By Jeff Knapp

The wise management of our state's wildlife resources is a major component of the many and varied opportunities available to sportsmen. Hunting is considered the most effective management tool for game species. Biologists are consistently monitoring wildlife populations, harvests and other pertinent factors regarding the resource.

Recently, West Virginia Game & Fish sat down with the Division of Natural Resources' (DNR) top game managers and queried them on specific issues regarding our most popular species.

White-tailed deer are always a hot topic in the Mountain State. In the deer segment, biologist Jim Evans tackles questions aimed at bringing hunters up to speed on what biologists make of recent deer harvests, the current state of the whitetail herd and any possible additions to public hunting lands for the deer hunter.

Reduced harvests have occurred recently during both spring and fall hunts. What stories do the harvest numbers tell? Wild Turkey Project leader Jim Pack responds to this question and more to keep wild turkey hunters informed about the state's most popular game bird.

Chris Ryan is the DNR's bear project leader. Black bears are an important big-game species in the state, with good numbers of sportsmen in pursuit of bruins. Our state's seasons are rather liberal, with both archery and firearms hunters getting plenty of opportunity afield in many areas of the state. Ryan explains the current status of the black bear population and what hunters can expect in the year to come.

Few Eastern states hold small-game hunting as dear as do West Virginia sportsmen. Though deer, bears and wild turkeys receive much of the limelight, our update delves into subjects of interest to the small-game hunter. Wildlife biologist Bill Igo answers inquires about the state's popular upland game species.

Waterfowl populations, particularly that of migratory birds, can fluctuate widely from year to year. What's anticipated for this year, in terms of seasons and bag limits? Is the resident goose season working out? How can one take better advantage of this chance to get afield during this early season? Waterfowl Project leader Steve Wilson answers these questions and more.

So read on to better understand the current status of these species, and the management plans that affect them.

Photo by Jerry Amos

Evans: Yes, aggressive antlerless deer seasons in recent years have brought the state's deer herd down. Poor hunting conditions during the first week of buck season also probably negatively affected the deer harvest.

G&F: Last year, over 10,000 more antlerless deer were taken than bucks. Is this a positive sign? Is a more balanced buck-to-doe ratio an objective of the agency's Whitetail Deer Operational Plan?

Evans: Yes, this is a positive sign indicating a reduction in the deer herd. We must continue aggressive antlerless seasons, particularly in our northern counties where herds are well above management objectives. Although a more balanced buck-to- doe ratio is not our objective, it will become more balanced as increasing numbers of antlerless deer are harvested. Statewide, adult buck-to-doe ratios have run about 1:2 for the last four years. Many hunters mistakenly assume buck-to-doe ratios are much larger. This is usually a result of hunters seeing many fawns, which can comprise as much as 40 percent of the herd.

G&F: During the first three days of last year's buck season, biologists and wildlife managers collected data at certain check stations. Has any of this data been processed? If so, what's been revealed?

Evans: Biological information is processed during the winter and spring. Preliminary results suggest that antler development is increasing largely due to a greater number of older bucks in the harvest.

G&F: The agency promoted deer hunting last season through its family antlerless deer hunt. How well did that work out? Are there plans to continue this program or make further changes that would expand whitetail-hunting opportunities?

Evans: The family antlerless deer season remains popular with the public. It is a good incentive to recruit more youngsters into hunting. Plans are to continue these popular seasons.

G&F: Last year, 1,500 acres of public hunting lands were added to the Nathaniel Mountain Wildlife Management Area. Are you aware of any additions or new acquisitions that would add to state public hunting lands?

Evans: A large tract of land is being added to the Snakehill WMA in Monongalia and Preston counties. We will continue to pursue more public hunting lands as monies become available through hunting license sales.

Pack: Poor brood production due to inclement weather two years in succession resulted in a smaller wild turkey population - and there were fewer counties open to fall hunting.

G&F: Though turkey harvests have been down, such as the 40 percent decline experienced in last season's fall hunt, should hunters keep in mind that these figures are in comparison to fairly high kills that took place in prior years?

Pack: I suppose. The fall kill has declined two years in a row, and our fall harvests have just been generally lower than those observed in the early 1990s. In addition, the average harvest over the last 10 years (2,702) is significantly higher than the 2003 harvest.

G&F: Is there any cause for alarm regarding the state's wild turkey population?

Pack: If one examines the results of our harvest data, brood data, observations of cooperators from our bowhunter and gobbler surveys, and research on our wild turkey populations, we did not detect a major change in our wild turkey population. Most of the decline in harvest in recent years appears to be related to poor brood years due to weather.

We also have some information that indicates we do not have as many fall turkey hunters as we used to have. Our hunters do need to realize that our wild turkey population will not continue to grow indefinitely. Current and future habitat conditions will only support so many turkeys.

G&F: The 2002 and 2003 seasons provided poor nesting conditions for wild turkeys. Can numbers quickly rebound if conditions are better for reproduction this spring?

Pack: Absolutely! For example, we had a record-setting brood year in 1999 that ended up generating a record spring harvest in 2001. This altered a trend of declining spring harvests in the late 1990s and a general decline in our fall harvest since 1994. Biologists and wildlife managers would simply like to see an improvement in brood production two years in a row. We have not had two successive good brood years in a row since 1993-1994.

Ryan: West Virginia's bear harvest has been increasing rapidly during the last 10 years as the black bear has reestablished much of its former range. There are numerous reasons for the record bear harvest last year. Unique mast conditions benefited both archery and gun hunters. We recently analyzed data from the past 25 years that show a correlation between bear harvests and mast conditions. During years of poor hard-mast production, bears will concentrate their movements around available food supplies, making them more vulnerable to archery hunting in October and November. However, during a year with good mast conditions, they will remain out of their dens longer, making them more susceptible to gun hunting in December.

The miserable acorn crop last year, combined with the bumper hickory and beechnut conditions, set the stage for a tremendous bear season. The limited acorn production concentrated bears around specific food sources, such as hickory and beech.

However, the food supply of hickory and beech was more than enough to keep the bears from going to their dens early, which also made for a good gun season. In addition, we have expanded the bear seasons in numerous counties to keep bear populations in balance with biological and sociological objectives. These special seasons helped to make up the majority of the harvest in some counties.

G&F: Can hunters expect fewer bears this coming season, given the record harvest of last season?

Ryan: Hunters can expect bear numbers to be similar to last year in many counties. Targeted counties have had increased female harvests from November seasons to curb population growth and reduce nuisance bear situations. However, the majority of West Virginia's counties should have a very similar population. In addition, we are still seeing an expanding population in many of our nontraditional counties in other sections of the state. The breakdown of the 2004 harvest will likely be influenced by the mast and weather conditions as stated in the first question.

G&F: How much of a problem is there in the state with bear/human conflicts?

Ryan: As bear populations have grown, bear/human conflicts have also increased. Most of these human conflicts have occurred in the southern counties where bears have expanded their ranges during the last 15 years. However, we continue to get reports and/or complaints from nearly every county.

It is illegal to feed or bait bears in West Virginia. By obeying the law and taking a few precautionary measures, many homeowners can avoid bears in nuisance situations. Homeowners should make sure that all of their trash is picked up, no pet food remains outside after dark, and simple things such as rinsing out cans before putting them in the trash will eliminate many problems.

G&F: In areas where there are conflicts, what steps are being taken to reduce these problems to acceptable levels?

Ryan: Black bear season dates and frameworks are based on sound biological data that allows us to adjust seasons with respect to biological and sociological conditions. Female bears typically enter their dens in late November or early December, depending on weather, food conditions and other contributing environmental factors. Whereas, male bears normally den later than females, depending on the same conditions.

Therefore, by setting the traditional gun season in December, managers can reduce the percentage of female bears harvested. This strategy allows hunters plenty of time afield in pursuit of this magnificent animal, but still allows for population growth because of the lower female harvest.

In areas where bear populations have expanded beyond the sociological carrying capacity, bear seasons are adjusted by adding gun seasons in November to harvest a higher percentage of females. By harvesting a higher proportion of females, we will curb the population growth and reduce the number of bears dispersing from their natal home ranges into urban situations. In addition, by adjusting the season frameworks, we can use different tools to target specific animals in nuisance situations.

Igo: Squirrel populations are largely determined by the amount of acorns, hickory nuts and other hard mast produced the fall before. Expect squirrel populations next year to remain about the same. A good crop of hickory nuts and walnuts will help, but a terrible year for acorn production will again suppress overwinter survival and squirrel production.

G&F: Have you found ruffed grouse in West Virginia to be cyclic in nature, as is commonly found in the Great Lakes states? If so, at what point in the cycle would you put the grouse's current status?

Igo: Ruffed grouse are not as cyclic in West Virginia as they are in the northern states and Canada. Grouse populations in the fall are largely determined by the survival of grouse chicks during the late spring and early summer. Increased rains in May are directly correlated to decreased survival of grouse chicks. Last year's ruffed grouse broods were severely depressed by the wet weather during the nesting season.

G&F: Expectations were high prior to last year's cottontail rabbit season. Did hunter reports mimic these expectations?

Igo: Although West Virginia's rabbit population has declined in recent years due to the reversion of farm game habitat to woodlands, rabbit populations do fluctuate from year to year. One of the reasons is that increased rainfall brings more lush summer vegetation, which allows more rabbits to survive to autumn. Predators quickly consume these rabbits when the fall foliage begins to die back from frosts. The increased rainfall did lead to more rabbits being seen this summer and subsequently better rabbit hunting during the fall.

G&F: Do you have any recommendations for hunters seeking out good cottontail habitat this coming year?

Igo: Rabbit hunters should seek out farmers who are willing to allow them on their land. A little volunteer help in the hay field often leads to a good place to rabbit hunt. Orchards are also good places to seek rabbits this fall.

Wilson: The September Canada goose season has contributed to stabilizing the population of resident Canada geese in West Virginia. The season contributes a substantial portion of the total annual harvest and, perhaps even more importantly, it generated increased interest and participation in goose hunting.

G&F: What can hunters do to take better advantage of the early goose season?

Wilson: Scouting and contacting landowners! Geese are highly mobile and will change feeding and loafing areas daily in response to hunting pressure or crop harvesting. Scout today, then go hunting tomorrow. Don't overlook out-of-the-way places such as a hilltop pasture with a small pond several miles from typical goose habitat.

G&F: Hunters enjoyed rather lengthy seasons and liberal bag limits during last year's split seasons. Given what information you have at this point, is there any reason to expect much change in season length and bag limits for this year's waterfowl hunt?

Wilson: The 2004-05 waterfowl seasons should be similar to recent years, unless there is a dramatic drop in productivity during the 2004 breeding season.

G&F: Do you anticipate a youth waterfowl hunt this season? Has it been popular in the past?

Wilson: Yes. We expect to have a youth waterfowl hunt in 2004. It is hard to judge its popularity, since there are no special permits or surveys for the youth season. There have been some banded ducks and geese taken during the hunt, so it is being utilized.