. The only statistics not within expected ranges are the kidney fat index and the conception date. The kidney fat index is 66% ofthe historical expected value for Sunflower and is 74% of the expected value for the Delta. Reproductive timing is a little late with meanconception occurring around January 5. The range of conception was relatively short and occurred between December 21 and January15. The reproductive rate and potential are average. The herd health evaluation suggests that harvest on Sunflower WMA has kept the deerpopulation in balance with existing habit conditions, and that the population could be increased. The reduction in the kidney fat index canbe attributed to drought stressed browse and a poor mast crop.WMA Na r r at i v e sTallahala WMAWritten by: Chad M. DacusTallahala WMA is a 28,120 acre area within the Bienville National Forest located nearMontrose. For the third year bucks must have 4 or more antler points and an inside spread of12 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 forharvest during gun season. Antlerless deer were legal for harvest on the 2 statewide doe days.Season Harvest Man-days2004-2005.................97............... 2,9302005-2006.................57............... 2,2272006-2007.................74............... 1,924Deer harvest consisted of 31 bucks and 35 does. Total harvest increased 130% from last year and buck harvest increased by 115%.Deer hunters accounted for 1,924 man-days which were down slightly from last year. This decrease in man-days could be due to hunter’sreluctance to turn in permit cards at WMA permit stations.During the 2007 – 2008 season, the antlerless opportunity during gun season will be available during the gun without dogs season(December 15 – 23) along with antlerless opportunity during archery and primitive weapon seasons. This is the first year for antlerless opportunityduring the gun without dogs season.The U.S. Forest Service continues to conduct spring prescribed burns on the WMA. This helps to encourage browse production duringthe spring and fall.2006-2007 Mississippi Deer Program Report19