game management. settlers to the us thought that conservation was not necessary thought primarily of...
TRANSCRIPT
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