Wisconsin Bowhunter Wildlife Survey 2005 by Jessica Kitchell

Wisconsin Bowhunter Wildlife Survey 2005 By Jessica Kitchell

Abstract

The Wisconsin Department of Natural Resources (WDNR) in conjunction with the Wisconsin Trappers Association (WTA) and the Wisconsin Bowhunters Association (WBA) surveyed members of the WBA to help track mammalian and avian wildlife populations.

Methods

A survey was included in the 1997-2005 fall issues of The Bowhunter (official publication of the WBA) for bowhunters to remove and record the animals seen during their hunting trips. At the completion of the 2005 archery season, hunters were asked to return the completed survey to the WDNR, by tri-folding the survey with the postage paid side visible, and dropping it in the mailbox. No return postage was necessary.

Results

Wisconsin bowhunters sent back 97 Bowhunter Wildlife surveys after the completion of the 2005 archery season. This was lower than in 2004 when 102 hunters returned surveys. These 97 bowhunters averaged 20.5 trips into the field during the archery season. The average total hours hunted during the season was 65.6. The average time spent hunting during a single day was 3.2 hours. This is in comparison to the 2004 season where hunters averaged 21.7 trips, 72.5 hours hunted during the season, and 3.4 hours per day. During both years, most trips were taken in the month of October, followed by November, September, December, and January.

Not surprisingly, the animal most frequently sighted while hunting was deer (Table 1). Hunters reported sighting an average of 42.9 deer per season and 2.1 deer per trip. This is in comparison to the 2004 season where hunters averaged seeing 47.8 deer per season and 2.2 deer per trip. Although the survey does not ask questions about harvest, it is possible that a change in hunter effort due to harvest success could cause a change in survey response from year to year.

The next most frequently sighted animal was wild turkey. Archers averaged seeing 1.2 turkeys per trip; compared to 1.3 per trip in 2004. Ruffed grouse and raccoon followed turkeys as some of the more frequently seen wildlife. The least frequently sighted animals were the American marten, badger, otter, bobcat, skunk, fisher, and porcupine.

Hunters were also asked to report animals they saw that were not listed on the survey form. Some of the more unusual reports were sightings of snowshoe hare, falcon, eagle, merlin, flying squirrel, and snow geese. Some of the most frequently reported species were squirrel, pheasant, owl, opossum, and cottontail rabbit. The data collected from this survey will be used by the WDNR in estimating distribution and abundance of Wisconsin's wildlife. Table 1. Total number of animals seen during the 2005 archery season by deer management region (number seen per 1,000 hours hunted).

Region Species Central Eastern Northern Southern Western Statewide Forest Farmland Forest Farmland Farmland American Marten ------Badger -- -- 1(0.8) -- -- 1 (0.2) Black Bear -- 1 (0.6) 33 (25.7) -- -- 34 (5.3) Bobcat -- -- 4 (3.1) -- -- 4 (0.6) Coyote 2 (6.6) 12 (7.6) 14 (10.9) 45 (17.5) 1 (1.8) 74 (11.6) Fisher -- -- 12 (9.4) -- 3 (5.4) 15 (2.4) Fox (Red & Gray) -- 6 (3.9) 4 (3.7) 66 (25.7) 4 (8.4) 821 (12.9) Gray Wolf 7 (23.1) 2 (1.3) 7 (5.5) -- 6 (10.7) 22 (3.5) House Cat -- 31 (19.7) -- 41 (15.9) 6 (10.7) 78 (12.3) Porcupine 5 (16.5) 3 (1.9) 11 (8.6) -- -- 19 (3.0) Raccoon 2 (6.6) 26 (16.5) 8 (6.2) 144 (55.9) 2 (3.6) 182 (28.6) River Otter -- -- 1 (0.8) -- -- 1 (0.2) Ruffed Grouse 11 (36.3) 23 (14.6) 132 (103.0) 12 (4.7) 15 (26.8) 193 (30.3) Skunk -- -- 2 (1.6) 3 (1.2) 4 (7.2) 9 (1.4) White-tailed Deer 146 (0.5)2 1,226 (0.8)2 624 (0.5)2 1,608 (0.6)2 526 (0.9)2 4,1573 (0.7)2 Wild Turkey 189 (624.2) 835 (531.0) 155 (120.9) 1,089 (422.9) 159 (284.3) 2,4304 (381.7) 1 2 sightings from unknown region. 2 Expressed as deer seen per hour. 3 27 sightings from unknown region. 4 3 sightings from unknown region.

1M 3 1 2 7

4 6 28 9 34 8 35 13 14 29A 29B 11 12 36 10 39 40 Northern Forest 50 17 31 15 20 30 37 38 19 18 41 16 45 25 22 81 52 44 24 32 21 23 42 43 49B 49A 51A 26 82 22A 23A 52A 80C 80A 33 60M 60B Western 46 48 51B 27 57D Farmland 47 59B 59A 58 57 60A Eastern Farmland 57A 62B 63B 57B 62A 80B

63A 64M 57C 61 59C 55 Central 65A 65B Forest 64 56 53 66 61B 61A MCC W

59D 54A 72 67B 67A 59M 54B 68A 72A 54C 69 54B- 70E- 74A CWD CWD 68B 69C 71- Southern Farmland 70B- 70G- CWD 70- CWD CWD CWD 74B 76- 77D CWD 77M 70A- 76A- 77C 73E- CWD 76M- CWD CWD 73D CWD 73A 70C-CWD 75C- 77C- 73B- CWD CWD CWD 73B 75B-CWD 77B- 75D- 77A- 75A- CWD CWD CWD CWD

Figure 1. Wisconsin deer management regions.