Transcript Game Management

Game Management
Modified by Georgia Agricultural
Education Office
June, 2002
Settlers to the US
Thought that conservation
was not necessary
Thought primarily of their
own survival
Settlers to the US
Soon found that
Americans would begin to
initiate programs to
manage wild life
Aldo Leopold
Early authority on game
management
“art of making land produce
sustained annual crops of
wild game for recreational
use”
Game Management
Science and art of
changing characteristics
and interactions of
habitats, wild animals, and
humans to achieve wildlife
population goals
Habitat
Food
Water
Cover
Territory
Home range
Food
Wildlife are often
classified by the type of
food they eat
Herbivores – plant eaters
Carnivores – meat eaters
Food
Insectivores – insect eaters
Frugivores – fruit eaters
Omnivores – eat many types
of foods, usually meat and
plants
Food
Spermivores – seed
eaters
Also classified by the
amount of food that they
eat
Food
Euryphagous – animal that
consumes great varieties of
food
Since its choice of food is
varied, chance of survival is
great
Euryphagous
Opossum eats fruits,
berries, corn, worms,
frogs, snakes and even
mice
Stenophagous
Eats a specialized diet
Usually has less chance to
adapt to new food sources it
its traditional food supply is
not available
Stenophagous
More likely to starve in a
food scarce season
Cover
In order for wildlife to
survive harsh weather
conditions they must find
cover – a place that will
protect them
Cover
Protection from predators
Ranges from a thicket or a
fencerow to water in the
case of beavers and
muskrats
Water
One of the most important
requirements of wildlife
Bodies of most game
animals are 60-80% water
Water
Important in blood
composition, temperature
regulation and nutrient
transport
Water
Without an abundant
supply of fresh water an
area will soon become
desolate of wild game
Home Range
Area over which the game
travels is called its home
range
Area may be as small as an
acre or as large as a
township
Territory
Area that an animal will
defend, often to the death
Animal’s home ranges
may over lap but territory
never will
Territory
Only exception to territory
overlap is during mating
season
Management
procedures
Most common methods
include:
Game refuges
Habitat development and
improvement
Common methods
Coordination with other
resources
Hunting regulations
Predator control
Artificial stocking
Game Refuges
Set aside land for the
protection of wildlife
species
Refuges, reserves and
wilderness areas
Game Refuges
Provide the basics for
survival without the threat
of hunters
Early refuges were for
private use
Game Refuges
First state reserve was
established in 1870 in
California
Game Refuges
Areas for nesting birds,
migratory waterfowl,
pelicans, and large game
animals have been
established since 1870
Game Refuges
Not the answer to all
wildlife problems
Only protect wildlife from
hunters, not their natural
enemies
Game Refuges
Do 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 methods
Fencerow plantings
Fencerow Plantings
Provide food and shelter
for wildlife
Farmers provide area at
the end of rows for wildlife
habitat
Woodland
Management
Not allowing livestock to
graze in woodlands
increases game carrying
capacity
Coordination
w/other resources
Keep in mind that all
resources work together
Hunting Regulations
Game was abundant to early
colonists
1646 Rhode Island became
first state to establish a
closed season on game
Hunting Regulations
Law 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 Regulations
American Bison were
plentiful on the plains
Provided food, clothing
and shelter to the plains
Indians
Bison
When the railroad was
being constructed through
the west, thousands of
bison were slaughtered to
feed the workers
Bison
Many more were killed as
easterners came to the
west and killed bison for
their tongues – a delicacy
in the East or their hides
Bison
The entire carcass was not
utilized, the remains were left
to rot
Legislation by Congress tried
to head off extinction……
Bison
The bill was vetoed by
President Grant
Laws passed later, but
Bison were almost extinct
Hunting Regulations
Hunting is controlled on
both public and private
lands
Game populations depend
on many factors
Hunting Regulations
Reproduction rates,
climate, disease, habitat,
and predators
Hunting Regulations
Bag limits, hunting
seasons and closed
seasons for a given game
species must be changed
each year in accordance
with the population
Predator Control
Medium sized and large
predators can be dangerous
to people
Predators can be a threat to
domestic livestock and wild
game
Predator Control
Predators help to maintain
an improved game
population by killing weak
or diseased animals
Artificial Stocking
Introduction of exotics –
species new to the area
Usually done to supply
predators for a problem
game animal
Artificial Stocking
The rabbit – once
introduced in Australia
soon became a major pest
Artificial Stocking
Examine the desired
population density or an
area
Estimate the carrying
capacity
Population Density
Number of game animals
in a defined area
Can easily become a
problem of over population
of a game species
Carrying Capacity
Amount of game for which
a given area will provide
the essentials for life
Population Density
Mismanagement can lead
to starvation , unhealthy
animals and possible
disease problems due to
weak animals with poor
resistance
Management
Land owners can attract
more wildlife to their
property by improving
habitat
Digging a pond
Management
Provide abundant food
supply
Assistance available from:
US Forest Service, USDA,
DNR, Soil conservation
Service
Legislation
Lacey Act 1900 – first
major law affecting wildlife
Migratory Bird Act – 1929
Provided refuges for
migratory birds
Legislation
Migratory Bird Hunting
Stamp – 1934 means of
raising funds for migratory
refuges.
Pittman-Robertson Program
and Dingell-Johnson Act –
1950
Pittman etc
Allow excise tax on guns,
ammo, and fishing tackle.
States match funds
collected and allocate the
total to their fish and game
departments
Legislation
Lea Act of 1948 – federal
land for waterfowl feeding
Endangered Species Act –
1966 – protecting rare and
endangered species