Deer Management Program

December 10, 2020 Hits: 5473

NICHES Land Trust implemented our deer management program in 2010 with one property, Weiler-Leopold. Today, our program includes 32 of our properties totaling just over 2,320 acres. In this presentation, Justin Harmeson, NICHES Land Steward and Staff Lead for this program, shares why this program is an important part of our stewardship activities, how the program is structured, facilitated, and the process for getting involved.

When deer numbers are high, favored plant species may have reduced flowering and growth or may be eliminated from the forest ecosystem, resulting in a reduction in the biological diversity of an area (Webster et al., 2005; Jenkins et al.,2007). The resulting degradation of plant communities can have dramatic effects on the richness of bird, amphibian, insect, and mammalian species (Ĉoté et al., 2004). Surveys of woody-plant herbivory on NICHES properties indicate many other plant species have been severely over-browsed and are, in many cases, missing from the landscape. Given that one mission of NICHES is to restore and maintain biodiversity−in all its forms−good stewardship requires maintenance of appropriately sized deer populations. Hunter-driven harvest is the only cost-effective means of reducing the deer population in free-ranging herds. Annual harvest by a selected number of hunters is used to remove deer from selected properties by focusing the harvest of female animals. These harvests reduce the impacts of deer on NICHES properties, protect system-wide biodiversity, and maintain a healthy population of resident deer which contributes positively to their habitat.

NICHES Zoom Presentation Series sponsored by:

Justin Harmeson-NICHES Land St Thursday, September 02, 2021

Unfortunately there is not a drawing. All of our preserves are open to the public for non-consumptive use, but our land is privately owned by the organization. For our hunting program, we like to return our hunters if they are successfully taking does during the deer cull and nearly all of the hunters we use also are involved in the organization in other ways as volunteers, former landowners, neighbors, etc.

It is not impossible to get added as a hunter to one of our crews, but we want our hunters to be involved in other areas of the organization first. Helping take care of the Pecan Basin trail would be a huge asset and would definitely be a great step in getting involved with the organization. Please check our website for other volunteer opportunities here: nicheslandtrust.org/volunteer and become a member to get involved in many of the members-only events here: nicheslandtrust.org/join

0
Ethel Deel Monday, August 09, 2021

Quality Deer Management is the methodology where youthful bucks are shielded from collect, joined with a satisfactory gather of female deer to deliver sound deer crowds in offset with existing territory conditions. I will share this plan on my platform www.eworldtrade.com/importers/hemp-buyer/

0
david vander meulen Monday, August 02, 2021

How do I find our information on how to hunt any of these properties?

0
- Justin Harmeson-NICHES Land St Thursday, September 02, 2021
  
  All of our preserves are open to the public for non-consumptive use, but our land is privately owned by the organization. For our hunting program, we like to return our hunters if they are successfully taking does during the deer cull and nearly all of the hunters we use also are involved in the organization in other ways as volunteers, former landowners, neighbors, etc.
  
  It is not impossible to get added as a hunter to one of our crews, but we want our hunters to be involved in other areas of the organization first. Please check our website for other volunteer opportunities here: nicheslandtrust.org/volunteer and become a member to get involved in many of the members-only events here: nicheslandtrust.org/join
  
  0
Ronda and tim Barton5 Saturday, June 19, 2021

I was told there is a drawing for deer hunting and niches properties how can I put my name in thanks also I was told your looking for a care taker at pecan basin trail if so I'm interested

0

News