Ohio deer population down

[geezer II]

Ohio deer population estimated at 650,000 - down 50,000 - 75,000 from last year - OHIO OUTDOOR NEWS 9/11/09

[traphunter]

This should make a lot of people smile.

[bowhunter1023]

Just tells me that Ohio hunters are fulfilling their obligation of reducing the deer herd. Congrats Ohio hunters!

[jpag]

You have got to be kidding me. I have seen more spotted fawns this year than ever before. Have to talked to numerous people who have made same observation as I have. We will set the deer kill record in Ohio if the weather cooperates. JMHO

[geezer II]

Yeah may be another record year -

[Duke0002]

I tend to agree with jpag.... does and fawns all over the place. Maybe someone's cooking the books :shhh:

[ohiosam]

Locally I'm seeing more deer and a higher percentage are bucks.

[cjd3]

About the same as past years here.

[hickslawns]

I too have seen lots of fawns this year. This could also be accounted for having coyote populations down in certain areas or the perfect weather and conditions this spring for birthing. Not sure, I am no wildlife biologist. I have seen twins in one woods, and 2 sets of twins in the other woods I hunt. The woods with 2 sets of twins appears to have 2 individual fawns as well unless I saw them at different times with only one fawn around mama.

[deerhunt45]

Ohio deer population estimated at 650,000 - down 50,000 - 75,000 from last year...

A link woulda been nice...I would have to question that guesstimate. I'm seeing more deer than ever!

[Deehntr56]

Lots and Lots of Fawns...1st year I have 2 sets of triplets here, with all the others being a pair.

Lot's of 1.5 year old Bucks and some real nice mature Bucks as well.

Numbers may say one thing, but I think we are positioned to have another good year.

The wet spring in many areas helped. Pray for the "right" weather during the rut(archery) and important times of the season(Opening day Gun and the special weekend) and we should see good numbers again.

I think the muzzleloader season date change will have a positive impact too, especially if the weather cooperates.

[geezer II]

Ohio deer population estimated at 650,000 - down 50,000 - 75,000 from last year...

A link woulda been nice...I would have to question that guesstimate. I'm seeing more deer than ever!

Article in Ohio Outdoor News - last issue - numbers from DOW


at 8:00 tnite i will hold the article up in front o muh puter screen so ya all that doan get the Ohio Outdoor News can read it

jus sayin :whistle: :mischeif:

[Pike]

Guys please dont take this the wrong way because I feel the ODNR. is one of the best state wildlife agency's in the enitre nation. But I have always felt that for what ever reason the ODNR under estimates the deer population.
On the other hand I have always felt that the PGC always over estimates our deer population. But I would also like to give a tip of my cap to the hunters of OH. for doing their part.
Also I have to agree that I have also seen alot more fawns this summer, seems to be alot more twins and triplets aswell. Pike

[traphunter]

I don't know if the population is up or down, probably down on some places and up on others.

What I do know is that when carry capacity is reached within a deers range, they will on average only have a single fawn. When you start seeing twins or even triplets, that can mean that there are more resources available, and more room for the deer to expand and occupy. With Ohio becoming a more and more liberal state for hunting every year, and the harvest increasing every year, this would not surprise me at all.

I am not sure what time of year the DNR makes that estimate, but it is quite possible that the population is down from last years hunting season, and the numerous twins and triplets that people are seeing is the simple result of natures way of replenishing the resources.

[Yeley0437]

Ohio deer population estimated at 650,000 - down 50,000 - 75,000 from last year...

A link woulda been nice...I would have to question that guesstimate. I'm seeing more deer than ever!

I totally agree 45 i think some one is cooking the books to lol

[BBD45365]

Nature way of replenishing the EHD kill off of 2 years ago. I know the area in Scioto County I hunt was hit pretty hard.

[ohiosam]

I would have to question that guesstimate. I'm seeing more deer than ever!

As have I, but we don't live in the big deer counties of southern Ohio. If they have dropped much there could be a lower total population while we're seeing more.

That said I've always questioned how accurate the herd estimates are. Does anyone really know how the ODNR goes about coming up with these numbers? I'd guess at least part of it involves the number of deer hit by cars.

[frostyville]

seems like there is no drop in numbers in my area either. seeing lots of deer and a lot of bucks. should be one hell of a rut this year.

[Pike]

I don't know if the population is up or down, probably down on some places and up on others.

What I do know is that when carry capacity is reached within a deers range, they will on average only have a single fawn. When you start seeing twins or even triplets, that can mean that there are more resources available, and more room for the deer to expand and occupy. With Ohio becoming a more and more liberal state for hunting every year, and the harvest increasing every year, this would not surprise me at all.

I am not sure what time of year the DNR makes that estimate, but it is quite possible that the population is down from last years hunting season, and the numerous twins and triplets that people are seeing is the simple result of natures way of replenishing the resources.

trap it can also mean tha hunters are wacking the heck out of the doe's, The more doe's you harvest the younger the average age of your doe population will be. For example DR. Alt preached to the hunters here in PA. to target the older doe's instead of the younger doe's when he implemented our Herd Reduction program because doe's in your older age classes will produce more fawns on avg. than doe's that are in the younger age classes.

I also doubt that there are many area's in OH. where the habitat is so damaged because of over population that it caused a reduction in fawn recruitment. ( outside of the urban area's) Pike

[Fish-n-Fool]

ohiosam - I have read about ODNR collecting data (I believe it was in OON).
I don't remember all the specifics, but I was impressed with the dilligence. They actually fly at night and use special info red spotting scopes and count the number of deer in fields, etc. This is just one small part of the process. This is combined with other methods and the harvest data, vehicle strike data collected.

IMO the decline would be in the Southern counties where bag limits were increased. I heard reports between EHD and the amount of does taken sightings were down in some SE OH areas.

I know I see plenty of deer all over the state traveling around in my car working.

ODNR seems to be doing a fine job to me!

[bowhunter1023]

I don't know if the population is up or down, probably down on some places and up on others.

What I do know is that when carry capacity is reached within a deers range, they will on average only have a single fawn. When you start seeing twins or even triplets, that can mean that there are more resources available, and more room for the deer to expand and occupy. With Ohio becoming a more and more liberal state for hunting every year, and the harvest increasing every year, this would not surprise me at all.

I am not sure what time of year the DNR makes that estimate, but it is quite possible that the population is down from last years hunting season, and the numerous twins and triplets that people are seeing is the simple result of natures way of replenishing the resources.

Nicely put Seth! I know we seldom agree, but that was well said...

I agree that I am seeing more deer and more bucks than in past summers. I think there are a lot of factors that could explain this situation and it is a possibility that increased/decreased/level population has nothing to do with it. We had an early green up and steady moisture for the majority of the summer, couple that with lower than normal temps, and you have more deer making themselves visible. There could be 100 deer in the wood lot one year, but conditions only caused 5 to move early. But the next year could have 50 and conditions could get 15 up and moving. So we ARE seeing more deer, but there are in fact less deer in our immediate area.

Here is the way I see it, I think deer hunting in Ohio is as good as it gets from front to back and top to bottom. I have no complaints and after the summer I have had, I doubt I'll be complaining this fall. 50,000 deer over the entirety of the state is not an alarming decline. We as hunters in this state are asked to reduce the deer herd each fall. If we in fact did that by a reasonable number, then we did our jobs as hunters and the DNR did their jobs managing their resources. All in all, it’s a good time to be a deer hunter and a Buckeye…

[CritterGitter]

As have I, but we don't live in the big deer counties of southern Ohio. If they have dropped much there could be a lower total population while we're seeing more.

That said I've always questioned how accurate the herd estimates are. Does anyone really know how the ODNR goes about coming up with these numbers? I'd guess at least part of it involves the number of deer hit by cars.

..............and now..............live from ODNR head quarters in dowtown Columbus Ohio:

"Hey George, did you get some coffee yet? Yeah. Hey..........help me out here..........I am working on this deer thing for the Farm Bureau folks. I'm thinking of a number between 5 and 9."

:D :p ;) :dizzy: :biggrin:

[TheCream]

I certainly do my part to reduce herd numbers, but I'm seeing no drop-off in numbers this summer so far. I'm seeing more and more every year...not that I'm complaining, though. :mischeif:

[buckeyebigbuck13]

to tell u the truth i have seen more bucks does and fawns this year then ever . idk what to think im sure the number are right tho

[jbrown]

Nicely put Seth! I know we seldom agree, but that was well said...

I agree that I am seeing more deer and more bucks than in past summers. I think there are a lot of factors that could explain this situation and it is a possibility that increased/decreased/level population has nothing to do with it. We had an early green up and steady moisture for the majority of the summer, couple that with lower than normal temps, and you have more deer making themselves visible. There could be 100 deer in the wood lot one year, but conditions only caused 5 to move early. But the next year could have 50 and conditions could get 15 up and moving. So we ARE seeing more deer, but there are in fact less deer in our immediate area.

Here is the way I see it, I think deer hunting in Ohio is as good as it gets from front to back and top to bottom. I have no complaints and after the summer I have had, I doubt I'll be complaining this fall. 50,000 deer over the entirety of the state is not an alarming decline. We as hunters in this state are asked to reduce the deer herd each fall. If we in fact did that by a reasonable number, then we did our jobs as hunters and the DNR did their jobs managing their resources. All in all, it’s a good time to be a deer hunter and a Buckeye…

I agree with you 100 percent Jesse. We have gotten absolutely spoiled this summer, and so have the deer. Cooler temps are going to make the deer more visible, making guys think there must be more deer around than usual. The ODNR has managed our deer herd to the best of their ability for so many years.... why doubt them now. And besides, even if they ARE off by 50,000 deer that's not really going to be noticeable statewide. Let's all have some faith in them, because they really do know what they're doing in Columbus. I really hope they are right about the population decrease... the population has been going up every year, so to finally see it go down means Ohio hunters are doing their part. The last thing I want to see in Ohio are deer the size of German sheppards hiding behind every single tree... like lower Michigan, PA, and many southern states. Keep on whackin' and stackin' boys.

[tod]

saw several does with fawns in the Jackson area this past Saturday including one doe that had two fawns.

[Gern186]

The deer population is as high right now as it has ever been in my area of the state. I have been hunting deer since the late 80's and there have never been more than right now.

[Mountaineer]

There's 2 to 3 deer per sq. mile in maine and we manage to fill the meatpoles...Less deer is what you want..too many deer is not good...thats why I prefer the publiclands..the herds are def. kept in check compared to some overun deer populations/underhunted privatelands.

Areas with less deer per sq. mile get those big bucks on their feet during the rut..if there's less deer..then they gotta search more..which means it gives me a better chance at a Giant during daylight hours:D

[Wildman18]

I second that Traphunter.

[coach421]

I was in the woods about 1 hr. yesterday and seen 6 different deer. I dont think the deer numbers are down. I live in N.E. Ohio and have 6 new fawns just around me. Thats just the ones I have seen.

[Farmbear]

:confused: I have seen lots of deer down here. Lots of fawns,twins too. More so than in years past. Lots of turkeys too. Can't wait for season. Happy hunting.:coolgleamA:;)

[antiqucycle]

Driving around, I see more deer than in the past, especially the little fawns everywhere including eating my strawberry plants 5 feet from my desk.
But definitely, I am not seeing any road kills in Ohio or Pa. I have a feeling that crops in general are doing great, corn beans, apples, acorns and the deer are not roaming across roads to find food. yet.

[coach421]

antiqcycle: give them a couple more weeks and you will be seeing road kills. when the rut starts they will chase them every where.