The
Deer Project
The Wildlife Society deer project has been in existence at the
Each year Wildlife Society members set traps in the Schmeeckle
reserve located just north of the
How Does the SAK Work?
Information from harvest registration and aging, along with other data, is used in a mathematical population model called the Sex-Age-Kill (SAK) formula. Population estimates for deer management units in the state are calculated using the SAK formula. Information on the age composition of the buck harvest and the number of hunters in the field on opening weekend are used to estimate the percentage of adult bucks killed during the legal hunt. The SAK formula combines this estimate with information on the size of the buck harvest to estimate the size of the pre-hunt adult buck population. The adult buck population is then expanded to the entire population using estimates of the number of does per buck and the number of fawns per doe in the pre-hunt population. The ratios come directly from data obtained in the collection of summer deer observations. The over-winter deer population for each deer management unit is determined by subtracting the harvest from the pre-hunt population estimate.
Fall Buck population = (Registered buck kill) / (Buck Harvest/Mortality Rate)
Fall Doe population = (Fall Buck Pop)*(Doe: Buck Ratio)
Fall Fawn population = (Fall Doe Pop)*(Fawn: Doe Ratio)
The SAK Audit
Arguments over the accuracy and precision of the population estimates have persisted for decades. The controversy caused the Conservation Congress to recommend to the WI DNR that an audit of the SAK population model be done. In the winter of 2006 an audit of the SAK population model was released. The SAK audit pointed out known problems with the population model and made several recommendations that, if enacted, would increase the precision of the population estimates released to hunters. An exact overview of the techniques and recommendations can be found on the WI DNR website: SAK Review
Importance of Summer Deer Observations
When the review of the SAK was released the UWSP deer project took an immediate interest in some of the recommendations made in the SAK report. This led the Wildlife Society contacting the DNR and offering the University's help in implementing some of those recommendations. It was agreed that the University would look into ways to get more fawn/doe (summer deer) observations and get more stakeholders involved in getting information used in SAK calculations...
Getting more Summer Deer observations is important for several reasons. Being one of the inputs into the SAK population model it, is important to have accurate fawn/doe ratios. Some areas of the state are under sampled, and need more information on deer reproduction. Also, more information tends to lead to more accurate estimates.
To assist the Wisconsin DNR in getting more public involvement and getting more information the University of Wisconsin Stevens Point has created a project that's main goal is to get Wisconsin residents out in the field to help collect Summer Deer observations. By working with the WI DNR, Wisconsin Civil Air Patrol, conservation groups and citizens UWSP was able to come up with a system where Wisconsin residents can collect summer deer observations and then submit those observations to the UWSP deer project. These data will be analyzed by UWSP students and the final results will be compiled into an independent index for review and possible uses in SAK calculations
Getting Involved
In order to collect good data all participants must do things in
such a way that the data is of good quality and collected in the same way. In
order to do this UWSP has worked with the DNR to create a form that you are
able to print off and fill out in the field. The cooperation between the
University and the DNR insures your data will be seriously considered. At the
same time this is an UWSP wildlife society project and is therefore independent
of any affiliation with the WI DNR. Please follow the survey protocol listed on
the form closely. Once you have followed
the protocol listed and collected your data, come back to this website and
enter your data where it will be submitted to UWSP and analyzed...
Submit Summer Deer Observations (BETA Web Application)
Print off Summer Deer Observation Spreadsheet
Download Form (to submit via Email attachment)
Why Your Help Matters
Being a WI deer hunter I have a deep understanding of the issues
hunters care about. The goal of this project is to test the viability of using
WEB based surveys, get the public more involved in the deer population
estimates, and to possibly help supplement the DNR’s current Summer Deer
Observation survey. By going out and collecting data on fawn: doe ratios you
are becoming involved in the process.
This is YOUR chance to get more involved in the
process. This isn't a DNR held hearing where you can make suggestions; this is
your chance to report what you are seeing on the landscape. By participating in
the summer deer observation survey you may be helping to make the population
estimates where YOU hunt more accurate. You may also be helping the DNR
by allowing them to have enough data to do their job with a high degree of
confidence and accuracy
I would like to personally thank you for taking your time to
make hunting in this already great state even better. I look forward toward
getting your observations for this fall.
Sincerely,
Adam Murkowski
Wildlife Society
Deer Project Leader
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