Check station data

[Multidigits]

DC or CSS--At most WMA's and at Ft. Knox (during the gun hunt) and at most quota hunts (at least all I've been on) there is usally a Dept. person taking data from the deer. This year on opening day, there was also someone doing it at a local packing house. Unless during special times, it is mostly just age, antler size (circumfernce), with or with out milk and the weight.

My question is, what do each of these tell the biologist about the herds condition, and secondly, with most deer only tele-cheked in, how is only a random sample of in one part of a county translated to the whole states herd. Thanks for any reply.

[imported_admin]

Hey Multi,

I'll let CSS or DC get into more detail, but at least on quota hunts the data is used to evaluate herd health based on previous years. Body weights and antler circumferences are affected by nutrition and herd health. Also, if yearling does (last years fawns) have milk, then they obviously reproduced, and generally that is a sign of healthy herd.

[CSS archer]

All private lands biologists are asked to gather age and sex data at processors. In the past we would weigh, and measure circumferences on yearlings, since we are mostly looking at heads in a barrel that data is limited to new arrivals to the processor.

The data can be used in many ways. Age structure tells if the herd is growing or at what rate. Sex ratios can be compared to telechek data, etc.

These samples represent the whole state but are examined by regions.