SREL Reprint #1789
Optimization strategies in a deer harvest program
P.L. Leberg, M.H. Smith, I.L. Brisbin, Jr., and K.T. Scribner
Savannah River Ecology Laboratory, Drawer E, Aiken, SC 29801 USA
Abstract: A deterministic simulation model based on data from hunter check stations was used to study the effects of several harvest strategies on the sustained yield of individuals, biomass, and antler points (one measure of trophy value) from a low density population of white-tailed deer Odocoileus virginianus. Total harvested biomass and antler points were generally maximized by increasing harvest pressure on younger animals in cases of low natural adult survivorship and on older age classes when adult survivorship was high. The sustained yield of individuals was increased by strategies placing higher harvest pressure on fawns, spike-antlered males (spikes), spikes plus fawns or antlered males. Total harvested biomass was increasing the proportion of spikes, adults, or antlered males in the harvest. The sustained yield of antler points was increased by placing higher pressure on adults or antlered males. These simulations suggest that increases of one or more yield characters can be obtained by a variety of harvest strategies.
SREL Reprint #1789
Leberg, P. L., M. H. Smith, I. L. Brisbin, Jr., and K. T. Scribner. 1987. Optimization strategies in a deer harvest program. pp. 555-558 In: B. Bobek, K. Perzanowski, and W. Regelin. (Eds.). Global Trends in Wildlife Management. Transactions of the IUGB Congress. Swiat Press, Krakow, Poland.
This information was provided by the University of Georgia's Savannah River Ecology Laboratory (srel.uga.edu).