DEER HARVEST REPORT

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2 Summary DEER HARVEST REPORT The 215 deer hunting season had a harvest of 4,378 deer, which was a 37% decrease over 214, and one of the lowest harvests in 4 years. The Antlerless Deer Permits had been reduced by 17%, down to 225 permits for 215. The winter of 215 was one of the worst winters the past 25 years, and the deer herd experienced 22% winter loss. This, in combination of the severe winter of 214, dealt a severe blow to the deer herd, and the 215 harvest reflects this reduction. Resident hunters had a harvest success rate of 8%, while non-residents had slightly better harvest success rates of 12%. Hunters with Antlerless Deer Permits had better success rates of 33% because of their ability to harvest a doe or fawn. During the gun season, the harvest was spread with 33% occurring in the first week, and between 2 to 25% in the remaining 3 weeks.. There were 48 deer (1% of the harvest) taken on the three Sundays that were open for hunting during the season. A total of 85% of the harvest were bucks, 12% adult females, and 3% fawns. In 215 there were 2,25 Antlerless Deer Permits made available; 45 fewer than in 214. A total of 6,818 resident hunters applied for the computerized tag draw, of which 2,181were successful. Hunters with antlerless deer tags harvested 729 deer in the 215 season. Of the successful antlerless permit holders, 71% harvested antlerless deer and 33% harvested adult bucks. A total of 48,521 residents and 318 non-residents purchased licences to hunt white-tailed deer. Total licence sales were 48,839, which was 637 fewer than 214 sales; close to average over the past 1 years. New Brunswick residents harvested 99% of the total deer kill, while non-residents harvested 1%. 216 Synopsis This will be a year of recuperation for the NB deer herd. The fawn survival through the past two winters was quite poor (low recruitment), so there are fewer two and three year olds in the herd this year. This will supress herd growth for a couple of years. However this winter was kind to us, and the winter deer survival of 216 was above average. Also, 5% of the pregnant does that were inspected by Forest Rangers in 215 were carrying twin fetuses. This indicates there will be better recruitment for 216, and we should see anincrease in yearlings this fall. This will lead to a better harvest, but it will still be less than the 1 year average. This year's report includes more information on the age class distribution of harvested bucks, and the impacts of winter severity on deer harvest. Recent research indicates that deer winter mortality combined with predation has significant influence on the deer population.

3 DEER LICENCE SALES AND HARVESTS New Brunswick LICENCES SOLD HARVESTS YEAR RESIDENT NON-RES. TOTAL TOTAL RESIDENT NON-RES. TOTAL TOTAL UNKNOWN TOTAL GUN GUN BOW GUN SEASON GUN SEASON BOW CROSSBOW Hunter Success Rate ,615 2,553-54,168 2,516 2, ,642 42% ,346 2,93-57,276 15,192 1, ,937 3% 197 a 56,35 2,495-58,845 5, ,335 11% ,6 2,171-61,231 n/a n/a - - 4,379 7% ,151 2,55-57,26 4, ,955 9% ,913 2,162-72,75 3, ,273 6% ,226 2,382-68,68 5, ,536 1% 1975 b 65,763 1,622-67,385 5, ,554 8% ,331 1,581-79,912 6, ,384 9% ,812 1,938-89,75 8, ,937 1% 1978 c 96,671 1,68-97,739 1, ,725 11% ,87 1,271-1,78 12, ,344 13% ,674 1,761-98,435 17, ,344 19% ,896 2,297-17,193 2, ,772 2% 1982 d 114,33 2, ,931 21, ,699 19% ,148 3,134 1,12 115,42 25,833 1, ,165 24% 1984 e 19,873 4,118 1, ,134 24,593 1, ,83 23% ,78 4,81 1, ,74 29,329 1, ,25 27% ,722 6,563 1,39 116,675 25,982 2, ,139 24% 1987 f 17,256 6,737 1, ,564 24,5 1, ,572 23% 1988 g 94,26 6,366 1,424 12,5 18,21 1, ,85 19% ,486 5,67 1,121 12,277 18,294 1, ,719 19% 199 h 82,2 3, ,836 1, ,48 13% ,391 2, ,147 11, ,178 14% ,592 2, ,66 1, ,353 14% ,185 2,113 1,72 73,37 9, ,134 14% ,162 2,152 1,48 89,362 9, ,216 11% ,3 1, ,842 1, ,944 14% ,82 1, ,294 11, ,143 16% ,55 1, ,23 12, ,55 18% ,165 1, ,72 9, ,199 15% ,94 1, ,642 9, ,316 14% 2 59,78 1, ,126 8, ,312 13% 21 54,791 1,188 n/a 55,979 4, ,314 8% 22 5,729 1,5 n/a 51,779 6, ,443 12% 23 49,634 1,3 n/a 5,664 5, ,733 11% 24 5,9 1,43 n/a 51,133 6, ,878 13% 25 48, n/a 49,793 6, ,881 14% 26 51, n/a 52,599 9, ,57 18% 27 52, n/a 53,723 1, ,57 2% 28 52, n/a 52,981 7, ,78 15% 29 49, n/a 5,255 4, ,6 1% 21 47, n/a 47,978 4, ,11 11% , n/a 46,433 4, ,793 1% , n/a 47,534 5, ,93 13% , n/a 49,614 7, ,161 16% , n/a 49,476 6, ,935 14% , n/a 48,839 3, ,378 9% a Mandatory registration begins; limit reduced from 2 to 1 deer b Forest ranger strike c New zones / later season d 3 week bow season starts e Season starts one week earlier in northern zones f 3 week season in DMA's 1 & 2 g Implemented "bucks only" in DMA's 1 & 2 and 48 hr. rule for registering deer h New zones / Antlerless Deer Permit System begins.

4 DEER HARVEST (Gun & Bow) New Brunswick 35, 3, 25, Regular Season Harvest Bow Season Harvest , 15, 1, 5, Year Resident Gun Non-resident gun Bow season - Bow season began in 1982 DEER LICENCES ISSUED New Brunswick Resident Non- resident 14, 8, 12, 7, 1, 6, 8, 5, 4, 6, 3, 4, 2, 2, 1, Year Resident Non-resident

5 REGISTERED DEER KILL BY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT ZONE 215 NEW BRUNSWICK ANTLERLESS DEER ADULT ADULT FAWN FAWN TOTAL WMZ MALES FEMALES MALES FEMALES HARVEST Closed Season Closed Season UNKNOWN TOTAL 3, ,378

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7 7 % successful DEER HUNTER SUCCESS RATES New Brunswick Year Resident gun Non-resident gun Bow Hunter Antlerless permit holders -antlerless permit system began in no separate bow icence since 21 Age and Sex Structure of 215 Deer Harvest Doe Yearling 5.% Doe Adult 19.7% Buck Fawn 2.7% Buck Yearling 28.1% Doe Fawn 3.3% Buck Adult 41.2%

8 REPORTED NON-HUNTING DEER MORTALITY New Brunswick Year Total Non-hunt Kill Road/Rail Poaching Coyotes/Dogs - reported and handled by DNR staff DAILY DEER KILL - FIREARMS SEASON 215 New Brunswick 4 35 Wk Wk Wk.3 96 Wk Day Total Kill Adult Bucks Adult Does Fawns - total of 4,157 deer registered in firearm season - Saturday & Sunday (dark columns)

9 ANTLERLESS DEER TAG DRAW 215 SUMMARY New Brunswick ANTLERLESS DEER TAG DRAW SUMMARY New Brunswick WMZ Quota Applications Drawn % Successful Applicant n/a 2 n/a 3 n/a 4 n/a SEASON CLOSED 5 n/a 6 n/a n/a n/a SEASON CLOSED 9 n/a 1 n/a n/a n/a n/a 1 14 n/a 15 n/a % % % n/a % % , % , % % n/a % % TOTALS 2,25 6,818 2, % NO PERMITS AVAILABLE SEASON CLOSED 2.1% -4.2% 19.%.% ##### #####

10 1% 9% 8% 7% 6% 5% 4% 3% 2% 1% % 25 (n=95) BUCK AGE CLASS FROM HARVESTED DEER New Brunswick (n=1315) (n=1261) (n=1193) 29 (n=364) 21 (n=571) 211 (n=469) 212 (n=463) 213 (n=545) 214 (n=549) 215 (n=456) Buck Age % 9% ADULT DEER BUCK TO DOE RATIOS New Brunswick From annual roadkill data. 8% 7% 6% 5% 4% Ad M % Ad F % 3% 2% 1% %

11 POUNDS BUCK HARVEST DEER WINTER SURVIVAL % BUCK HARVEST VS. DEER WINTER SURVIVAL Deer Winter Survival % Green > 88% Red < 84% Buck Kill MALE DEER WEIGHTS lbs Adult Yearling Fawn ABD 5 Buck body size is an indicator of habitat carrying capacity. ABD = Antler Beam Diameter, another carrying capacity indicator.

12 New Brunswick's Top Bucks of 215 Findings based on 461 bucks of the 3664 harvested bucks (13%) measured at N.B. Biological Check Stations Largest Antler Beam Diameter Rank Antler Beam Diameter (mm) WMZ No. Points Weight(kg) Weight (lbs) Age Heaviest Bucks Rank Antler Beam Diameter (mm) WMZ No. Points Weight(kg) Weight (lbs) Age Oldest Bucks Rank Antler Beam Diameter (mm) WMZ No. Points Weight(kg) Weight (lbs) Age Highest Number of Points Rank Antler Beam Diameter (mm) WMZ No. Points Weight(kg) Weight (lbs) Age Heavyweight bucks - No. over 2 pounds by age Age Number Avg. lbs No. above 2 lbs % above 2 lbs All

13 NUMBER OF MOOSE APPLICATIONS, LICENCES ISSUED AND HARVEST NEW BRUNSWICK # # Licences Reg'd % Hunter # # Licences Reg'd % Hunter Year Applications Drawn Issued Kill Success Year Applications Drawn Issued Kill Success [Moose season closed 1936 and reopened in 196] [Bulls only hunting from 196 to 1965] 2 res. d 48,469 4,283 4,174 2, , non-res , total 49,455 4,383 4,271 2, ,354 1, res. d 5,54 4,518 4,415 2, ,359 1, 1, non-res. 1, ,38 1, 1, total 51,826 4,618 4,511 2, ,46 1, 1, res. d 53,916 4,293 4,191 2, ,5 1, 1, non-res. 1, ,5 1, 1, total 55,52 4,393 4,286 2, ,724 1,5 1, res. d 47,29 2,779 2,714 1, ,9 1,6 1, non-res. 1, ,16 2, 1, total 48,588 2,879 2,88 1, ,334 2, 1, res. d 5,585 2,769 2,694 1, ,639 2,5 2,441 1,43 43 non-res. 1, ,558 2,5 2,46 1, total 52,124 2,869 2,79 1, a 39,157 6, 5,58 1, res. d 54,26 3,266 3,27 2, ,587 6, 4, non-res. 1, ,347 6, 4,753 1, total 55,85 3,366 3,34 2, ,815 6, 4,746 1, res. d 55,972 3,2 2,913 2, ,547 6, 4,64 1, non-res. 1, ,7 6, 4,786 1, total 57,716 3,12 3,11 2, ,53 6, 4,935 1, res. d 57,442 3,11 3,61 2, ,5 6, 4,892 1, non-res. 1, , 6, 5,32 1, total 59,317 3,21 3,16 2, ,32 6, 5,65 1, res. d 58,23 3,34 3,286 2, ,727 6, 5,175 1, non-res. 1, ,14 6, 5,63 1, total 59,971 3,44 3,382 2, ,127 6, 5,228 1, res. d 6,716 3,42 3,347 2, ,625 6, 5,21 1, non-res. 2, ,89 6, 5,185 1, total 62,925 3,52 3,445 2, b 28,895 6, 5,243 2, res. d 62,844 3,545 3,483 2, ,894 6, 5,25 1, non-res. 2, ,314 6, 5,234 1, total 65,163 3,645 3,583 2, ,212 6, 5,321 1, res. d 62,696 4,364 4,271 2, ,332 6, 5,32 2,61 39 non-res. 2, c 54,3 5,655 5,1 2, total 65,344 4,464 4,368 2, ,791 5,649 4,989 2, res. d 63,649 4,624 4,524 3, res. d 57,514 4,244 3,848 1, non-res. 2, non-res. e total 66,257 4,724 4,624 3, total 58,185 4,344 3,948 1, res. d 66,319 4,612 4,531 3, res. d 59,428 4,754 4,31 2,75 48 non-res. 3, non-res total 69,459 4,712 4,629 3, total 6,18 4,854 4,42 2, res. d 66,658 4,612 4,529 3, res. d 55,59 4,84 4,573 2, non-res. 3, non-res. 1, outfitter non-res total 56,695 4,94 4,669 2, total 69,741 4,712 4,626 3, res. d 57,271 4,683 4,519 1, res. d 63,135 4,592 4,498 3, non-res. 1, non-res. 2, total 58,379 4,783 4,617 2,22 44 outfitter non-res total 66,151 4,692 4,598 3, a 3 day season begins; b Moose licence fee increased from $25 to $5; c Allocation of hunters by Wildlife Management Zone begins; d Resident licences issued are party chiefs. Resident success is for party regardless of number of hunters.; e 1 non-resident hunters included in the moose hunt in 1996 for first time.

14 MOOSE HUNTING APPLICATIONS New Brunswick : 5 year waiting period -1994: no waiting period or test; $6 application fee Resident applications Year Non-resident applications MOOSE HUNTING LICENCES SOLD New Brunswick Year : test req'd; 6 applications drawn : no test; fewer applications drawn : 2-person parties allowed; non-residents allowed; fewer resident applications drawn - 23: permits reduced to mitigate impact of unregulated aboriginal harvest Principal hunter Non-residents Designated hunters

15 WMZ MOOSE DRAW DATA, LICENCE PURCHASE AND KILL SUCCESS OF RESIDENT MOOSE HUNTING PARTIES New Brunswick 215 Licence Quota 215 # Applicants Applicants Drawn Resident Principal Hunter Licences¹ Purchased Designated Hunter Licences 2 Purchased 215 Reg'd Kill 3 % Successful in Harvesting a Moose Licence Quota , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , Province 4,592 63,14 4,592 4,498 3,29 3, ,643 1 Licences purchased are those of the resident principal hunters who were successful in the draw. 2 Designated hunter licences allow principal hunters to be accompanied by one other resident hunter who can assist in filling their tag. 73% of residents who were successful in the draw and purchased a moose hunting licence chose to hunt with a designated hunter. 3 Resident kill only.

16 MOOSE HARVESTED & HUNTER SUCCESS RATES (%) # Moose killed New Brunswick Moose Killed Year Hunter Success % Success : Implementation of quotas by zone Tuesday 131 MOOSE KILL BY DAY 215 New Brunswick Wednesday 76 Thursday September 215 Friday 62 Saturday 398 AVERAGE WEIGHTS OF NEW BRUNSWICK MOOSE* (pounds ** field dressed) Age Male Female * Weights were obtained from 117 moose registered at Fredericton and Edmundston, & at Fredericton ** To convert "pounds" to "kilograms", multiply by.45.

17 REGISTERED MOOSE HARVEST BY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT ZONE NEW BRUNSWICK 215 TOTAL HARVEST (#) and HARVEST PER KM 2 [ ] (125) [.151] (82) [.29] 6 (267) [.51] (245) [.97] 16 (142) [.33] 4 (37) [.129] (315) (18) 21 2 (126) [.24] (324) (219) [.67] (325) (188) [.119] [.13] [.39] [.86] (16) [.32] (65) [.25] [.14] 8 [.45] (196) (71) [.57] [.27] 22 (41) 18 (88) [.33] 23 (86) [.31] 14 9 (57) (64) [.25] [.5] 19 (45) [.2] 24 (29) [.15] 25 (45) [.22] 26 (No Season) 27 (No Season) A total of 3,729 moose registered in 215. Harvest per km 2 for all open zones =.5

18 SEX AND AGE OF MOOSE HARVESTED New Brunswick [moose season was closed in 1936 and reopened in 196] Adult & Yearling Year Bull Cow Male Female Unknown Total 196 a b n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a n/a , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , c 1, , , , d 1, , , , , , , ,22 2 1, , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,729 a Bulls only season from 196 to 1965 b Either sex hunting began in 1966 to present c Allocation of hunters by zone Calf d Designated hunters could accompany principal licence holder for first time.

19 WMZ SEX AND AGE OF MOOSE HARVESTED BY WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT ZONE 215 New Brunswick MALE FEMALE Age Age Sex Adult Yearling Calf Unknown Adult Yearling Calf Unknown Unknown Total Province

20 WMZ MOOSE SIGHTINGS PER HOUR HUNTED FOR WILDLIFE MANAGEMENT ZONES New Brunswick Sightings per Hour Hunted closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed 27 closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed closed Province Note: Report forms from both successful and unsuccessful principal hunters were used to determine the number of moose sightings per hour of hunting, see 214 Moose Hunter Survey.