(37) Kinzua Quality Deer Cooperative: An Outreach Partnership with the Sand County Foundation

David S. deCalesta, Wildlife Analysis PC, Hammondsport, NY
Kevin McAleese, Sand County Foundation, Madison WI

Session:  Concurrent session B5:  Wildlife & Fisheries

Deer have increased in the eastern states since the 1920’s, as has damage to forest regeneration, wildlife habitat, and the ecosystem.  The solution, is a deer herd in balance with the habitat. However, deer management in Pennsylvania has long been and still is a very controversial subject.  The Sand County Foundation and its Pennsylvania partners have developed an adaptive management approach (Quality Hunting Ecology) to reduce the ecological impact of deer.  This approach is being applied on the Kinzua Quality Deer Cooperative, 73,250 acres of contiguous hardwood forest in north central Pennsylvania.  A leadership team of foresters, biologists, researchers, hunters, and local community leaders developed a program to promote hunting to reduce deer impact while increasing deer and habitat quality.  Extension and Outreach program thrusts included: 1) education on deer quality, biology, and impacts; 2) increased hunter awareness of the QHE program; 3) incentives for harvesting does; and 4) monitoring deer density, pre-hunt herd composition and quality, hunter success and satisfaction, and impact of deer. After seven years of the 10 year project dramatic changes have occurred on the KQDC. Previously, the overwinter deer population traditionally had been 40% higher than recommended by the state game commission; the pre-hunt herd was heavily weighted to does with few bucks and a low fawn:doe ratio; and deer impact on the ecosystem was high. Now, all this has shifted to more balanced ecosystem measures. Based on annual deer herd and habitat monitoring with trained volunteers, the team has been adapting its strategy to reduce deer impact and improve deer and habitat quality through education and awareness. Success of the KQDC program is demonstrated by the influx of many Northeastern states forest and wildlife agencies and organizations receiving training on management strategies developed and implemented on the KQDC.

Timothy G. Pierson
Penn State Cooperative Extension
P. O. Box 1504
17129 Route 6
Smethport, PA, 16749-0504
Phone: 814-887-5613, 814-887-5645
tgp2@psu.edu

David S. deCalesta
Wildlife Analysis PC
P.O Box 621
Hammondsport, NY, 14840
Phone: (607)292-6078
wildana@earthlink.net

Kevin McAleese
Sand County Foundation
P.O. Box 6587
5999 Monona Drive
Madison WI 53716
Phone: 608-663-4605, 608-663-4617 (fax)
kmcaleese@sandcounty.net