gabe jenkins deer and elk program coordinator # 1 sportsman’s ln frankfort, ky 40601 800-858-1549...
TRANSCRIPT
Gabe Jenkins
Deer and Elk Program Coordinator
# 1 Sportsman’s Ln
Frankfort, KY 40601
800-858-1549
Dealing with wildlife damage; options
landowners have to alleviate damage issues
Presentation FocusWhat is nuisance
wildlife?
What animals do we consider nuisance?
Options landowners have in ways to mitigate damage
White-tailed deer damage
Nuisance Wildlife ManagementBroadly defined this is the industry
dealing with vertebrate species causing:Damage to property, agriculture, natural
resourcesThreats to human health and safetyPerceived threats and/or undesirability
Operators are the professionals providing solutions to these issues.
Wildlife is a valued public resource Wildlife diversity is characteristic
of healthy ecosystems
Wildlife provides harvestable and renewable resources with proper management
Wildlife provides many consumptive and non-consumptive recreational opportunities
Managing our wildlife resource requires balancing the needs of people with the needs of wildlife
Nuisance Wildlife ManagementIs nuisance wildlife management necessary?
ABSOLUTELY!Biological versus social carrying capacity
Everyone is impacted by wildlife damageUrban sprawl has taken their homes? Yes, and a
resounding NO!!!
What species are we talking about?The majority of all
wildlife in Kentucky can at times be considered a nuisance
Some species have special protection and the options landowners can use could be limited to mitigate damage
Some species have special restrictions on who is allowed to handle them (bats, deer, elk, bears, turkeys, and copperbelly water snakes)
Migratory wildlife are protected under Federal RegulationsWaterfowl, Song birds,
Raptors, Owls, Vultures, nearly all birds except non-migratory birds (turkey, quail, grouse ect)
Nuisance Wildlife ControlLandowners have 4
options on ways to deal with wildlife causing damage
1. Handle the problem yourself
2. Contact a trapper for free trapping service (animal must be a furbearer)
3. Contact a nuisance wildlife control operator
4. Contact KDFWR
1. Handle the problem yourselfLandowner has the
right to deal with wildlife causing damageKRS 150.170
Quickest resolution to the problem
Usually the cheapest option
Options such as:Scare tacticsRepellentsFencingExclusion Trap and euthanasiaHuntingEuthanasia
1. KRS 150.170Kentucky Statute that
deals with the killing of wildlife causing damage
Landowners, their spouses or dependent children, or their designee can kill or trap wildlife causing damage to the lands or any personal property
Formal process to designate someone by working with your KDFWR representative
If it’s an animal that is required to be checked you must contact a KDFWR LE within 24 hours after it is killedDeer, elk, bear, and
turkey I’ll expand on this more
during my deer section
2. Contact a trapperKDFWR fur trapper look-
up
https://app.fw.ky.gov/furtrapper/search.aspx
Free service fur trappers offerOnly good for
furbearersService only offered
during the trapping season (Mid Nov-Feb)
3. Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators
KDFWR licensed companies permitted to take or handle wildlife causing damage year round
Nearly all charge a fee
Most are experienced in removal and exclusion
KDFWR has a link to companies who work in each county
https://app.fw.ky.gov/NuisanceControlNew/
3. Nuisance Wildlife Control Operators
NWCO are not permitted to work on certain species
Species of special concern or are considered game animals
Turkey, bear, elk and deer from NWCO
4. Contact KDFWRTechnical guidance
at your fingertips
Fw.ky.govWildlife tab
Information RegardingNuisance WildlifeDeer Damage
ProblemsWildlife
Rehabilitator ListNuisance Control
SearchFur Trapper LookupBlack Vulture
DepredationWild Pig
4. Contact KDFWR If the damage causing
animal is a turkey, bear, elk or deer landowners have additional options
Must first contact your local KDFWR Law Enforcement officer or Wildlife BiologistFind my Contact800-858-1549
Staff will set up a site visit to determine damage severity and provide landowners 2 different types of options for damage mitigation
2 broad forms of damage mitigation are:ExclusionRemoval
Exclusion and HarassmentExclusionIf the damage is
extremely severe or crops are particularly valuable this is the best long term solutionpermanent or
temporary
Total exclusion by height or by electricity
HarassmentRepellants and Scare
tacticsSoap, human hair,
deer away; limited effectiveness
Propane cannons, dog on a long tether, fireworks and gunfire can be effective
RemovalThe most effective and
cost efficient way to mitigate damage is to allow hunting or trapping
Hunting does multiple things1. Removal of potential
damage causing animal2. Unsafe environment and
risk is no longer worth the reward
3. Avoidance due to human activity and continual harassment
From this
Deer Damage- we’ve come a long ways
To this
Landowners have 4 ways to remove deer via from the property1. Deer Hunting
2. In season additional antlerless control permits
3. Out of Season Kill Permits
4. Immediate kill of depredating deer
HuntingBest long term solution to
manage deer numbers
Season is long; approximately 140 days
Landowners protected under Kentucky Statute to allow hunting and not be liable for any injuries
Free option to landownersCould be a financial gain
via hunting lease
In Season Control TagsIn some instances there
needs to be more deer removed by hunting than what is legally viable.
Deer populations are not spread across the landscape uniformly
Deer hunting is managed at the county level
301 KAR 2:176
In Season Control TagsMust contact KDFWR
representative
Site visit to determine severity of damage
Additional tags issued for antlerless deer
Hunter can use up to 5
All deer must be checked
Out of Season Kill PermitsMust contact KDFWR
representative
Site visit to determine severity of damage
Must have allowed hunting and been issued and used control tags in past
Used very conservatively
301 KAR 2:176
Good option if it’s only a few animals
Tags are issued for antlerless or any deer
Non edible parts (antlers/hides) must be destroyed or turned over to KDFWR
Out of Season Kill PermitsPermits are issued to
landowner
Landowner can designate someone else to do the shooting
Form that KDFWR issues that the landowner must complete and submit back to KDFWR
WILDLIFE DAMAGE ASSISTANCE FORM* KENTUCKY DEPARTMENT OF FISH AND WILDLIFE RESOURCES
I, _______________________ request authorization for assistance from the person(s) herein named to remove ________________ (Print Landowner’s Name) (type of animal) causing damage to the property I own in ________________ County, using traps or gun in the manner specified below and approved by the KDFWR. My signature below signifies that I agree to abide be all conditions set forth in this authorization and that I will hold the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, its employees and agents free from any and all liability and blame that may be in any manner associated with the activities pursuant to this authorization. ____________________________________ Landowner’s Signature ____________________________________ Address ____________________________________ ____________________________________ Phone I, _________________________, _________________________, _________________________, _________________________, Print Wildlife Control Designee’s Name
_________________________, _________________________ agree to assist the landowner herein named to remove the specified wildlife causing damage from properties identified here, using traps or gun in the manner specified below and approved by the Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources. My signature below signifies that I agree to abide by all conditions set forth in this authorization and that I will hold the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources, its employees, and agents free of any and all liability and blame that may be in any manner associated with my activities pursuant to this authorization. I understand that permission granted herein may be revoked by the Commissioner at any time. _______________________________ Wildlife Control Designee Signature (1) Wildlife Control Designee Signature (2) Wildlife Control Designee Signature (3)
_______________________________ Address Address Address
_______________________________
_______________________________ Phone Phone Phone
_______________________________ Wildlife Control Designee Signature (4) Wildlife Control Designee Signature (5) Wildlife Control Designee Signature (6)
_______________________________ Address Address Address _______________________________ _______________________________ Phone Phone Phone
Wildlife taken under this authorization may not be used for taxidermy purposes. Parts of the animals taken under it may not b e bought or sold by taxidermists. In cases where antlered deer are taken, the antlers must be surrendered to the Kentucky Departmen t of Fish and Wildlife Resources or left afield. Permission is authorized for use only on property owned by the landowner identified above and for the period of time and meth od of taking described below: Period of Authorization:_________________20_____ TO:_________________20_______ Number of Disposal Permits issued to landowner: Method of Taking: __________________________________________________________________ Approved by: _________________________________ ________________________________ Conservation Officer Date (Signature)
_________________________________ ________________________________ Wildlife Biologist Date (Signature)
_________________________________ ________________________________ Commissioner Date
*This application for assistance must be preceded or accompanied by a completed Nuisance Wildlife Complaint Form (G -43). A Commercial Nuisance Wildlife Control Permit is not required when this form is used. Revised 01/06/15
Immediate kill of depredating deer
Must contact a KDFWR Law Enforcement officer within 24 hours after the animal is killed
Non edible parts (antlers/hides) must be destroyed or turned over to KDFWR
KRS 150.170 allows landowners to kill deer in the act of causing damage
House Bill 448 amended this regulation
Immediate kill of depredating deerNuclear option that has
a short term affect
Feels good, but not effective and a lot of work in the heat
Option only for landowners; however they can designate someone just like the Out of Season Kill Permits authorization
Farmers that are leasing ground can’t do this without prior authorization
Consider Hunters for the Hungry Kyhuntersforthehungry.or
g
501(c)(3) that solicits funds to process deer and donate the venison to KY food pantries across the state
Mission is to alleviate hunger and malnutrition in KY by processing and distributing donated venison to those in need.
Processors statewide and the amount of venison processed is dependent on funds
Free service offered to hunters. Processors have quotas and accept deer until that number is met
