8942997 total results

Reports on the results of the 1984-1985 Bobcat Survey. Pressure by concerned organizations and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has caused the Fish and Wildlife Service to compile comprehensive data on some furbearers. This documentation is necessary to verify the stability of populations and to justify continued harvesting and exportation of pelts.

A brief note discussing the possibility and likelihood of transmission of trypanosoma cervi by birth in white-tailed deer.

The ninth and tenth controlled elk hunts in Michigan were held October 17-22 and December 5-12, 1989, respectively. The early season, held for a second consecutive year, was a special 6-day hunt designed to harvest elk not available in December and in areas of agricultural conflict. During the October hunt, sixty-six of the 80 elk hunters were successful for an 83% success rate. The legal harvest included 30 bulls, 27 cows and 9 calves. During the December hunt, all but I of the 110 licensees actually hunted during the regular elk season. Of these 109 hunters, 103 were able to bag a legal elk for a 94% success rate. The legal harvest included 35 bulls, 62 cows and 6 calves.

Report of a survey completed to determine the number of otter harvest tag holders that set traps for otter and beaver, the number of animals caught, the types of traps used, and the number of days they trapped.

Results of survey to determine the number of otter harvest tag holders that set traps for otter and beaver, the number of animals caught, the types of traps used, and the number of days trapped.

Necropsies of female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) that died from highway and other accidents between 13 March and 1 June were conducted in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (Region I) and northern Lower Peninsula (Region II) by Department of Natural Resources personnel. Fetal counts were made and the deer were aged to the nearest full year. Productivity rates in 1986 decreased substantially for Region I two-year-olds and adults and for Region II one-year-olds and two-year-olds. Most of the decrease in Region I was due to lower pregnancy rates for two-year-olds and adults in District 2.

This is a notice of a correction for Wildlife Division Report No. 3025.

Furtakers were surveyed following the 2002 hunting and trapping seasons to determine the number of participants, days afield, and furbearer harvests. In 2002, about 12,000 furtakers pursued furbearers, approximately the same as in 2001. The species most frequently pursued by trappers were raccoons, muskrats, coyotes, and opossum. Hunters most commonly sought coyotes and raccoons. Harvest levels of most furbearers in 2002 were within historical ranges except for coyote. A record high number of coyotes was taken by trappers in 2002. Trends in harvest are affected by both changes in furtaker and furbearer numbers; thus, harvest per furtaker was also examined for trends. The mean number of raccoon and opossum taken per furtaker has increased since the 1980s. The mean harvest of coyotes per hunter has increased since the mid-1980s, while the mean harvest of red fox by both hunters and trappers has declined during this same period. These trends suggest that raccoon, opossum, and coyote may have been increasing in abundance during the last 20 years, while red fox numbers may have been declining.

Report of survey of a sample of furtakers contacted after the 2009 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests.

Moose (Alces alces) and woodland caribou (Rangier tarandus) once were common throughout most of Michigan, although probably not present in great abundance. Moose numbers declined steadily with advancing civilization, in which heavy hunting pressure, drastic habitat changes (logging, fire), and predation by wolves (Canis lupus) took its toll. Between the winters of 1934-35 and 1936-37, a total of 71 moose (33 males. 38 females) were captured and transported from Isle Royale. Of these, 18 were released in the Keweenaw Peninsula, 17 in the Escanaba River Tract (Marquette County), and 34 in the Cusino Game Refuge (Schoolcraft County). Two moose were given to the Detroit Zoological Park. Six moose were kept at the recently-established Cusino Wildlife Experiment Station, in the then State Game Refuge, for special study. The past and present mortality rate of U.P. moose is unknown, but probably runs excessively high based on documented accounts of such instances. Perhaps the main loss is due to poaching, although few violators have been apprehended and/or convicted. Some moose have been shot by "mistake" by deer hunters, perhaps more were wanton killings, cases of self-defense against crazed bulls in rut or angry cows with calf, while others consisted of car kills, natural accidents, etc. etc. Success or failure of a major moose restocking program in the long term no doubt will hinge on a relatively handful of people who will see this magnificent beast as a tempting target. An informed, aroused public and intensive law enforcement effort might turn the tide in this regard. Despite the "wilderness" aura of the U.P., it may prove difficult for moose to find the solitude and living space needed to reproduce and rear their young without human harassment.

Necropsies of female white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) that died from highway and other accidents between 11 March and 1 June were conducted in Michigan's Upper Peninsula (Region I) and northern lower Peninsula (Region 11) by Department of Natural Resources personnel. Fetal counts were made and the deer were aged to the nearest full year. Productivity rates in 1985 increased substantially for Region I two-year-olds and for Region II one-year-olds and two-year-olds. Generally, the marrow fat levels suggest that the deer in Regions I and II came through the winter of 1984-85 in good physical condition, although some one-year-olds were severely stressed in certain areas.

Report of a survey completed to estimate the number of people hunting small game, their days afield, and harvest during the 2009-2010 Michigan hunting seasons. The survey also was used to investigate hunter satisfaction, compliance with the Harvest Information Program (HIP), and to investigate issues related to waterfowl hunter recruitment and retention.

Report of survey of a sample of furtakers contacted after the 2008 hunting and trapping seasons to estimate the number of participants, days afield (effort), and furbearer harvests.

During the spring of 1995, the deer pellet group survey was conducted in Region I (Upper Peninsula) and Districts 5,6, and 7 of the northern Lower Peninsula. The average overwinter population (unadjusted) in Region I was estimated to be 739,594, while, Districts 5, 6, and 7 of Region II was 532,108 during the 1994-95 winter. After legal kill and overwinter losses were considered, the spring deer population prior to fawning was estimated at 713,566 animals in Region I, and 503,685 in Districts 5, 6, and 7 of Region II.

Report on the data collected through necropsies of female white-tailed deer that died from various causes between 15 March and 1 June, 1979.

In 1989, white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) were legal game during several hunting seasons. The Bonus Deer permit replaced the Hunter's Choice license in 1989. Successful permittees were issued one license for a bonus antlerless-only deer. For the first time, permits not used during the firearm or muzzleloading seasons were valid for use by bowhunters during the December 1 - January 1 archery deer season. A second major change in deer hunting regulations in 1989 was the experimental sale of blocks of antlerless-only permits in crop depredation areas. Properly licensed hunters could legally take 12 deer in Michigan during the 1989 seasons; two with a firearm, one with a bonus antlerless-only deer permit, two with a bow and arrow, three deer on North Manitou Island, and four deer from South Fox Island. This total does not include the unlimited number of deer a hunter could take with Crop Damage Block permits. More deer were taken by hunters in 1989 than in any year during the history of Michigan deer hunting. For all seasons combined, hunters harvested an estimated 452,490 deer. Record harvests were set in all three seasons. Statewide, the number of regular season hunters increased three percent from the previous year to 725,520, but remained below the record set in 1981. However, firearm hunters took a record number of deer (331,580), including a record number of antlered bucks (194,820). A record number of archery deer hunters (287,090) took to the field in 1989. Their harvest (96,700), up 34 percent from 1988, was also a new record. In 1989, the number of muzzleloader hunters (118,860) increased 15 percent from the previous season, while the harvest increased 16 percent (20,250); both were new records. In 1989, a total 318,413 Bonus Deer permits were issued to 384,400 applicants for the taking of limited numbers of antlerless deer. The result was a new all-time high antlerless deer harvest (149,039).

Extensive logging in the 1800's and subsequent fires plus heavy trapping through the 1920's led to the extirpation of the fisher (Martes pennanti) from its former range in the Upper Peninsula (U.P.). Fisher were reintroduced in the 1960's on the U.P.'s Ottawa National Forest. Fisher have become sufficiently abundant in Baraga, Gogebic, Houghton, Iron, Marquette. and Ontonagon counties to allow the Department of Natural Resources to permit a limited harvest. This was the third consecutive year with a legal trapping season for this species and resulted in a harvest of 67 fisher. In addition, six fisher were killed by vehicles, and eleven were accidentally trapped. Younger age classes were more susceptible to trapping with 41 of the 50 (82%) animals aged being 1.5 years old or younger. The collected animals exhibited a sex ratio of 194:100 (33:17) males to females.

A survey was completed to determine the number of people hunting and trapping bobcats in Michigan, the number of days spent afield (effort), and the number of bobcats registered. In 2006, 4,357 people obtained a bobcat harvest tag valid for the hunting and trapping seasons. About 64% (2,772) of these tag-holders attempted to hunt or trap bobcats, and 28% of these furtakers registered at least one bobcat. An estimated 1,903 people attempted to hunt bobcats and spent 19,188 days hunting and registered 386 bobcats. Nearly 1,103 people attempted to trap bobcats and spent nearly 32,285 days trapping and registered 560 bobcats.

The Upper Peninsula (UP) of Michigan supports numerous furbearer species, and the Department of Natural Resources is charged with managing the "Endangered" but rapidly recovering gray wolf (Canis lupus), the reintroduced fisher (Martes pennanti) and marten (M. americana), the Federally regulated bobcat (Lynx rufus) and river otter (Lutra canadensis), and a number of other furbearers of varying status. Reliable and efficient methods to census these furbearers currently do not exist. In addition to this, unusually mild winter weather, attributable to the EI Nino climatological phenomenon, minimized survey opportunities during February and March. Thirteen of the 20 routes assigned were surveyed, and 10 of the 13 routes attempted were completed. The Western UP Management Unit completed all or most of 11 of 12 routes assigned. The Research Section completed two routes in the central UP, and the Eastern UP Management Unit completed 0 of 6 routes assigned. Therefore, the results of this survey in 1998 were derived only from the western two-thirds of the UP. Data acquired indicates that coyote (Canis latrans) and wolf abundance may have increased between years in the areas surveyed. Fisher, fox, hare/rabbit (Lepus americanus and Sylvilagus floridanus), and grouse abundance may have decreased, while marten and bobcat numbers showed little change.

The Wildlife Division has been collecting and tabulating measurements from hunter harvested deer (Odocoileus virginianus) for over 50 years, including data on antler beam diameters and the number of antler points in yearling bucks. These measurements are believed to reflect, in part, the physical condition of the deer herd. This report contains summaries of the deer physical data collected during 2002 and is intended to encourage comparison with similar data from past years. In 2002, records on over 45,000 deer were submitted. Note: These data are not the result of a random sampling procedure.

Pressure by concerned organizations and the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) has caused the Fish and Wildlife Service to compile comprehensive data on some furbearers. This documentation is necessary to verify the stability of populations and to justify continued harvesting and exportation of pelts. Compliance with the mandatory skull submission was 56% (172 of 307) of bobcats registered. The combined totals for the two Regions exhibit a distribution in the age classes and sex ratios consistent with past year's data for either Region. As expected, the 0-1 and 1-2 year-old age classes made up a high percentage (62%) of the total animals examined.