Deer numbers dwindle

Hey there, time traveller!
This article was published 17/11/2011 (5314 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

Deer season is underway across the province, but the outlook is not good as deer numbers appear to be declining.

“Deer populations in southwest Manitoba appear to be down this year,” said Dan Chranowski, a wildlife manager in Brandon. “The severe winter of 2010-11 may have caused a deer die-off in the spring of 2011 and coyote predation may be keeping deer populations from recovering.”

This is the general consensus in many regions of the province. In Beausejour, Natural Resource Officer Murray Zielke said, “We’re not seeing the deer like usual.”

In southcentral Manitoba, deer numbers are down in the flat open areas, but they are more abundant in the more heavily treed areas including Pembina Valley.

“Pembina Valley is pretty good for deer in certain spots, but as you get out of the valley and out into the prairie there seems to be less. In the bush country or valley it’s still pretty good.”

“I am seeing far less deer in my travels,” said Corey Meadows, a natural resource officer at Boissevain. “Numbers appear down. Success was low for muzzle hunters. Most hunters I spoke to have stated they are seeing far less deer.”

The 2011 general rifle deer season got underway on Nov. 14 and continues until Dec. 4 in most regions. Hunters who are heading out will face relatively few changes to the hunting rules and regulations this season.

One change is an extended season in GHA 26 and 36, located in eastern Manitoba. Another is an expanded area for hunting gray wolves (timber wolves). Hunters with a deer licence can also hunt wolves and coyotes.

“A resident may hunt gray wolves and coyotes during the wolf and coyote season if they possess any big game hunting licence for the current licence year,” according to the Manitoba Hunting Guide. Additional details are available in the brochure.

Sunday hunting is in effect again this year. Some landowners remain opposed to Sunday hunting because they enjoyed the one quiet day each week. Urban hunters, on the other hand, are pleased to have the extra hunting time available.

Hunting is allowed on most leased Crown land in the province. The exception to this rule is intensively used areas that are marked with approved signs.

“Permission is not required to hunt on leased provincial Crown land, which is not posted in this manner,” according to the Manitoba Hunting Guide.

“All hunters are urged to hunt safely and respect private land,” urges Chranowski. “If hunting in areas near the Saskatchewan border (north of the Trans-Canada) and around Riding Mountain National Park, it is mandatory for them to provide deer and elk samples to Manitoba Conservation for wildlife disease testing.” (See the hunting brochure for details.)

With deer numbers showing signs of decline, Chranowski encourages hunters to use voluntary restraint in deer harvest this hunting season.

Bill Stilwell is a Neepawa based writer and author. He is the author of the new national bestseller “Manitoba Wild”. He can be reached by email at: manitobawild@mts.net or visit his website at: www.manitobawild.com