How is Alberta DEER population doing?

[Vinny_HC]

I hunt in the Edmonton area (as many here do), but I heard from a few bowhunters that they have not been seeing as many deer over the last 2 years. In the US they have state deer biologists that you can get reports on the status of deer populations for that particulatr state. Does Alberta SRD or AB Fish & Game track this kind of information as to the well being of herds around Alberta?

[scooter]

I hunt in the Edmonton area (as many here do), but I heard from a few bowhunters that they have not been seeing as many deer over the last 2 years. In the US they have state deer biologists that you can get reports on the status of deer populations for that particulatr state. Does Alberta SRD or AB Fish & Game track this kind of information as to the well being of herds around Alberta?
You know, that's a really good question...I'll see what I can find out...

[Mikey]

you ever find this info out Scott

[scooter]

I've hit road blocks all over...can't seem to dig up any information from SRD...

[Vinny_HC]

I got ahold of someone from the SRD in the spruce/stoney WMU areas and he said we have not had a real bad winter since 97 the population is exploding. He said one issue they are facing in the bow-only zone is there is not enough permission for bowhunters to manage the herds since most land it private and also controlled by outfitters, etc.

He said the danger with too much population is that all of the agricultural land can easily support high numbers, but in the winter they are forced to browse in the forested areas. When there are too many deer and limit forest areas, the population can completely crash as it did in a few states in the US years back (such as when NY had no hunting for a while).

He said there are more deer in alberta in these last 10-20 years as there has ever been. We just have to manage the herds properly (and don't shoot too many young bucks if we want them to grow up ;) ).

[walking buffalo]

You can find some of the information you are looking for here. Winter 2009/2010 surveys have not been added yet. Surveys are drastically underfunded, SRD is doing what they can with the funds available. For better management decisions, the Alberta government needs to be pressured into funding Fish & Wildlife managment rather than spending money in programs like RAMP.

http://www.ab-conservation.com/go/default/index.cfm/programs/wildlife/aerial-ungulate-surveys/?keywords=ungulate%20surveys&tag=&searchSectionID=

[Vinny_HC]

http://www.ab-conservation.com/go/default/index.cfm/programs/wildlife/aerial-ungulate-surveys/?keywords=ungulate%20surveys&tag=&searchSectionID=

Good link, thanks. I wish they covered more central region WMU's though!

Goes to show how low the density is per square km in Alberta!

[buckslayer1]

There is no deer in alberta... Right Dale. They shot them all :stop_nono. Really deer numbers are brutal in AB compaired to in the past.:boohoo: