Game Management

Settlers to the USThought that conservation

was not necessaryThought primarily of their

own survival

Settlers to the USSoon found that

Americans would begin to initiate programs to manage wild life

Aldo LeopoldEarly authority on game

management“art of making land produce

sustained annual crops of wild game for recreational use”

Game ManagementScience and art of

changing characteristics and interactions of habitats, wild animals, and humans to achieve wildlife population goals

HabitatFoodWaterCover TerritoryHome range

FoodWildlife are often

classified by the type of food they eat

Herbivores – plant eatersCarnivores – meat eaters

FoodInsectivores – insect eatersFrugivores – fruit eatersOmnivores – eat many types

of foods, usually meat and plants

FoodSpermivores – seed

eatersAlso classified by the

amount of food that they eat

FoodEuryphagous – animal that

consumes great varieties of food

Since its choice of food is varied, chance of survival is great

EuryphagousOpossum eats fruits,

berries, corn, worms, frogs, snakes and even mice

StenophagousEats a specialized dietUsually has less chance to

adapt to new food sources it its traditional food supply is not available

StenophagousMore likely to starve in a

food scarce season

CoverIn order for wildlife to

survive harsh weather conditions they must find cover – a place that will protect them

CoverProtection from predatorsRanges from a thicket or a

fencerow to water in the case of beavers and muskrats

WaterOne of the most important

requirements of wildlifeBodies of most game

animals are 60-80% water

WaterImportant in blood

composition, temperature regulation and nutrient transport

WaterWithout an abundant

supply of fresh water an area will soon become desolate of wild game

Home RangeArea over which the game

travels is called its home range

Area may be as small as an acre or as large as a township

TerritoryArea that an animal will

defend, often to the deathAnimal’s home ranges

may over lap but territory never will

TerritoryOnly exception to territory

overlap is during mating season

Management proceduresMost common methods

include:Game refugesHabitat development and

improvement

Common methodsCoordination with other

resourcesHunting regulationsPredator controlArtificial stocking

Game RefugesSet aside land for the

protection of wildlife species

Refuges, reserves and wilderness areas

Game RefugesProvide the basics for

survival without the threat of hunters

Early refuges were for private use

Game RefugesFirst state reserve was

established in 1870 in California

Game RefugesAreas for nesting birds,

migratory waterfowl, pelicans, and large game animals have been established since 1870

Game RefugesNot the answer to all

wildlife problemsOnly protect wildlife from

hunters, not their natural enemies

Game RefugesDo not protect the animals

once they leave their boundaries

Only part of total game management plan

Habitat development To increase game

populations, habitat must be developed and improved

Common methodsFencerow plantings

Fencerow PlantingsProvide food and shelter

for wildlifeFarmers provide area at

the end of rows for wildlife habitat

Woodland ManagementNot allowing livestock to

graze in woodlands increases game carrying capacity

Coordination w/other resourcesKeep in mind that all

resources work together

Hunting RegulationsGame was abundant to early

colonists1646 Rhode Island became

first state to establish a closed season on game

Hunting RegulationsLaw was specific for white

tailed deer, it led the way for other states to follow suit

First bag limit was initiated in 1878 by the state of Iowa

Hunting RegulationsAmerican Bison were

plentiful on the plainsProvided food, clothing

and shelter to the plains Indians

BisonWhen the railroad was

being constructed through the west, thousands of bison were slaughtered to feed the workers

BisonMany more were killed as

easterners came to the west and killed bison for their tongues – a delicacy in the East or their hides

BisonThe entire carcass was not

utilized, the remains were left to rot

Legislation by Congress tried to head off extinction……

BisonThe bill was vetoed by

President GrantLaws passed later, but

Bison were almost extinct

Hunting RegulationsHunting is controlled on

both public and private lands

Game populations depend on many factors

Hunting RegulationsReproduction rates,

climate, disease, habitat, and predators

Hunting RegulationsBag limits, hunting

seasons and closed seasons for a given game species must be changed each year in accordance with the population

Predator ControlMedium sized and large

predators can be dangerous to people

Predators can be a threat to domestic livestock and wild game

Predator ControlPredators help to maintain

an improved game population by killing weak or diseased animals

Artificial StockingIntroduction of exotics –

species new to the areaUsually done to supply

predators for a problem game animal

Artificial StockingThe rabbit – once

introduced in Australia soon became a major pest

Artificial StockingExamine the desired

population density or an area

Estimate the carrying capacity

Population DensityNumber of game animals

in a defined areaCan easily become a

problem of over population of a game species

Carrying CapacityAmount of game for which

a given area will provide the essentials for life

Population DensityMismanagement can lead

to starvation , unhealthy animals and possible disease problems due to weak animals with poor resistance

ManagementLand owners can attract

more wildlife to their property by improving habitat

Digging a pond

ManagementProvide abundant food

supplyAssistance available from:

US Forest Service, USDA, DNR, Soil conservation Service

LegislationLacey Act 1900 – first

major law affecting wildlifeMigratory Bird Act – 1929

Provided refuges for migratory birds

LegislationMigratory Bird Hunting Stamp

– 1934 means of raising funds for migratory refuges.

Pittman-Robertson Program and Dingell-Johnson Act – 1950

Pittman etcAllow excise tax on guns,

ammo, and fishing tackle. States match funds collected and allocate the total to their fish and game departments

LegislationLea Act of 1948 – federal

land for waterfowl feedingEndangered Species Act

– 1966 – protecting rare and endangered species