B08c_Attachment_2_-_Annual_Report_Deer_Management.pdf

CATOCTIN MOUNTAIN PARK

202X DEER MANAGEMENT

ANNUAL REPORT

Prepared by

[CONTRACTOR NAME]

INTRODUCTION

Example: The National Park Service, Catoctin Mountain Park (CATO) prepared a White-tailed Deer Management Plan and Environmental Impact Statement (EIS) to guide deer management at the Park. The plan was developed to support forest regeneration, providing for long-term protection, conservation, and restoration of native species and cultural landscapes. The plan includes the direct reduction of the population of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) at CATO and allows for sharpshooting and capture and euthanasia. A contract was established to conduct an operational deer management program.

CATO and [contractor name] prepared an Operation Plan that detailed the objectives, methods and protocols of the deer management activities. The deer management program would implement the combined lethal actions, including sharpshooting and capture and euthanasia, specified in the selected alternative of the White-tailed Deer Management Plan for CATO. The deer population reduction goal is to maintain a deer density of 15 to 20 deer per square mile. This deer density goal was initially achieved in 2017.

This activity report summarizes the deer removal activities, including program methodology, results, and analysis. The report also provides recommendations to improve the Operation Plan for deer management activities in 202x and subsequent years.

WHITE-TAILED DEER MANAGEMENT METHODS

[Contractor] conducted deer removal activities according to the previously established protocol set by CATO, the Wildlife and Heritage Service of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources (MDNR), and [Contractor]. Fall 202x deer surveys conducted by NPS staff resulted in an estimated xx deer per square mile for the 9 square miles of the Park. The removal goal for 202x was xx deer.

The 202x Operation Plan allowed for the removal of both does and bucks based on opportunity. Removal activities were initiated on [date] and concluded on [date] (Table 1). The 202x program entailed multiple preparation activities, including the placement of stands and automatic feeders at bait sites, x operational (shooting) activities over x days, and one day to remove stands and feeders.

Operational (shooting) activities consisted of a mobile shooting team or a single shooter at a stand location. Stand locations, bait sites, park boundaries, buffer boundaries, directional restrictions, and proposed roads and trails can be seen in Figure 1.

OPERATIONS WEATHER SUMMARY

[Describe weather conditions such as snow, fog, optimal weather, etc.]

DESCRIPTION OF POPULATION DATA COLLECTED

[Describe data collected, such as age class, sex, antler points, etc.]

TABLE 1 – [Contractor] deer removal activities listed by date and time schedules at CATO

Date

Stand Operations

(number removed)

Time (afternoon or evening)

Mobile Operations

[number removed]

Time (afternoon or evening)

Total

STAND OPERATIONS

[Describe mobile operations details including time of day, shooting equipment used, data collected, and strategies to maximize efficiency]

MOBILE OPERATIONS

[Describe mobile operations details including time of day, shooting equipment used, data collected, and strategies to maximize efficiency]

RESULTS

[Describe number of deer removed, number of days of operations, dates of operations, percent of removed deer according to age class and sex.]

TABLE 2. Age, average weight, and sex of white-tailed deer removed by Wildlife Services at CATO.

Sex ½ year 18 months 2.5 years-old + Total Male

Female

Total

TABLE 3. [Contractor] stand operations for removal of white-tailed deer including location of stand, type of bait distribution, number of operations, number of deer observed, and number of deer taken at CATO.

Location (name of site)

Bait Distribution

(feeder, manual)

Operations (number of operational days)

Deer Observed Deer Taken

9 56 30 Total 53 151 79

TABLE 4. [Contractor] mobile operations for removal of white-tailed deer including location (west to east) and number of deer taken at CATO.

CWD SAMPLING

[Describe number of CWD samples taken, if any, and results of tests]

DONATION

[Describe how many pounds of venison was donated and to which food banks]

Location (site name) Deer removed

Total

RECOMMENDATIONS

[Recommendations provided by contractor to improve operations next year]