Wildlife 3rd Edition 2015
Management News
Dr. Deer’s Management Calendar
Lets Talk about CWD
It’s all about the #’s
Game Commisions & who really manages deer populations
& King Salmon Fishing
WMN Northern Field Trip Dr Deer’s Northern Field Trip Small Property Big Potential How to make any property better
for hunting whitetails
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Wildlife Management News
3rd Edition 2015
3rd Edition 2015
Wildlife Management News
About Wildlife Management News – Mark Peretore
The Runnin and Gunnin Tripod
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Being a wildlife biologist, I – C.J. Winand – rarely give endorsements, but this product is different. Chestnut Magic is for real! Let’s be honest... most products in the deer industry are nothing but advertising gimmicks. Chestnut Magic is different. And I’m not the only wildlife biolgist who says this. Dr. James Kroll says... Deer evolved eating chestnuts for thousands of years before the chestnut blight. They are evolutionarily programmed to eat chestnuts, and they seek out sweet, nutritious chestnuts over all other mast crops. Chestnuts have up to 2x the protein and 4x the carbs of acorns, with no bitter taste.”
As outdoor enthusiasts and hunters, we believe strongly in the way of the land. The mechanism that compels us to the great outdoors and the game that thrives on it is in our hearts and souls. It cannot be described and can never be replaced. We live and breathe to do what we do, to carry on the heritage and traditions of those in the past and pass on our insights to the next generation, to pay homage to what the Lord has given us. Nature has a way of teaching us all. It cannot be tamed and it cannot be controlled, we can only live within it. Wildlife management is a passion of ours and yours, and we hope to continue to bring you to that peaceful place with each edition of Wildlife Management News. Jim Holbert founded Wildlife Management News in 2008. As an avid outdoorsman and a regular backwoods Pennsylvanian, Jim has practiced wildlife management since he was a child. Though he humbly says he’s not qualified, Jim studied biology in college and retains a wealth of detailed knowledge for everything outdoors. He has made an impressive list of friendships inside the wildlife community including Dr. James Kroll (Dr. Deer) and so many more. Wildlife Management News started as a small newsletter for Montrose, Pennsylvania, and has developed into a full scale subscriber-based magazine that brings you the wildlife management news for your region. Articles written by local people as well as expert biologists allow you to see how you should be interacting with your habitat and help you get involved in the process of wildlife management. I joined Jim in 2014 and have begun to take on the role as chief editor. I’ve been an outdoor enthusiast my entire life and began hunting at a young age. Over the years I have developed a deep love for the outdoors and all things hunting, gaining a depth of field knowledge that is only learned from hands-on experience. After teaming up with Jim and meeting some real experts, I have set out to help bring that expertise to you and improve your game along with mine. With the support of readers like you, Wildlife Management News is growing steadily and will now be bringing much more than just a magazine to the people who subscribe. Lately, the introduction of the website www.wildlifemanagementnews.com and electronic publications through e-book readers and cell phones will diversify the way you can interact with the Wildlife Management News magazine.
Table of Contents Page Life Lessons Through Gobblers........................ 4 Hunts for Healing: Now I’ve Got It .....................8 WMN Northern Field Trip.................................. 9 A Day with Dr. Deer........................................ 10 Dealing with the Canadian Geese................... 14 Lets Talk about CWD...................................... 19 Lyme Disease................................................ 23 Small Property Big Potential........................... 24 Its all about the Numbers............................... 27 Reloading for Beginners................................. 32
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Wildlife Management News
3rd Edition 2015
Life Lessons Through Spring Gobblers By Dan Krug
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he “thrill of the hunt,” wild game on the table, and the opportunity to spend time in the created world are just some of the reasons why hunting is a tradition enjoyed by many. I’ve often heard it said that “a bad day in the woods is better than a good day in the office,” because even an unsuccessful hunt offers tremendous benefits such as solitude, beauty, wonder, and time well spent with family and good friends. Growing up, my fall weekends revolved around hunting. I spent many hours with dogs chasing rabbits, kicking up grouse and pheasant, and quietly watching squirrels leap from branch to branch. Small game season gave way to deer season, which had its own set of pleasures and challenges. The heritage of hunting was passed on to me by my grandfather and father and it continues today. Though my work schedule limits my hunting opportunities, I still manage to make deer season a priority. Interestingly enough, despite hunting for over forty years, I never took the time to try my hand at turkey hunting until this past spring. At the invitation of a friend, Joe Winkleblech, I hunted Spring Gobbler for the first time. Avid turkey hunters will 4
attest that there is something magical about turkey hunting. The fragrance and freshness of springtime, the challenge of calling and remaining still and unseen, and the knowledge of pursuing an amazing bird, all contribute to making the hunt special. It was a wonderful and successful experience…one I hope to repeat. I’ve pondered my time with Joe, and although the primary goal was bagging a gobbler, our time together gave me so much more. I am reminded of life lessons, particularly those of teaching and mentoring that dovetail perfectly with parenting, coaching, and spiritual training. After all, the influence we make on people and the legacy we leave behind matter more than a successful hunt. As I reflect on my time with Joe, it’s clear that he was in tune with me. From previous discussions, he knew I enjoyed deer hunting. He used this as a bridge to invite me to hunt turkeys. By learning my interests, he was able to connect with me. He then took it a step further and invited me to join him in something he enjoyed and he made it easy for me to participate by coming to me. We hunted very close to where I live. If you want to introduce someone to something new, make it feasible for them to get involved. Show
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you are genuinely interested in them experiencing something new by going the extra mile. Joe did this for me and then some. He went so far as to resource me. I didn’t have the proper equipment so he went out of his way to see to it that I had the right gun and clothing necessary to succeed. One of the best parts of hunting is the camaraderie it produces. Joe didn’t just talk about hunting – he did it with me. So often in life we tell people what they need to know but they fail to grasp it because they need more than just talk…they need example. Joe showed me how to hunt turkey. He met me early in the morning so that we could get into the woods while the turkeys were still roosting in the trees. While we walked in the darkness, he walked beside me and talked about the hunt. We discussed technique, rationale for doing things, and understanding the ways of the turkey. When we got in position, he set up decoys and explained what to watch for. He then sat down close Photo By Mark Peretore by in order to quietly coach me. His presence was reassuring. Isn’t it like that in life? So often, just our presence is all it takes to make people feel at ease and confident. Most likely it’s because they know they are not alone in life’s journey. Such is the case with hunting. It’s nice to have a coach nearby that is focused on helping you succeed. Joe was this for me. As the sun came up and gobblers began their morning ritual of communicating with the hens, Joe was there to call the gobblers in for me. I understand this is a big part of the hunt. Imitating the call of the hen is essential to success. As he skillfully replicated the sound of a hen on a slate call, it brought to mind a significant spiritual lesson. It reminded me that the more sincerely I mimic The Master, the more likely people will respond to me and the message I have to share. The gobbler responds to the call because it seems so real. People respond to those who authentically imitate The Master. My first turkey hunt didn’t have the intended results. Hearing two different Toms respond to his calling was exciting, especially when it was obvious that one was coming in closer to investigate the decoy. When I finally saw the Tom, strutting with his tail feathers fanned out in glory, I was amazed at the beauty of this elegant bird. I also thought to
Wildlife Management News
myself, “Wow, I’m hunting turkey. I may actually get a shot.” I did in fact shoot, but I missed the Tom at 40 yards or so. What a disappointment. Joe had done what he could to position me for success and I missed. What would Joe say? How would he react? His response was one of grace. He didn’t belittle me when I missed on my first shot. He used it as a teachable moment by saying “Lesson #1 – the turkey saw you. Even though you moved your gun up slowly, the turkey has such keen eyesight. He saw you. Next time, get your gun up early and try to remain as still as possible.” The day ended with no turkey but significant lessons reinforced about hunting and life. The second opportunity to hunt with Joe was different. Although we were intent on a successful hunt, our focus began to blur as we sat overlooking a somewhat foggy field on a beautiful morning. We watched a small herd of deer emerge from the woods and reveled in their simple beauty. From this, our hunt turned to talking about life. He let me see into his world a bit and I got to know him better. The hunt became the stage for something more important… it was an opportunity to build a relationship. Perhaps this is the best residual effect of hunting…the enjoyment of the company of a brother, a son, or a friend, and the chance to slow down and spend time together. Isn’t this what makes hunting so meaningful? Success was achieved on my third hunt. And though not a big turkey, Joe celebrated with me. In fact, he seemed more excited than I was. My success gave him joy. What a great example of thinking more of others than yourself. It reminds me of sacred wisdom, “rejoice with those who rejoice; mourn with those who mourn…” It’s true I would have liked to bag a Tom on my first hunt, but it was still exciting to get a Jake. Knowing what I was thinking, Joe encouraged me when he said, “My first turkey was a Jake. It’s not a bad thing to get a big ‘ole gobbler for your first turkey. Now you know what it’s about and now you have something to look forward to.” With this statement, Joe cast a vision for me…a vision of future hunts with greater success. And with this another life lesson…“where there is no vision the people perish.” Yes, hunting is enjoyable but there is so much more to gain than the adrenalin rush of stalking a trophy buck or the satisfying meal of wild game that’s been prepared well. The greatest benefit of all is the opportunity to grow closer to a family member or friend and to experience life lessons that shape who we are and ultimately our legacy. It’s a special time for parents, children, and friends as we share moments that will be talked about for years and considered some of our fondest and most treasured memories. Hunting is character-building as it affords an opportunity to learn and an opportunity to pass on that which has been passed on to us. What a gift Joe gave to me. -Dan Krug5
Wildlife Management News
3rd Edition 2015
3rd Edition 2015
Wildlife Management News
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Wildlife Management News
Hunts for Healing Now I’ve Got It by Ken Bach
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his past spring gobbler season Hunts for Healing hosted six wounded Veterans and as usual everyone involved seemed to have a good time; even the turkeys. Unlike past hunts we got our butts kicked by the Gobblers. Everyone saw and heard plenty of birds, but with only one hunter logging bird it was our lowest kill to date. We usually run at least 80 degrees. With three pro-turkey callers involved you wouldn’t think the birds would stand a chance. It was a real blessing to spend the mornings in the outdoors with two young guys. Dustin Ryan from Mississippi was the Vet and Ethan Demi was the mentor and caller. Dustin had never hunted turkey before but was an accomplished wing shot with lots of waterfowl and dove hunting experience. At first he said he didn’t have too much interest in turkey hunting but as the hunt progressed I could see the change. The first morning I got the guys in position and just sat back to enjoy the show. No pressure on me this time as Ethan was the caller. When the birds sounded off from the roost I was sure it was going to be a quick hunt. That was until the deer herds started filtering past us. With about 25 deer all stomping and snorting the turkeys flew down and headed away from us. We relocated several times before quitting time and had birds answered but none offered a shot. Of course by morning two, we thought we had them figured out, so we set up downhill from the previous morning spot. As Ethan and I strategize about where to sit Dustin pointed straight up and there in the dark was a gobbler 15 ft. over our heads looking down on us. We moved up the log road about 25 yards and set up. The bird remained on his perch. When they started sounding off there were at least a dozen Toms trying to outdo each other. They flew down and headed in the same direction as day one. They were roosted no more than one hundred yards above us. The only one to come into gun range was the one we walked under and he turned away just before Dustin could position himself for a shot. Later I found a tom and Dustin tried to close the gap on him. He also tried calling for the first time. I couldn’t see him and when I first heard the sound I thought there was a wounded coyote in the wood pile I was hiding behind. He came back and asked Ethan and I how he sounded. That got us laughing. Day three found us in the dark right where the birds went 8
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the first few days. Hen decoy out front we knew this was a no-brainer. The birds came off the roost and you could hear wings real close. A hen stepped out at 10 yards walked over and pecked the decoy. On T.V. this is where the Tom always appears, not in our woods. After listening to all the birds sounding off and seeing the beauty all around I heard Dustin say, “I get it now, I don’t even care if I get a turkey, this is really fun!” Later in the morning at another spot he got his first answer from a Tom; his calling had improved some from day two and he was really excited. We made a move and worked the bird for an hour and just when we had him coming something spooked the bird. We watched him sail past about 100 yards away. Dustin didn’t tag a turkey but he went home with awesome memories and new found friends in both Ethan and I. Oh yeah, he was hands down the most comical hunter I’ve ever shared the woods with. -Ken Bach-
3rd Edition 2015
Wildlife Management News
WMN Northern Field Trip
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by Jim Holbert
arly this September, Wildlife Management News and Cooperative Feed Dealers coordinated efforts to join up with Dr. James Kroll,his wife Susie, Bob Wallace (owner of Dunstan Chestnut Nurseries) and wildlife specialist Rob Hughes of Sendero Seed Co. for a wildlife management field day and property evaluation at the Bohonyi property near Waverly, NY. Always wanting to mix a little business with pleasure, we also made arrangements for these folks from Texas and Florida to go fishing on Lake Ontario with us for King salmon. Captain George Haskins owner of the “Good Times” and Robin and Todd Sheltra of the “Strike Zone” took us out for a great experience and then capped off our trip by having all of us eat dinner together at Brandy’s restaurant. A property review for wildlife management with Dr. Kroll is always a very unique experience. He is not about spending a lot of the owners money on enhancing the
property with large food plots but wants to key in on what is actually on the property and how those things can be utilized and improved for wildlife. One example of this on Jamey Bohonyi’s property was when Dr. Kroll pointed out the fact by having us look up in to the canopy of white oak trees we could see that the oaks needed more “elbow room” to maximize acorn production. By selectively harvesting some of these trees Jamey can generate money for other future improvements and get his trees to produce more nuts. Dr. Kroll is also very up front with his audience on what products and techniques are beneficial and what to shy away from. His advice is based on science,testing and life experiences with whitetail deer that spans well over 40 years. I have had the privilege of Dr. Kroll’s friendship for many years and am excited that he is considering to conduct more of his enlightening field day and property reviews here in New York and Pennsylvania. If you are interested in having information on these events contact us through the “Wildlife Management News” contact information. -Jim Holbert-
Dr. Deer and Rob Hughes of Sendero Seed arrive in Houston with a Trophy Tote full of salmon caught in Lake Ontario near Pulaski, New York! Even after a nine hour trip home, the ice was still frozen and the bag dry! The salmon were most appreciative!
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Wildlife Management News
3rd Edition 2015
A Day With Dr Deer by Jamey Bohonyi
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hen I first got the opportunity to own my own piece of hunting property I was as excited and hopeful as you would expect. Almost 10 years later my emotions have been like a roller coaster from the highest of high to the lowest of low. Managing those emotions and expectations versus managing hunting property have been like a vicious boxing match or a back and forth football game in which the outcome is never what you expected. Over the years I have met people who can share similar stories with me and some who seem so lucky and find success by accident. My personal stories are just that, personal,and although you may be able to relate to some of them it’s not the purpose of this story . This article is my perspective of having a professional give me advice and in the end what will I do with that advice. On September 9, 2015 I was able to have Dr. James Kroll visit my NY property, walk the woods, review the work we have done and talk about what we missed and what we can do going forward. We were able to enjoy 3 meals together that day in between our walk and Dr. Kroll’s presentation to our invited guests. By the way, our guests included other property owners, dealers and distributors of wildlife products and management tools, as well as some friends and family. Some of Dr. Kroll’s colleagues and associates were on hand so this was like the World Series of deer people. There was so many years and “seasons” of experience there I could hardly keep my head from exploding. I had so many questions and I knew the silver bullet answer was on the tip of someone’s tongue. I knew by the end of the day I would have all the secrets exposed and be well on my way to being the best property manager I could be. In addition, The lovely and always joyful Mrs Susie Kroll was there and she was equally insightful when she commented on the beautiful landscape of the Southern Tier of NY and how relaxing it was to spend the day at “the cabin” . After a filling breakfast the group headed out to the woods where again I could feel the secrets were all going to be revealed. We checked on the status of 2 of our Buck Forage Oat plots that hadn’t seen a drop of rain since they were planted 20 days prior. Somehow the heavy dews provided 10
enough moisture to induce germination and they were alive. Rob Hughes from Sendero seed promised me that with a little rain they would take off and be fine. I was skeptical. Almost instantly it seemed the animals knew Dr. Kroll was there. We round a corner and there is a dozen or so turkeys feeding in a food plot. I hadn’t seen a turkey in 2 months. That Dr. Kroll must be magic! Bob Wallace from Chestnut hill Outdoors pointed out the best areas to plant an orchard of fruit and nut producing trees based on soil type and
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identification and ideas tossed around we headed back for lunch and prepared for the summary and the presentation. The seminar included everyone from our small group who did the walking tour and about 30 other people who came to hear Dr. Kroll’s words of wisdom. He went right down the checklist of all the pluses and minuses of what we have, what we need to do and what we can and can’t control. He used all of his years of research and experience and applied it to our specific situation. Some of the recommendations could be applied anywhere and some of them were suited to our property in particular. All in all my brain was full and for the next few days my mind was racing with ideas and plans. So where was the secret? The silver bullet that was going to make everything in the world make sense? Did I miss it? Was I caught up in conversation when Dr. Kroll gave the magical blessing to my property? Well the answer is never that simple. Here is what I learned. 1) You can only control what you can control. Deer are free to roam as they wish and I wouldn’t want it any other way. Provide as much natural food and deer friendly habitat as possible. 2) The government cannot be the best wildlife management tool for your property. We must educate ourselves as much as possible, share our knowledge with fellow sportsmen and landowners. Respect the land and animals as the wild things they are. 3) Have a plan. 1,3,5,10,30 year plan. Whatever you do, set short term and long term goals and measure them the best way you can. If it’s on a spreadsheet and 100 pages that’s great. If its 5 points and in your head that’s great too. 4) Bring in professionals. I am as independent as they
Wildlife Management News
Photos By Jim Holbert come but its not necessary to reinvent the wheel. People like Dr. Kroll have spent their lives doing this research. It means something. Bring them in, listen and apply what you learn. It can shrink the learning curve. 5) Have realistic expectations. Be the best at what you do with what you have to work with. I think for me this is the hardest one to learn. Having the great Dr. Deer tour my property and be able to pick his brain for a day is an experience I will treasure. Being able to hunt with my friends and family on a piece of land I can help nature to manage Is my dream come true. Dr. Kroll has a sign on the entrance to his dream in Nacogdoches TX and it reads “Welcome to our garden. God has given us this place to nurture and protect. Please give the land and animals the respect they deserve” I couldn’t agree more. Jamey Bohonyi Bohonyi Corp/New Egypt Agway
location. We continued on and Dr. Kroll was talking about the number and types of trees per acre we have and what he recommended it should be. He showed us techniques for deciding which trees were too close to others and how to optimize growth to provide better food sources for deer. Further along Dr. Kroll pointed out an area which I had overlooked as a travel corridor. He showed us where some heavy browsing was taking place. Sure enough he no sooner points that out, along with a convenient water source and a deer stands up and lopes away. If I didn’t know better I would have thought someone let it out of a cage. This guy is really in tune with these deer. After about 2 hours of walking, plant 11
Wildlife Management News
3rd Edition 2015
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3rd Edition 2015
Wildlife Management News
We have five different brands of trail cameras in use. The new Browning Dark Ops camera is one of the easiest to set up, the instructions are clear and easy to follow. Photo quality is excellent, both day and night and we do not even have it set up with the highest resolution. The nighttime photos are great – on some of our other cameras the pictures are so grainy you can’t tell if you are looking at a buck or a doe. The photos are clear out to a greater distance as well. There doesn’t seem to be any sound with this camera, so that means that it is probably going to last as far as bear contact. Browning has a winner in my book!
I found the Browning Dark Ops camera easy to set up. There were very few photos without having some animal in the frame. The photos were clear at night and during the day. I am still using the same batteries after hundreds of photos. I am very happy with the camera’s many features and small compact size. The green tree strap and camo color blends well into the surroundings. I have recommended this camera to a friend, several clients and would purchase more of these for myself in the future. Matthew Sellers, Enhanced Habitat
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Wildlife Management News
Dealing With the Canadian Geese
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by Douglas Shultz
earing the honks of migratory Canada geese and watching their “Flying V” used to be an enjoyable part of the changing seasons signifying the arrival of fall and spring. However, over the last decade, the continuous population growth of resident Canada geese has made those same sights and sounds an everyday occurrence for most people. Unlike migrant Canada geese, resident Canada geese do not make the long trips up and down the flyways to nest each year. Instead they tend to stay in a relatively small geographic area all year long. Resident Canada geese have even been known to stay primarily within the boundaries of a single golf course, business complex, or housing development. This is when resident Canada geese and human activities can come into conflict. While the resident Canada goose makes an enjoyable spectacle to observe, they have been able to adapt quickly to rapidly changing habitats, have a developed a tendency to select unconventional nesting sites amongst people, and as a result, generate large amounts of feces and create other issues for many people.. The bush next to the a school entrance, the covered stoop of an apartment complex, the top of a water slide at the pool, the patch of mulch by the bus stop, all sound like a good place to raise a family to some geese. Then while instinctively defending their nests, geese will hiss, charge, flog, and even bite at anyone that comes near. Dealing with these issues day-in and day-out leaves some people wishing the geese would fly away and never come back. Sadly, the geese tend to do just the opposite, staying put day after day. There are, however, things that can be done to minimize goose activity and alleviate the damages that can occur. The first and most important thing to do is to stop any and all feeding that may be occurring. Often individuals that feed geese mean well, but anything other than letting geese forage for their natural diet independently of humans is not beneficial to geese. Human feeding of geese may concentrate birds at a location increasing localized damage, increase the risk of disease transmission from one bird to the other and can even increase aggressive behavior of the birds competing for handouts. The next tactic to employ is habitat 14
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modification and exclusion. Making property less appealing to foraging geese will help discourage geese and keep them away. For example, longer grass is less appealing to hungry geese than shorter fresh-growing grass. Allow grass to grow 8-10 inches and brush to grow up along the edges of bodies of water. Another option would be to construct a 24” high fence along edges of bodies of water. The fence can simply be two or three stands of wire or string strung between small posts. The brush or fence will make it less convenient for the geese to get in and out of the water as the birds prefer to walk out of body of water rather than fly. Brush also deters geese for the fear that predators may be lurking in the overgrowth, making it a less desirable location. If habitat modification or exclusion is not effective at reducing damages, or is simply not feasible, physical harassment is another option. There are many ways to harass geese such as: hanging reflective Mylar tape, throwing tennis balls, spraying water hoses, operating remote control vehicles, and making loud noises. Scaring them at night while they are roosting with lasers and letting your dog out to chase them (not to attack the geese, merely to chase) are additional examples. Use lasers with caution since they can cause serious eye injuries and it is best to check with your local authorities before using them. Responding quickly and with enduring persistence is the key to harassment. If you see geese on your property in the morning, do not wait until the evening to harass them. Harass resident Canada geese every time you see them and expect to do it all year long, except during
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the nesting and molting seasons. The nesting season begins in early spring and leads into the molting season which continues through mid to late summer. If a pair of geese has selected a nesting site and the female has laid eggs, they will rarely leave the area, even if they are harassed. During the molting season adult geese shed and regrow their flight feathers; and goslings grow their first set of flight feathers. During this time harassment may get the geese to run off of your property, but they will not be able to fly away. If they are roosting on a body of water on your property during the molt, they are especially hard to disperse. If you are dedicated to harassing the geese you will most likely see a significant decrease in damages. Remember though, resident Canada Geese populations are not only well established, but also are growing, so having no geese in areas of prime habitat is unrealistic. Population management can also play an important role in controlling goose problems. Geese can have up to 9 young per year with an average of 5. The US Fish and Wildlife Service, the regulatory agency tasked with managing migratory birds allows the public to manage populations through egg and nest destruction. A free permit to treat or remove eggs is available at (https://epermits.fws.gov/ercgr/ gesi.aspx). There are a number of methods to destroy eggs and nests, but the method most recommended is oiling the eggs with food-grade corn oil. Corn oil is not harmful to the environment or wildlife and it will effectively stop the exchange of oxygen through an egg’s shell and the embryo will stop developing. Oiling should be conducted during the first 14 days of the eggs being laid as the embryo will not be fully developed at this time. After oiling the eggs, the female goose will continue to sit on the eggs. Check the nest every 7 to 10 days for new eggs to oil. You can remove the eggs and
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nest 28 days after the last egg has been laid. Do not destroy any eggs or nests any sooner than this, because the nesting female will be able to re-nest and lay new eggs. Hunting is also a feasible population management tool. Most states have hunting seasons specifically targeted for the legal harvest of resident Canada geese. If it is legal to hunt on your property, you can do so or reach out to interested waterfowl hunters to increase the harvest of resident Canada geese from your property. If hunting is not possible, and damages persist even after egg oiling and harassment have been utilized for an extended period of time, it is also possible to apply for a depredation permit from the USFWS. A depredation permit allows for the lethal take of a small percentage of the geese causing damage, outside of hunting seasons. This method is used to help reinforce the non-lethal harassment activities, making them more effective. If the above management methods are not alleviating damages another option is to investigate if a goose “roundup” is a feasible option. A round-up is done in the summer when the geese are molting. Geese are herded into a corral, captured, and removed from the site. The birds are then humanely euthanized and the resulting meat is donated to charitable food outlets. USFWS and State permits are required to conduct a round up. While resident Canada Geese have caused a new set of conflicts for some homeowners and property managers alike, there are effective methods to manage the damage caused by our new neighbors. For further assistance and information about resident Canada geese the USDA Wildlife Services is available to provide more information on management methods and assistance with obtaining permits. Wildlife Services can be reached at 1-866-4USDAWS (1-866-4873297) and online at http://www.aphis.usda.gov -Douglas Shultz-, Wildlife Technician, USDA Wildlife Services
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Fruit and Nut trees are always a first choice deer food
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DR. DEER’S
Management Calendar by Dr. James Kroll
Lets Talk About CWD
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Photo By Mark Peretore 18
n July 1, 2015 CWD finally came to Texas’ whitetails! Four two year old bucks tested positive at a private breeding facility near Medina, Texas. What ensued was the usually furor over the origin of infection and what it would mean to hunting in Texas. New York and Pennsylvania hunters and landowners also understand the “hubbub” created when CWD appears. In early April, 2005 the first case of CWD was confirmed in five white-tailed deer from two captive breeding facilities in Oneida County. More than 31,000 wild white-tailed deer were tested statewide from 2002 through 2010. By July, the designated Oneida/Madison containment area was lifted, as a result of no new cases being detected. The first case was later found in Pennsylvania reported its first case in a captive farm in Adams County; then three wild deer tested positive in Blair and Bedford counties. The state tested more than 1,500 hunter-harvested deer in the area, all of which tested negative. Yet, this Fall thousands of hunters took to the field in all three states in pursuit of their favorite game animal, and thousands of deer will be taken. I am writing this column to make you more aware of the true facts about CWD and its impacts (or not) on deer herds and deer hunting. Every time a new state reports finding CWD, the same rhetoric and media hype emerges! “This will be the end of deer hunting, as we have known it,” declared one outdoor writer. In North Carolina, outdoor writer Mark Marsh, declared in 2014, “Chronic Wasting Disease is decimating deer populations in at least 22 states.” Others warn of CWD ultimately will infect infect humans. Yet, virtually little of what you have heard about the “disease” is true! CWD is now classified as a “reportable disease” by USDA, meaning that whenever it is found it has to be reported to the Federal Government. But why? In order to become a reportable disease for livestock (wildlife), it has to, 1) represent a significant threat to the species involved; 2) has potential to have an economic impact on the related industry; and, 3) has the potential to be zoonotic (capable of infecting other species, including humans). Let’s begin with the assertion that CWD will “decimate” deer herds. Would you be surprised to learn that there has not been a single, peer-reviewed and scientific publication documenting decline of any whitetail, mule deer or elk pop-
ulation caused by CWD? In all the literature, there is only a single on-line journal publication claiming to have found a “coincident” relationship between deer decline and CWD. “Coincident” is the same as correlation and I can correlate the number of divorces in Seattle with the number of cigarette smokers in Las Angeles! Cause-and-effect is demonstrated by solid application of the scientific method through control experimentation. Deer herds (whitetails, mule deer and blacktails) are indeed declining in many areas, but the causal factors officially attributed to these declines has NOT included CWD. Deer herds are declining from a host of factors, many of which are related to mismanagement of the species. Habitat loss is the number one culprit, followed by predation, diseases such as epizootic hemorrhagic disease (EHD) and bluetongue (BT), and over-harvest of does in many areas. CWD is one of many maladies listed among the Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs) that affect a host of mammal species, including man. Translating the long name, it means it can be transmitted to other individuals and it turns your brain to a sponge. The last part ensues as non-soluble, distorted molecules called “prions” accumulate in the brain, eroding holes in it. No one knows how normal prions that have a normally important role in your nervous system become distorted, but they do. Causes that have been suggested are genetic disposition, heavy metals in the environment, spontaneous occurrence, and various microorganisms. None have been shown to be the culprit as of this time. The only factual truth is that, once you acquire distorted prions, they can reproduce themselves over a long span of time. The human form, called Creutzfeldt-Jakob Disease (CJD) manifests itself in one out of a million persons, and usually becomes clinical in older aged individuals. In deer, CWD takes from 14 months to 4 years to do the same thing, but remember a “deer-year” is equal to 12 human-years. Logic would dictate that, prior to becoming clinical a whitetail doe would have reproduced up to four times, each time recruiting at least one fawn into the population. Further, average generation time (time for population to turn over) in many areas is 3.5 years, making it difficult for a deer 19
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to live long enough to become clinical. Lastly, most species identified to date as having a TSE disease also have resistant genes to it. Such genes have been reported in deer and elk in varying ratios of occurrence. So, in regard to CWD decimating populations, a little applied logic would conclude differently. Now, let’s turn to the potential for CWD to become zoonotic in humans. First of all, it is very difficult to become exposed to another animal’s infective prions, since they reside in a place (spinal cord, brain and lymph nodes) where humans do not normally visit. Second, experimental studies on a host of human surrogates clearly has shown it to be very difficult to acquire a TSE, even when material is injected into the brain! The so-called “mad cow” disease (better known as Bovine Spongiform Encephalopathy, BSE) is notorious for having mutated to a new form, called “new variant BSE (nvBSE), which later infected some humans in Europe. If this is true, it would surprise you further that, in the time since 1989 when the disease was noticed, the 743 million inhabitants of Europe collectively consumed millions of pounds of beef; with only 244 individuals presenting with nvBSE. How many died from bath tub falls in that time period. Since it has been over 50 years since CWD was first discovered in Colorado, and since there have been millions of pounds of venison eating during this time, WITHOUT a single case of human-acquired CWD; how real is the concern for zoonosis? As “Deer Trustee” of Wisconsin, I learned firsthand the foolhardiness of over-reacting to a deer disease. The socalled eradication program imposed by the Wisconsin DNR was, as has been for every state trying this strategy, totally unsuccessful. The much “ballyhooed” Illinois approach, also has not been successful, in spite of their claims to the contrary. The bottom line is that CWD eventually will be found in every state and province in which deer reside, and there is nothing we can do about it.
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In the meantime, as I noted above, deer populations are declining in alarming numbers. As many as 31 states now are reporting significantly reduced harvests. According to deerfriendly.com (http://www.deerfriendly.com/declineof-deer-populations) , “The total U.S. deer population in 2014 was about 32.2 million; 28.6 million whitetails and 3.6 million mule deer, blacktails, and other. That’s down from 33.5 million in 2013; 29.9 million white tails and 3.6 million mule deer, blacktails, and other… Recent peak U.S. deer population is estimated for around the year 2000 at 38.1 million.” Pennsylvania deer harvests have declined since the Turn-of-the-21st Century ; while New York appears to be one of the few states where this trend is not occurring. Deer harvests seem to be stable at about 240,000 annually. Pennsylvania Deer Harvests (2000-2014) 2000: 504,600 2001: 486,014 2002: 517,529 2003: 464,890 2004: 409,320 2005: 354,390 2006: 361,560 2007: 323,070 2008: 335,850 2009: 308,920 2010: 316,240 2011: 336,200 2012: 343,110 2013: 352,920 2014: 303,973 CWD has accomplished one positive thing—research and management funding for dealing with and studying the disease has been in the millions of dollars. Wisconsin alone spent some $50 million on research and management, not counting various federal funding sources. A great number of scientists have built impressive resumes through CWD. There are a growing number of responsible scientists and managers changing the way they look at CWD. One state biologist recently commented that CWD has the potential to crop up anywhere, without any identifiable cause. It is looking more and more like CWD is a spontaneous malady that truly can appear anywhere and at any time. Am I minimizing the risks of CWD, absolutely not! Any wildlife disease should be taken seriously, but wildlife diseases have to be considered on a risk analysis basis. My personal opinion is that CWD should be moved to “monitored”status; and I think this may happen in the future.
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Lymes Disease by Dr. Gregory Bach, D.O., F.A.A.I.M., P.C.
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his a continuing article series on Lyme disease and the state of affairs on how pathetically disease has been handled for the last 37 years. As you may remember in Lyme Disease 101 part 2 we discussed the all-important “Elisa Test” which is the control spigot on the handle of this disease. Which has affected the number of cases that are allowed to be reported and why the average “Joe” like you and I have no control over this process. Again it’s the MONEY,the patent holders, Researchers and 11bench scientists” meaning the guys in the Ivy Towers and their connected Universities who hold over 200 related patents and continue making Billions of Dollars, with a B,over the last 37 years. Sadly you probably have a greater chance of getting struck by lightning than getting a positive test for Lyme disease. Remember the CDC has recently come out and admitted that the cases are actually 10 times more than they thought. Just now while I’m writing this, I just got a call from the famous radio show podcast host “Jo Painter”,at ThePeopleChronicles.com/lyme disease. She wants us to continue to do a pod cast series on this subject, stay tuned. Back to the story. Again why is this disease the subject of so much controversy,smoke and mirrors? Well some of these diseases it has been reported from governmental records that they have been bio-weaponized by multiple governments and books have been written on Plum Island the famous government Animal research and testing center. But that’s for another article. Do you know that in the 1980’s when Russia was occupying the Middle East it has been said that there were forms of bio-weaponized Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever that were released only to effect the future generations of soldiers who then brought it home to their loved ones. Last night when Iwas deciding how and what to right in this article,I had a new patient, we’ll say by the name of Phil. Five years ago when he was 19 years old he was an all American athlete, held 4 varsity letters from his high school in track, basketball,baseball,and swimming. He started getting sick in the fall and lives on a beautiful wooded lot in Pa. His father and grandfather were famous airplane pilots and his mom and grandmother were registered nurses. Within 6 months of getting bit by a tick he started to have vertigo,dizziness, multiple joint ached,flu like symptoms and had a large EM (Erythema migrans), bulls eye rash on his left leg. Again this all starting 5 years ago, his mother the nurse at this time said “It looks like Lyme disease” unfortunately at that time he had a medical resident in emergency room trauma training,living at their house who looked at it and said “No,you have ring worm” and gave him a steroid cream which he took, the rash then faded resurfacing 6 months later with a vengeance twice the size with more aggressive symptoms than before. As you may or may not know, using a steroid on Lyme disease and “TBD” tick borne disease patient is the worst thing to do because it suppresses their immune response and makes them 10 times sicker, and can also in some cases, lead to blindness. He then proceeded to see his family doctor who took a whole 15 seconds, looked at his leg and said “no that’s not Lyme disease” and looked at the patient with that famous line from the movie My Cousin Vinny when the judge said to Vinny the new lawyer, “Are you on druuggs?” and proceeded to lecture him on the demons of alcohol and drug abuse. All the while his life continued to take a downward spiral,so for the next 5 years. He researched the internet talking to snake oil merchants and self-serving local support group individuals persuading him to go to this doctor or go use that treatment. He told me “I tried to call you five years ago but the people on the internet said don’t go to Dr. Bach,go to this person.” It is all too sad that this still goes on, people, for whatever reason give medical advice without being a doctor. My patient is now 24 years old and had to drop out of his college aviation science program only to lead a life of misery. But why? All because one group starts to give out disinformation,it gets compounded by multiple lies, and it multiplies like germs in a petri dish. How he finally made his way to me after all this time was a miracle. It was by way of another doctor who I treated and saw him suffering in his church and finally convinced him to come here. What a shame, about a little lie. What’s going on with these people holding themselves to be experts and in the process destroying a young mans’ life. Shame on them and shame on all the proponents of these false hoods. At age 24,I will,with God’s blessing, help this very promising young mans’ life, he can finish his aviation degree and now he is thinking “maybe I could become a doctor too”. I hope so, I need the help. Until next time as Lyme 102 the diagnosis continues. Please be aware of people with all natural treatment and snake oil potions and promising cures because all they want to do is separate you from your money. Please be aware of people who are practicing medicine on the internet without a medical license because as in this case it destroyed this man’s life and lead to 5 years of unnecessary misery.
Founding Board Member of ILADS • Chair of Subcommittee of the Governor of PA on Education of Lyme Disease 22
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Wildlife Management News
Small Property Big Potential
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By Phil Holcombe
n today’s deer hunting culture there seems to be an increasing interest in managing hunting properties for quality deer herds and quality deer hunting experiences. Much of this interest is focused on medium to large tracts of land, 100-200 acres on the smaller end, up to many hundreds or even thousands of acres on the larger end. Many deer hunting landowners and even lease holders with sizeable chunks of land are improving, enhancing, and designing better deer habitat to make their land as attractive and beneficial to deer as possible in order to maximize their hunting opportunities. This is a great situation that is a victory for hunters and wildlife alike. However, there are many hunters that own much smaller tracts of land. These landowners often dismiss these small land holdings as not being large enough to improve or enhance the habitat, and consequently, the hunting opportunities. Many small properties can become the best piece of ground on the block with some hard work and observation. Unfortunately, the description of the size of a property can be extremely subjective and must be taken in context. In some parts of the whitetail’s world 1000 acres could be considered small, like in parts of the west or even Texas. In other locations 40 acres could be considered a large property, like in many suburban areas. For the purpose of this article, I am using my description of a small property, framed by my context. I live and hunt in rural Northeastern Pennsylvania. My property is just shy of 10 acres, small for this part of the whitetail’s world, and my neighboring properties are 320 acres, 70 acres, and 45 acres. I would even go so far as to call my property a micro-property. Over the last 9 years I have put a lot of work into making this property a better deer hunting property than it was when I first began hunting it. I have also spent considerable time helping friends set up their small and micro-sized hunting properties for better hunting opportunities. I will outline the process and methodology I have used to produce some outstanding results. This is meant to be a high 24
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level primer for getting the gears grinding. There is more to come on detailed strategies and techniques for specific situations in subsequent articles. Realistic Goals and Expectations In my opinion, the most important piece of the puzzle has nothing to do with habitat improvement techniques or hunting strategies. The foundation for success will be laid before ever breaking ground or firing up the chainsaw. Setting realistic expectations and goals will dictate the success or failure of setting up any hunting property. Staying flexible and open minded will allow those expectations and goals to change as progress is realized. There are many obstacles already in place for small landowners, and unrealistic expectations or goals will ultimately breed frustration and failure. Setting up and developing a property for better hunting is supposed to be fun and rewarding, and it will be if a realistic plan is devised from the beginning. A landowner must realize that with a small or micro-property, popular catch phrases in the deer management community like “holding deer”, “growing deer”, etc. are not realistic expectations or goals. Deer need plenty of space to assure appropriate resources for each segment of the population throughout the course of an entire year. Small and micro-properties just aren’t big enough to provide that amount of space or the resources required to hold or grow deer all year exclusively, or even primarily, within their boundaries. It is also important to realize that by simply making improvements a landowner/hunter is not going to construct a property that is going to produce mega bucks behind every tree year in and year out. If a landowner/hunter is focused on hunting bucks, it is imperative to know and understand what the general area is capable of producing on a consistent basis. Many factors will determine what the area can produce in terms of buck age and antler size, too many to discuss here for the purposes of this article. Scouting My personal experiences managing this property have lead me to believe that the best approach to improving small and micro-property hunting is to make the property as attractive to deer during the hunting season as possible. Focusing time, effort, and money on improvements that are only beneficial to deer outside of the hunting season is
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relevant and can absolutely come into play for small properties, but if the focus is to be on hunting then that is where the effort is better served, at least in the beginning stages. Making a property as attractive as possible to deer during hunting season may require several different improvement techniques and strategies. A landowner/hunter needs to know how to identify the local deer herd’s needs during the fall and winter. The best way to figure out what the deer need during hunting season is careful observation. I had the luxury of hunting my property for several years before I even became aware of how to improve habitat for better deer hunting. This allowed me to observe the existing deer movements and patterns on my property. By knowing the existing patterns of movement I was then able to better understand what I needed to do to consistently encourage deer to use my property during hunting season, and most importantly, during the day. I also had been running trail cameras on my property for several years before I began working on improving it. This allowed me to gather even more intelligence on the local deer and their patterns. It also provided me with the ability to identify specific bucks and (even) some does by their unique characteristics. In order to truly understand the patterns of movement of the local deer, it is important to understand how deer utilize your property in relation to your neighboring properties. In conjunction with spending time hunting and observing deer on my property, I also scoured aerial images and topographical maps of the surrounding land. This gave me valuable insight into the other habitat and terrain features that the deer I hunt on my property are using on
Photos By Mark Peretore the neighboring properties. I also spend as much time as possible driving around the “neighborhood” looking for and observing the deer. It is not uncommon for me to see bucks that I have on camera up to a mile away from my trail camera sites. All of this intelligence gathering leads to a better understanding of how the local deer use surrounding properties in relation to your small property. In addition to all of the in-season observation and passive scouting, it is also beneficial to put boots on the ground. Though my neighbors are hunters, I am fortunate that they don’t hunt as much as I do. With such a small piece of land it is important to have good relationships with your neighbors. An antagonistic or spiteful neighbor can easily diminish the hunting quality you have worked so hard to achieve. I made it a point to approach neighboring landowners to secure permission to recover animals that may cross the property line, which can happen when hunting small properties. In the process I was also able to secure permission to look for shed antlers in the late winter and early spring. I realize this may not be feasible or possible for everyone, but in my case it worked out to my advantage. Shed hunting is, in my opinion, the absolute best scouting tool one can utilize. The habitat during that time of year looks very similar to how it looks in the late fall and early winter when most hunting seasons are in full swing. Snow cover usually blankets the fall deer sign, and as it melts off, the woods and fields look just as they did before the snow covered it all up. Therefore, buck sign like rubs and scrapes are easily detected. Travel corridors and bedding areas are very easy to read and decipher. The timing is ideal for a small landowner/ hunter to gather valuable information about how the deer use the neighboring property, especially as it pertains to how the deer use your own property. 25
Wildlife Management News
On the topic of neighbors, a small landowner/hunter with neighbors that hunt should consider the impact of the hunting pressure next door when trying to set up the property to make it as attractive as possible for deer during hunting season. Understanding how, when, and where your neighbors hunt can give you valuable insight into what the local deer will need during hunting season. Low hunting pressure and secure cover can make a small property highly attractive to local deer as they begin to see hunting pressure escalate in the surrounding areas. It is also extremely critical to understand the prevailing wind directions and thermal air currents and how they work on your property. A small landowner/hunter can make all the improvements in the world but if the wind directions are not factored in to the design of those improvements the deer will pattern you, and consequently, your hunting success will dramatically decrease. Time spent hunting, scouting, and observing the wind and how it moves across the property will be the basis for the design of the layout for habitat improvements and manipulations. Devise a Plan and Stay Flexible Critical to the success of any small landowner/hunter is their willingness to hunt and scout the property prior to beginning any habitat improvement projects. Hunting and scouting will give you the ability to develop a solid plan based on existing patterns of movement. It is far easier to encourage deer to work within their established patterns. These existing patterns can be enhanced and improved to increase their huntability and stack the odds in your favor. A huntable pattern of movement is a pattern of deer movement that one can hunt without the deer knowing they are being hunted. Once you fire up the chainsaw and start cutting trees and brush you have to make sure you are getting it right the first time around. Once you cut down a tree, it can be several decades in many cases before a new tree will grow to replace the one that you fell. I have found that it is usually best to develop a plan that can be carried out in phases over the course of two to five years. This can reduce the shock factor to the local deer, allow you to evaluate the effectiveness of a given technique, and provide you with time to respond to unforeseen circumstances. It is imperative to stay flexible and continue careful observation and scouting. Quite often a habitat enhancement or manipulation can create an unpredicted result. Recognizing these unintended patterns and making the necessary changes or tweaks to address the changes can be the difference between success and frustration. Habitat management and improvement is more of a marathon than a 40 yard dash. Many techniques can produce the desired effects in a matter of a few months, but many others also require several years before the maximum benefit can be realized. A small landowner/hunter that can 26
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set realistic goals, use scouting and observation, and devise a plan with flexibility will have a successful and rewarding land management and hunting experience. -Phil HolcombeThe Holcombe Group, Inc. Wildlife Management News Writing Challenge Winner
Photo By Mark Peretore
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Wildlife Management News
It’s All about the Numbers
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By John Buck
ith the introduction of QDM (Quality Deer Management) at the beginning of the new millennium, the old ways of managing our deer herd, under a “Traditional” management system were now considered obsolete. The days of 1) malnourished deer herd/smaller bodied deer, 2) smaller racked bucks, 3) an over browsed forest/carrying capacity above what the forest could sustain and 4) a lack of fawn recruitment into the herd to help perpetuate future herd numbers were now gone. Deer hunters are considered the best management tool for the job, and in retrospect, are now believed to have been a one-dimensional tool in the broad management process. By strictly managing the deer and neglecting the landscape, it was a lopsided approach. With many factors evoking change, our principles and ideologies needed to change as well, to prevent us from ever returning to the way things were. In the many regions of Pennsylvania, (Erie Region, Pennsylvania Wilds, Poconos Mountains, Pittsburgh Region, Alleghenies, Dutch Country & Philadelphia) several landscapes have never been changed, with the exception of suburban sprawl, developments and large cities. Many forests (old growth forests), across the state, still remain intact and negatively impact the ecosystem and many species of wildlife, namely, White-tailed Deer. Without properly managing the lands wildlife live on, their numbers, no matter how great nor small, will be adversely affected. In comparison, using Wildlife Management Unit (WMU) 3D as an example, let’s consider the numbers as the Pennsylvania Game Commission (PGC) has provided to the public. There are a total of 2,101 square miles (1.4 million acres); 224,000 acres of public land; 84,000 acres in fields; 1 million forested acres; 154,000 acres developed; However… 1.17 million of these acres are privately owned. The deer herd health is stable and the forest regeneration assessment and overall health is in good standing. The consensus of survey results equate that herd numbers are too low and a significant number of hunters want to see more deer in the woods of WMU 3D. From a game and land management perspective, what can be done to keep the number of deer in balance with the land it occupies? Since the introduction of QDM, I have practiced sound principles on my property and each year I am encouraged to maintain this approach for as long as I own my land or am able to hunt. By overwhelming the deer herd with quality habitat, within each square mile, many positive results can occur especially to counter the approach in how the PGC manages
the herd. The way it exists, there is good herd health with very limited accounts, if any, of CWD (chronic wasting disease), the habitat is stable and hunters want to see more deer during the season. As a result, within the last 10 seasons, as reported from the PGC, doe license allocations fell from 38,000 to 25,000, with a success rate of 1 doe harvested for every 5 tags purchased (AVG: 2005-5.1 / 2014:4.8). That equates to 5,200 +/- does harvested in WMU 3D as compared to 7,400 +/- does harvested. However, if this trend continues, the amount of stress that the habitat will sustain, will be placed solely on the backs of the hunters. The pendulum is swinging back towards the traditional method, rather than maintaining a system that we know already works effectively. As a hunter or a land-manager, there are many tools and systems at our disposal that can benefit the wildlife, the landscape and our overall hunting experience. 1) Timber Harvests: a vital component that serves many benefits. Landowners who own more than 15+ acres, consisting of an old growth forest have inherited a situation. At this point in time, trees (oaks, maples and other hardwood species) that are 60-100+’ tall, that have an average DBH (diameter at breast height) of 45” or greater, the value of that tree, during a timber stand improvement (TSI) or logging operation, could be worth the owners attention to harvest that timber. In 2004, when I conducted a logging operation on my property on 22 acres, 231 trees were harvested (that were 14” DBH or greater) and the canopy of the trees were removed, allowing the sun to penetrate and reach the ground uninhibited. To foresters, this would be considered a “High Grading”, when all trees that reach a certain size are removed. However, trees in my area haven’t been harvested in over 100 years and as a result, the lack of browse at ground level was evident. How does a hunter or a game managing agency expect to have a healthy deer herd if the herd is above the carrying capacity and there are no means to sustain the herd with poor habitat? By taking the matter into our own hands, we were on the cutting edge of land managing in an area that has never witnessed such action before. As a result of the timber harvest, this is what occurred: 1) the ground was saturated with sunlight and the tree stumps, from the trees that were cut, had abundant growth, leading to browse and thick cover; 2) with the funds received, various fruit and nut trees were purchased with the addition of tree tubes & stakes (250 in total), along with tons of lime and fertilizer for future food plots; 3) the existing 27
Wildlife Management News
Red Oak trees had room to spread its canopy, thus producing abundant bushels of acorns for the deer and other wildlife to eat during the late fall and winter months; 4) the root systems of the existing trees were able to soak up additional water and nutrients from the soil & 5) the amount of firewood that was available was staggering, many cords of wood were cut and heated the home for he next three years. 2) DMAP (Deer Management Assistance Program): In the beginning of QDM, the harvest of does to better balance the sex ratio was required, that were in addition to county specific tags, enabled hunters to truly balance the herd with the land as well. It is a great program from a management perspective and if landowners are truly concerned with the health of the herd, they should look further in how to enroll their property into the program. In the beginning, we concentrated our efforts in harvesting only mature does and actually let bucks walk. By applying to the PGC, a hunter can fill out the application and submit their information for the number of tags that they feel are required to help harvest additional deer. In years past, by using DMAP tags, we relinquished our privilege to purchase 3D tags, so other hunters can use them, but that is not a requirement, just a personal way of giving other hunters an opportunity. Please visit the PGC website to read additional information to fully under-
Photo By Mark Peretore 28
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stand the requirements necessary to enter the program. 3) Creating a Sanctuary: the creation of sanctuaries on your property, varying in size, will not only enhance your hunting opportunities, but will keep the older age class bucks and does close to your property when the rut begins. When the rifles season starts, they will know where to go in a hurry. By their creation, successful breeding occurs and the protection during fawn drop, adds to herd recruitment. Additionally, predators such as coyotes and black bears, that are known to decimate a fawn crop, will find it rather arduous to feast on such prey. Of the 22 acres I currently own, 8 acres are dedicated to the sanctuary. 4) Planting Fruit & Nut Trees: with the removal of the old growth forest of sub-par producing trees, planting fruit or nut trees in their stead was the pivotal part of the landmanagement experience for me. From the spring of 2005 until today (trees need at least 5 years to start producing), the amount of mast generated reaches thousands of pounds and feeds the deer from late September through the end of March, when the snow melts. By watching them grow and training them properly, enabled me to offer the herd a smorgasbord of food that would help them nutritionally, coupled with browse in the winter and food plots in the spring, the area deer were being fed year round.
3rd Edition 2015
When a landowner makes the valiant effort towards a goal, whether that is to see more deer, bigger deer, great habitat, balanced sex ratios, the willingness to continue will only increase, especially when progress is made. There were times when it was 5 degrees outside and I truly wanted to stay indoors, however, each year I ventured outside and continued the work towards productive land management for the benefit of the deer. It is our responsibility to create and maintain a healthy habitat for Whitetails and other wildlife. Could we see additional deer in the forest, I would say yes, but that can only become a reality until we hit the woods, with chainsaw in hand and help create better habitat. We have an obligation to wildlife conservation to bring the forest condition from good to improved. It’s up to us folks… “Forest regeneration is not just a measure for the benefit of the forest, but also for deer and wildlife. For deer, these seedling and sapling trees provide food and cover. As a result, measuring regeneration is an important measure of the sustainability of a forest, but it is also a measure of available food and cover that benefit deer and other wildlife”. - PGC Assignment of “Good,” “Fair,” and “Poor” adhere to the following criteria: A WMU’s forest habitat health will be considered “Good” if the observed percentage of plots with adequate regeneration is greater than, equal to, or not significantly different than 70%. If a WMU’s forest habitat health is not significantly different from 70% and not significantly different from 50%, forest habitat health will be considered “Fair.” A WMU’s forest habitat health also will be considered “Fair” if observed percentage of plots with adequate regeneration is equal to 50%, or between 50% and 70% and significantly less than 70%, or not significantly different from 50%. A WMU’s forest habitat health will be considered “Poor” if the observed percentage of plots with adequate regeneration is significantly less than 50% (Table 16, Figure 17). - PGC “The need to manage the deer population for the benefit of all species is widely supported by hunters. In a 2002 survey, a majority of deer hunters agreed that deer affect plants and animals, and 9 out of 10 hunters agreed that deer populations should be balanced with natural food supplies (Wallingford et al. 2006). In a 2001 survey, 9 out of 10 hunters also agreed that managing game to promote healthy habitat for ALL wildlife species should be an extremely or very important consideration in wildlife management
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Photo By Bill Borne (Responsive Management 2001).” - PGC If forest habitat health is fair, take 6-year deer population and forest habitat trends into account a. If forest habitat health is fair and 6-year deer population trend has been increasing, decrease deer population b. If forest habitat health is fair but improving, and 6-year deer population trend has remained the same, stabilize deer population c. If forest habitat health is fair but stable, and 6-year deer population trend has remained the same, decrease deer population d. If forest habitat health is fair but declining, and 6-year deer population trend has remained the same, decrease deer population e. If forest habitat health is fair and 6-year deer population trend has been decreasing, stabilize deer population -John BuckPrivate land owners are the largest tool in managing property for wildlife and in turn are the most important in managing population numbers. Understanding your herd on your property is vital to maintaining a proper habitat. This work must continue to be done on a property by property basis and as hunters and land managers we must continue to educate ourselves hold true to the integrity of the sport and take it upon ourselves to promote the habitat. That being said it is equally as important to get everyone involved, including the next generation. -Mark Peretore29
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MICHAEL J. GIANGRIECO ATTORNEY AT LAW
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Take a shot at it: Reloading for Beginiers
W
by Chris Kazmark
alking around at a gun show passing table after table of brass, primers, and cast lead bullets got me thinking… should I be reloading? And how involved is this hobby? Knowing next to nothing about the art of reloading, I sat down with Jim from Stateline Bullets, a local cast bullet manufacturer and reloading expert. Chris: How did you get started reloading? Jim: My dad always reloaded and I watched him for years before I took a shot at it. When I was 18 I started reloading for a .30-06, my deer hunting firearm, and a 6mm, my woodchuck hunting firearm. It wasn’t too difficult, I got the hang of it pretty quick with my dad’s help. We used an old Lyman turret press. I noticed a difference right away in the performance of the rounds I was making, the accuracy I was getting from the factory made ammunition was fair at best. What equipment do I need to get started? The most expensive part of reloading is the initial set-up costs. To begin you will need a reloading press, powder scale, powder dropper, a set of reloading dies, shell holder, resizing lubricant, data manual, and of course the powder, primers, empty cases, and cast or jacketed bullets in the caliber you plan to reload. That’s the bare minimum. All of these things can be bought new, or found on eBay, at garage sales, or at flea markets if you keep your eyes open. The prices can vary greatly. What are some common beginner mistakes to be aware of? Rule # 1, don’t ever force anything if it won’t go, especially when seating a primer in the bottom of a case. Also be careful not to double charge a case or put primers in upside down. Watch out for stuck cases in a resizing die due to inadequate lubricant application, and be very careful not to misread reloading data. Take your time and enjoy the process of it all. What is your favorite part about reloading? The cost savings and accuracy of handloaded ammunition. I guess I’ve always been a bit of a perfectionist, and I try to get every one of my firearms to shoot to their best ability. By reloading, I’ve gotten pretty darn close to achieving this.
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Another advantage of reloading is that you can recreate cartridges that are no longer available for purchase or are tough to come by. Do you hunt with the bullets that you reload? Yes, all the time. I know I can depend on them to work their best when the shot matters most. It means a lot to me that I know my firearms well enough to create a round they shoot, and that I’ve taken the time to create the best ammunition I can. There’s something to be said after you’ve put the components together and end up bringing meat home to the table. My son, for example, is going to hunt with cast bullets that we’ve made together this year and he can’t wait. He said if he is successful it will be from something he made not bought. Reloading your own ammunition further advances your knowledge and appreciation for the sport. Is there anything a new reloader needs to know before getting started? Buy a good reloading manual, I recommend Lyman reloading manuals that were printed after 1970. In their manuals they carry a host of component manufacturers, encompassing a range of reloading data. Also be wary of information you gather on the internet (unless its from a manufacture); your best bet is to find a friend who reloads and seek out their help. And don’t ever use the rounds you’ve reloaded for self-defense. How does reloading your own ammunition make the cartridges more accurate? Occasionally a firearm with off the shelf factory ammo will be a tack driver, but this is usually a trial and error effort of buying multiple boxes of the various flavors of a particular caliber. Even going through that procedure sometimes a firearm just won’t shoot factory ammo very well. All factory ammo is loaded within SAAMI standards. Each cartridge/ caliber has its own SAAMI specification. This allows the manufacturer to guarantee the user that their ammo is safe to be fired in a well maintained firearm. Most are loaded near the maximum SAAMI pressures. But since not all firearms are equal that SAAMI .243 factory ammo may or may not shoot well. Reloading allows the user to tailor the ammo to his/her specific firearm. Reloading gives you access to many bullet styles and weights of different calibers. Also there are multiple gun powders that can be used for any given caliber (each powder has a particular burn rate). Just these two components (bullets and powder) alone can change a so-so firearm into an accurate one. Lowering the factory velocity and or pressures can do wonders with accuracy, as well as saving your shoulder. Is reloading truly cost effective? Let’s take a look at two different calibers; a handgun and a
rifle. For the handgun, let’s say a 9mm. -$25 per pound of pistol powder, powder per case= 1.2 cents -$32.50/250 jacketed bullets= 13 cents, or $18.00/250 cast bullets= 7.3 cents -$33/1000 primers= 3.3 cents -Reuse brass that you’ve already shot For cast bullet, this comes out to 12 cents a round. Jacketed bullets come out to 18 cents a round. Jacketed would be 9$ for a box for 50. For cast bullets it’s $6 per 50. For a rifle, let’s look at a .30-06 -$32 per pound of powder for jacketed bullets, per case= 20.5 cents -$25 per pound of powder for cast bullets, per case = 4 cents -$52.50/250 jacketed bullets= 21 cents, or $11/100 cast lead bullets= 11 cents -$33/1000 primers= 3.3 cents -Reuse brass that you’ve already shot $8.90 for a 20 round box for jacketed rifle bullets. $3.60 for cast bullets The cost savings here are clear, of course there are some calibers where it may not be cost effective for you to reload. And the set-up cost is an investment, it all boils down to your interest in the hobby and the amount you shoot. What are your most frequently asked questions? “How hard should cast bullets be, and will they lead my bar-
rel?” For handguns, any hard cast lead bullet with a BHN of 16 in any of your common magnum handgun calibers (.357 magnum, .41 magnum, .44 magnum) should not lead your barrel. For rifles, the answer is a little more difficult because it’s based on velocity. A non-gas checked bullet with the same BHN of 16 can be driven 1500-1600 feet per second without causing leading. A gas checked bullet can be driven 2000 feet per second. For higher velocities, copper jacketed bullets are recommended. “How accurate are lead bullets compared to jacketed bullets?” They are equally accurate, but much cheaper. The advantage of a cast bullet over a jacketed bullet are cost, and reduced loads that make it easier to shoot. And the question that everyone is thinking… where do you get powder??? In my experience, some places have no issue getting powder. We carry some powder down here at the shop. Ask your friends and people that have been reloading for a while for a source of reloading components. Keep in mind that purchasing powder and primers online comes with a pricey hazmat shipping fee. It’s cheaper to buy local if you can find it. I’d like to thank Jim from Stateline Bullets, in Great Bend PA, for his time answering my questions. Check out his shop for reloading supplies, and happy reloading! statelinebullets.com 33
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3rd Edition 2015
3rd Edition 2015
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Mark Peretore, EA & Sal Peretore, CPA
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