Hunter Welcome & Introduction

Thank you for your interest and participation in the Quality Deer Management Program at West Branch Forest. The 2010-2011 Deer Season is upon us and DMAP coupons are still available. Similar to years past, DMAP coupons are allocated to interested hunters on a first come, first served basis. If you're interested in obtaining an antlerless coupon(s) or would like general hunting information for The Nature Conservancy's West Branch property please email meckley@tnc.org or call 570-220-6097.

HARVEST GOAL: 25 Deer (20 Does : 5 Bucks)

Similar to last year, our objective for 2010 is to harvest 25 deer across the entire property (4.75 square miles), with hopes of removing 20 antlerless deer and 5 bucks. We realize that this harvest rate will not adequately reduce the overwintering deer densities to a scientifically desirable level, however we believe it is a step in the right direction, especially if we can maintain or even slowly increase this harvest rate over the next decade. As a result, it is anticipated that habitat conditions will greatly improve. If we can consistently harvest an adequate number of deer each year to reduce deer browse impacts, TNC will continue to implement a wide array of planned forestry operations and activities to stimulate the development and advancement of a new forest. Similar to the Quality Deer Management Association, our values are to bring existing white-tailed deer populations into balance with their habitat and promote quality over quantity until the habitat can support higher deer densities.

2009 Harvest Summary: 16 Deer (8 Does : 8 Bucks)

2008 Harvest Summary: 18 Deer (12 Does : 6 Bucks)

The Nature Conservancy would like to thank all participating DMAP hunters who spend time afield at West Branch in pursuit of white-tailed deer. Local hunters play a key role in helping us to balance our forest and wildlife management objectives.

Good luck this 2010 hunting season - hunt hard and hunt safe!


Tuesday, June 22, 2010

Early Muzzleloader Season Provides Opportunity for New Traditions


More and more hunters are learning that part of the ticket to being successful is staying mobile and adapative. It's one thing to maintain a tradition and hunt the same old hunting spots from one year to the next but many people, particularly those who hunt poor quality habitat that cannot support even a modest deer herd in its current condition are starting to look to hunt elsewhere. This may be evident by the number of nearby hunting camps (e.g., Right Hand Sugar Camp and Twin Pine) who are relatively unknown to me, as I assume they use the camp occassionally for social gatherings, but are hunting elsewhere. Whatever the case maybe, I occassionally receive calls from distant hunting clubs who are in a similar situation and are interested in giving West Branch a shot. The Ten High Nation gang is one of those groups. This band of brothers (State Troopers)have a camp in the South block of the Sproul State Forest and for the second consecutive year they have traveled across the river to spend a day at West Branch in pursuit of Queens. Although no shots were fired, the cameraderia of this group and their love for spending time with one another in the field outweighed the need to put venison in the freezer. The Conservancy embraces such traditions and supports the legacy.
Posted by at

No comments:

Post a Comment

Subscribe to: Post Comments (Atom)