2009 - 321 deer harvested
2010 - 258 deer harvested
2011 - 243 deer harvested
2012 - 221 deer harvested
2013 - 141 deer harvested
2014 - 63 deer harvested to date
From 2009 to 2014 we see the deer population and harvest rate go down by approximately 80%. The Redding town deer reduction program which targeted does is now down 90%. This can be attributed to the baiting and the unlimited doe replacement tag program initiated by the CT DEEP. At this rate the State of Connecticut is allowing the destruction of white tail deer in Redding, CT in a move against the conservation principles they once protected. It is only a matter of time before the area is a bone yard if we are not already there. The State and town have changed the subject. They are no longer taking about ticks as reported cases of Lyme increased by 62.5% + over the last 4 years in Redding despite the significantly decreasing deer population.
When will the CT DEEP step in and put a stop to the over kill of deer. Will they wait until all the deer have been destroyed ?
The CAES and CT DEEP Wildlife Management will again insist that there are 42 + deer per square mile in order to justify White Buffalos taking of another 25 deer outside their designated 1 mile test sites next year at $1,300 per deer; deer we can`t afford to loose.
The CT DEEP is leaving sportsmen and the public of CT in the dark about how many deer were harvested this year....2014. They will tell us what they want us to believe late in 2015. When do the sportsman of Connecticut step up and say to the CT DEEP..........Stop!
STEVE
...and the state will call WB poachers to do the job hunters are failing to do. State will not look at it the same way we do. For them, a drop in the harvest numbers means we are not getting it done. For us, we know its the deer numbers are way down.
Damn if you do, damn if you don't.
X2 - as a group, hunters in CT(both gun & bow) will never be able to police themselves to the point that everyone is on board, so until regulations change it will never happen. No one cares or will ever care about the sportsman in Fairfield County. This is not the midwest where hunting is a way of life and has economic value to communities. Talk all you want about conservation, passing up deer, tagging system, etc. its just not going to change, that is reality.
For example, in PA, prior to antler restrictions in 2001, the PGC asked all hunters to consider passing on young bucks with less than 3 points per side so that these bucks were allowed to make it at least another year. It never worked, the hunters that did it were such a minority it didnt matter. Until they finally adopted antler restrictions into law is when things finally changed for the better.
Is 2012 the year they started WB or doing some other similar thing? Had it kept going down by 10-25 per year, then ok, but that's almost a 100 deer drop there which is weird.
That said, it's funny that when it's all said and done, the town of redding may yeild more deer this year than Z6 here in MA - which includes many towns! Not saying I'd want the numbers that low... just saying it's good you all are thinking about it and can potentially use it create change before you have towns with 20 deer per year killed - in a good year!
If you look at the deer kill numbers per year posted, they are far and above almost every town, 2x, 3x or 4x as much in some cases. They are unsustainable. Hunting Zone 3 & 4 with 10-12 deer/per mile is what we northerners have been used to since day 1. It gets discouraging at times, but that's hunting.
I know that in some areas of state land that I hunt I have noticed an slight increase over the past couple of years, but way too small to say it's because I let certain deer walk. I've also seen less hunters in those areas, so that also contributes.
Also keep in mind that we had heavy snowfall 2 and 3 years ago that stayed with us for several months with the cold temps, so mortality was probably up due to the weather.
It seems like the state is doing little to nothing to improve habitat in state forests. Seems it should be an easy fix for the state to designate areas for tree cutting and sell permits to private individuals to cut and take the trees for either private or commercial use.
Forests with nothing but mature growth isn't helping the deer any or a lot of other game species. We need some successional habitat to go along with the mature forests.
The numbers Airrow quoted for Redding are for Hunting which is, as he said, defined as the take by: Archery + Shotgun/Rifle, + Landowners + Muzzleloaders.
Below is the info from Redding and the url to the "CT Deer Program Summary" put out by the DEP/DEEP. (see for yourself, or look up your town).
I have also included the "Total" take (which adds in Cropkill, Roadkill and 'other'). and expanded the numbers backwards to 2005 (I couldn't find earlier summaries).
By hunters: = Archery + Shotgun/Rifle + Landowner + Muzzleloader Total: (= Hunting + Cropkill, + Roadkill and + "Other")
2005: http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/wildlife/pdf_files/game/deersum05.pdf
229 by hunting. 295 Total.
2006: http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/wildlife/pdf_files/game/deersum06.pdf
261 by hunting. 315 Total.
2007: http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/wildlife/pdf_files/game/deersum07.pdf
236 by hunting. 281 Total.
2008: http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/wildlife/pdf_files/game/deersum08.pdf
278 by hunting. 333 Total.
2009: http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/wildlife/pdf_files/game/deersum09.pdf
321 by hunting. 343 Total.
2010: http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/wildlife/pdf_files/game/deersum10.pdf
258 by hunting. 301 Total.
2011: http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/wildlife/pdf_files/game/deersum2011.pdf
243 by hunting. 274 Total.
2012: http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/wildlife/pdf_files/game/deersum2012.pdf
221 by hunting. 241 Total.
2013: http://www.ct.gov/deep/lib/deep/wildlife/pdf_files/game/deersum2013.pdf
141 by hunting. 156 Total.
WB for Ticks??
That being said, it is the responsibility of the CT DEEP to monitor the health of the deer herd and to make the necessary adjustments to ensure that the health of the CT deer herd is maintained.
In years past the CT DEEP fulfilled that mission by bringing in the Sept archery season, increasing the number of tags and continued that mission when they went to replacement antlerless tags in Zones 11 & 12.
At some point over the past 4-5 years though the CT DEEP has not made the necessary modifications based on the realities of the CT deer herd. Clearly the replacement tag system has outlived it's purpose and should go. Serious consideration should be given to protecting does in areas of the state as has been done for years now in Zone 4A.
I for one would like to see a forum for us to express our views to the CT DEEP, whether that forum be a public or private meeting. The current policy of the CT DEEP towards deer hunting is simply not sustainable.
Personally, I wish one of our ranks, a lawyer preferably, would take WB and the DEEP to task with legal actions. WB breaks the law and written agreements often, and is a danger to the public well being. The DEEP should be managing the herd with hunting and it should be illegal for municipalities to take over from the DEEP and manage things locally with WB. Hunting should be a right, rather than a privilege. Pat for president!!
The effort was expanded and really got rolling in 2006 Here are the numbers: -2006: 100 deer -2007: 126 -2008: 142 -2009: 127 -2010: 104 -2011: 83 -2012: 81
The other Deer Wardens and I resigned after the 2012 Season because the Town signed on with White Buffalo and the "Tick Study" and we no longer felt that the goals of the Deer Wardens and the Town Leaders aligned. New Deer Wardens were brought in, but after one season, they too ... well, I'll let them tell their own story.
Is anyone shocked the numbers in Redding are down....WB just killed 100++++......I would assume the hunter numbers in Redding are down because of this too.....
its more fun when the buck to doe numbers are in line...
Explain the last graph. It doesns't add up.
If hunters killed 261 and wardens 100 how can the total be 315?
FYI, I have been told that the "Deer Warden" number for 2013 was about 18 Deer, so the steep decline continued.
Someone here must have access to those who are keeping track.
Indications are that overall take is down Statewide, and Archery will once again outnumber Firearm take.
"I'll let them tell their own story."
So how many other posters on here are former/employed wardens, hunting town owned properties?
Looks to me that if you eliminate wardens hunting on town owned property, the herd would find refuge, and increase in appearances on private land. How does someone qualify to be a warden? Is warden a state job?
The tick comment is funny. I always wonder a bit, why high deer numbers are presented like the key stone in lyme disease discussions... but when I think of the area I grew up, there are fewer deer than in the last 30 years for sure, and yet there are more and more lyme disease dx's. Just feels like "we" dont know enough about that disease yet to say so confidently it's all about deer numbers.
LMAO
No apologies needed; another perspective is always welcome here, thanks for sharing! Your experience sadly is not unique; the question now becomes how do we conserve the resource and maintain quality hunting opportunities?
Whatever anyone's feelings on baiting, number of tags or extended seasons I think we can get a consensus that we need better recruitment to ensure good hunting opportunities continue.
What we can control in that department is predator numbers; with, of course, some help from the DEEP. In the NW (and probably NE corner as well now) corner it's well past time for the DEEP to recognize we have a growing bear predation problem. Time to grow a set and use management authority; or we could just wait for enough of the hoi polloi to tire of their prized poodles and shitzu's to become appetizers and really raise a stink....
Archery - 2 deer
Shotgun - 1 deer
Muzzleloader - 1 deer
That should be enough for anyone in CT.
DEEP revenue will increase due to RFID licenses sold. No more deer tags as each deer should have an electronic RFID tag which will report back to DEEP with geolocation and hunter RFID. The ticks could be genetically engineered to carry the RFID tags to each deer or WB could be hired to deliver non-lethal shots carrying RFID's. Problem solved and we go back to an 80% increase in car accidents due to deer collision. Everyone should be happy as per US constitution regarding the pursuit of happiness.
Oh, and before I forget we have to convince DEEP to just pick another day, rotating monthly, except Saturdays, to prohibit hunting instead of the current Sunday. I have more deer show up during the daylight on Sunday than any other day. Call me sad and tempted in CT.
I did not go to college. I watch YouTube daily instead. No college loans for me. Education is now truly free for anyone willing to learn. Just steer clear of YouTube spam/junk.
I have the letter ready to be sent to DEEP. Anyone cares to sign it alongside my John Hancock? You can do it!
Too much moringa seed tonight ...
Funny thing is...the tags and license fees from the previous year fully fund this program. So the sportsmen of CT pay to keep this program going with no outside funding. They pay for the birds.
Good luck talking to the DEEP. I have had conversations with Kilpatrick. They don't really go anywhere. But maybe if enough of do it, it will make an impact.
That's messed up if that is the case!
love it!! I think you collaborated with notme on that one.
