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White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Picture Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Washington D. C. Library, Washington, District of Columbia. Submitted to: Wildlife Management Division Arkansas Game and Fish Commission Submitted by: Bret A. Collier and David G. Krementz USGS Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Department of Biological Sciences University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701 October 2003

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Page 1: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas

Picture Credit: U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service/Washington D. C. Library, Washington, District of Columbia.

Submitted to: Wildlife Management Division

Arkansas Game and Fish Commission

Submitted by: Bret A. Collier and David G. Krementz

USGS Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit Department of Biological Sciences

University of Arkansas Fayetteville, AR 72701

October 2003

Page 2: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

EXECUTIVE SUMMARY

The current goal of the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission’s (AGFC) deer program is

to “maintain a healthy deer herd with a balanced sex and age structure at a level that is consistent

with long-term habitat capability and to maintain deer populations and parameters at levels that

are consistent with public satisfaction and acceptance.” To achieve this goal, the AGFC must

apply harvest management strategies that develop and sustain white-tailed deer populations,

while maximizing hunter satisfaction. Too, the AGFC must manage the deer herd at biological

and socially acceptable levels.

In the United States, about 82% of sportsmen hunt on private lands (U.S. Department of

Interior 2001) while in the southeastern United States, about 90% of the forested land is under

private ownership (Powell et al. 1994). Lack of available public lands for wildlife related

recreation and increased hunter interest in managing white-tailed deer (Woods et al. 1996) has

increased hunter involvement in hunting organizations on private lands. In Arkansas, about 95%

of annual legal harvest occurs on private lands (D. Harris, AGFC, personal communication).

Since ~90% of Arkansas is privately owned (Smith et al. 1998), the AGFC only controls the site-

specific harvest management regulations on <1% of the total state land. Because white-tailed

deer harvests on private lands are usually more intensively managed than those on public lands

(Carpenter 2000), comprehensive white-tailed deer management requires knowledge of deer

management practices in use on private lands.

STUDY OBJECTIVES

1. Provide a baseline to enable the AGFC to track and evaluate hunt camps participating

in the Arkansas Deer Camp Program (DCP).

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2. Provide an assessment of harvest and habitat management practices in use by hunt

camps registered in the Arkansas DCP.

3. Determine DCP participant’s level of interest in AGFC management assistance

programs and deer management information.

4. Identify and evaluate differences in implementation of harvest and habitat

management practices by Deer Camp Program participants.

5. Identify possible program actions for the AGFC to assist hunt camps on private lands

with white-tailed deer management.

METHODS In September 2000, we mailed a questionnaire to hunt camp contacts for each white-

tailed deer hunt camp registered in the Arkansas DCP (n=3,189). A second mailing was sent to

all non-respondents 4 weeks later. A follow-up evaluating non-response bias was not conducted.

The response rate adjusted for non-deliverable surveys was 38% (1,184 responding hunt camps).

Camp contacts were asked to provide information on: 1) their classification (land owner,

land manager, camp manager), 2) location and acreage of hunt camp, 3) property type of hunt

camp, 4) hunt camp management objective (if under Quality Deer Management (QDM)

strategy), and 5) whether their hunt camp managed for wildlife species other than white-tailed

deer. We asked respondents to rank 1) harvest management practices in excess of state

regulations in use on hunt camp property, 2) habitat management practices in use on hunt camp

property (both type and length of time), 3) types of AGFC provided management assistance that

would benefit their hunt camp, 4) opinions on future AGFC management options, and 5)

opinions on problems affecting their hunt camp. Respondents were asked: 1) to rate their level

of interest in AGFC provided information on white-tailed deer management, 2) to rate which

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delivery method provided the most value, 3) to provide information on biological data collection,

4) whether their hunt camp worked with an AGFC biologist, and 5) whether their hunt camp

would benefit from increased AGFC management assistance.

RESULTS

• Hunt camps encompassed ~ 1.75 million acres of land in Arkansas

• Hunt camps average member size varied from a low of 13 (SE = 0.88) in the Ozarks to a

high of 23 (SE = 3.15) in the Ouachitas.

• About 60% of hunt camps in Arkansas restricted white-tailed deer harvests to meet their

specific management goals, regardless of statewide management goals.

• Across Arkansas, 40% of responding camps were under a QDM program.

• The primary management objective (61%) of hunt camps under QDM was to improve

antler development/physical condition of the deer herd (deer harvest restricted to allow

more bucks to reach older age classes of ≥ 2.5 years old).

• Across Arkansas, harvest management strategies in excess of state regulations used most

frequently were restricted antlerless harvest (no button bucks) and minimum four (4)-

point rule.

• Across Arkansas, 70% of hunt camps used winter food plots as their primary habitat

management practice, while 60% and 50% of hunt camps also used supplemental feeding

and supplemental minerals, respectively.

• 50% of hunt camps actively conducted habitat management for wildlife other than white-

tailed deer.

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Page 5: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

• Across Arkansas, 57% of hunt camps stated that they had seen an increase in the number

of bucks > 2.5 years old on their deer camps since they began using harvest and habitat

management practices on their property.

• Across Arkansas, 77% of hunt camps stated that they had not seen an increase in the

number of > 4.5 years old on their deer camps since they began using harvest and habitat

management practices on their property.

• Across Arkansas, 65% felt that they did not have a more equal ratio of bucks to does on

their deer camps property on their deer camps since they began using harvest and habitat

management practices on their property.

• Across Arkansas, 56% of hunt camps felt that the management assistance program that

would most benefit/interest their hunt camp was recommendations from a wildlife

biologist.

• Across Arkansas, hunt camps felt that expanding educational efforts for hunters and hunt

camps on deer management assistance for private lands was the most important future

management option for the AGFC.

Because much of Arkansas is privately owned, the AGFC needs information regarding

white-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an

evaluation of hunt camp harvest and habitat management practices on a sample of private lands

in Arkansas. Any comprehensive statewide management plan for white-tailed deer must provide

for practices in use on private lands.

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Page 6: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

INTRODUCTION

Across the United States, approximately 82% of sportsmen hunt on private lands (U.S.

Department of Interior 2001). Hunt camps on private lands often manage white-tailed deer

populations for specific population goals. Because harvest regulations across the United States

follow a hierarchical structure (Fig. 1), and deer management is usually more intensive on

private lands (Carpenter 2000), knowledge of harvest and habitat management practices in use

on private lands should be useful when planning statewide management goals.

Our goal was to provide an assessment of attitudes of club members who participate in

the Arkansas Deer Camp Program (DCP). Our specific objectives were to:

1. provide a baseline to enable the AGFC to track and evaluate hunt camps participating

in the Arkansas Deer Camp Program (DCP),

2. provide an assessment of harvest and habitat management practices in use by hunt

camps registered in the Arkansas DCP,

3. determine DCP participant’s level of interest in AGFC management assistance

programs and deer management information,

4. identify and evaluate differences in implementation of harvest and habitat

management practices by Deer Camp Program participants, and

5. identify possible program actions for the AGFC to assist hunt camps on private lands

with white-tailed deer management.

With this information, the AGFC should be able to better manage white-tailed deer and

deer hunters in Arkansas.

METHODS

Sample and data collection

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In September 2000, we sent an 8 page self-administered mail-back questionnaire to the

hunt camp contact for each white-tailed deer hunt camp registered in the Arkansas DCP (n =

3,189, Appendix 1). Each deer camp survey mailing contained a cover letter, the questionnaire,

and a postage-paid business reply envelope. A second mailing was sent to all non-respondents 4

weeks later. A follow-up evaluating non-response bias was not conducted. Upon receiving each

returned survey, we entered it into a database. We conducted quality control for survey entry by

randomly selecting a number between 1 and 10 and using that value as our starting point. We

then pulled every 10th survey from the random starting point and rechecked each recorded

response in the database. We proofed approximately 10% of responding surveys (n = 119).

Based on a literature review and conversations with AGFC personnel, we developed the

questionnaire to provide information that the AGFC felt would most assist them in working with

DCP participants. Camp contacts were asked to provide information on: 1) their classification

(land owner, land manager, camp manager), 2) location and acreage of hunt camp, 3) property

type of hunt camp, 4) hunt camp management objective (if under Quality Deer Management

(QDM) strategy), and 5) whether their hunt camp managed for wildlife species other than white-

tailed deer.

Using a scale from 1 to k (k = number of response categories; 1= practice most used,

most beneficial, most important; k = practice least used, least beneficial, least important) we

asked respondents to rank: 1) harvest management practices used on hunt camp property in

excess of state regulations, 2) habitat management practices used on hunt camp property (both

type and length of time), 3) interest in management assistance programs, 4) their opinions on

future AGFC management options and 5) their opinions on problems affecting their hunt camp.

Using a scale from 5 to 1 (5 = extremely interested/valuable; 1 = not interested/valuable),

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respondents were asked 1) to rate their interest in information on white-tailed deer management,

2) to rate which delivery method would provide the most value, 3) to provide information on

biological data collection, 4) whether their hunt camp works with an AGFC biologist, and 5)

whether their hunt camp would benefit from increased AGFC management assistance.

Summary information analysis

For all questions using ranked responses, we provided 2 measures of tendency, mean

rank [standard error (SE)] and median rank, to summarize our results. Mean ranks have been

used by other authors (Woods et al. 1996, Messmer et al. 1998) to analyze survey results based

on ranked data. However, mean ranks can be influenced by extreme observations, and

dependent upon sample size, can lead to unclear relationships between response categories.

Therefore, we also included a median rank (M), which is less affected by outliers (Mood et al.

1974). The median rank is the midpoint of the response distribution, such that half the

observations fall above and below the median rank (Moore and McCabe 1993). Therefore, a

high median rank means that a large number of respondents provided a high rank. We feel that

median ranks, although they allow for no measures of variation, provide a easily understood

summary of responses. A standard error can be calculated for mean ranks and will be provided

in this report.

Data manipulation for modeling

For several of our research hypotheses of interest, we had quasi-complete separation

across predictor variables and therefore we were unable to attain necessary cell counts (≥ 1)

across classification variables to conduct ordinal logit modeling (Agresti 1996). To correct for

this problem, we ranked all scores ≤ 3 as a success (1) and all others as a failure (0). For

comparisons between response categories within a question, we estimated the odds of a

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respondent providing a rank of 1 (success). For comparisons between response categories, if the

rank in the ith response category was less than the rank in the jth category, responses were given

a rank of 1 (success) and a rank of 0 (failure) if rank in the ith category was greater than or equal

to the jth category.

Contingency Table Estimation

We estimated odds ratios on selected 2 x 2 contingency tables to test hypotheses

concerning differences in response frequencies for questions regarding quality deer management,

biological data collection, management assistance benefits, and biologist contact. Odds ratios

were estimated by deer management unit, property type, and across Arkansas. Contingency table

analysis was conducted using SAS PROC FREQ (SAS Institute, Inc. 2000).

Cumulative Logit Modeling

For questions that have a natural ordering of possible responses, we used a cumulative

logit model (proportional odds model) implemented in PROC LOGISTIC (SAS Institute, Inc.

2000) to estimate the effect of predictor variables on the levels of response. We used

proportional odds models to predict the probability of respondent providing a rank in the jth

category or higher (Agresti 1996, Allison 1999). When response categories were ordered,

proportional odds models can directly incorporate the ordering, leading to simpler interpretation

(Agresti 1996, Allison 1999). We checked goodness of fit for our proportional odds models by

evaluating the chi-square test statistic for the proportional odds assumption. A non-significant

test statistic indicated that the proportional odds model adequately fit the data (Allison 1999,

SAS Institute, Inc. 2000). We used a single set of predictors (property type, deer management

unit (DMU), and contact category) for proportional odds modeling of responses regarding

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interest levels in AGFC provided information type. If a proportional odds model did not satisfy

the proportional odds assumption, we did not interpret that model in the results section.

Model building, selection and inference

For selected questions in the survey, we used an information-theoretic approach to model

selection and inference (Burnham and Anderson 2002). For each question of interest, we began

with a global model containing all variables of interest that we thought important in explaining

the response variable (Anderson et al. 2001, Burnham and Anderson 2002). For each global

model, we initially determined if it adequately fit the data (Burnham and Anderson 2002) by

conducting residual analysis for each comparison of interest. If the global model adequately fit

the data, we proceeded to construct candidate models, or reduced parameter models (Burnham

and Anderson 2002), relative to the global model, and proceeded with interpretation.

For those models that adequately fit, we evaluated each set of candidate models

representing hypotheses that we wished to test by ranking those models based on Akaike’s

Information Criterion (AIC, Akaike (1973), Burnham and Anderson 2002) that was adjusted for

small sample size (AICc, Hurvich and Tsai 1989). Each question of interest and its resulting

candidate model set are shown in Tables 1 – 3. Models were ranked based on the difference

( ) between the ith model’s AICi∆

i∆

c value and the lowest AICc value in the candidate model set

(Burnham and Anderson 2002). The most plausible model, or model with the lowest AICc, has a

=0 (Burnham and Anderson 2002). Typically, any models with i∆ <2 have considerable

support, while models with 4< <7 have less support (Burnham and Anderson 2002).

Transformation of the values by

i∆

i∆ ( )i∆− 21exp represents the likelihood of the ith model,

given the data (Anderson et al. 2000, Burnham and Anderson 2002). We estimated Akaike

weights (wi: denoted in report as AICc wt) by rescaling the transformed i∆ values to sum to 1

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(Anderson et al. 2000, Burnham and Anderson 2002). We estimated the plausibility between

candidate models in our model set by constructing a likelihood ratio with the Akaike weights

(Anderson et al. 2000, Burnham and Anderson 2002). Royall (1997) suggested that a threshold

value of strong evidence for differences between models might be supported by an evidence ratio

of ≥ 8. Frequently, model selection results can indicate several plausible models (model

selection uncertainty) (Burnham and Anderson 2002). The typical procedure for parameter

estimation when > 1 model is plausible is to conduct model averaging (Buckland et al. 1997,

Burnham and Anderson 2002). However, it is not recommended to conduct model averaging

across non-linear candidate model sets (Burnham and Anderson 2002, W. L. Thompson, USGS

Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, personal communication), therefore, we

chose to base our inference only on candidate models with substantial empirical support ( i∆ <2).

Candidate Models

Across the questions of interest, we hypothesized 6 possible sources of variation affected

the odds of a hunt camp conducting a harvest or habitat management practice, or being interested

in AGFC management assistance. For each question of interest, we constructed a set of

candidate models for consideration. Each set of candidate models consisted of predictors that we

felt would allow us to evaluate sources of variation in the odds of a hunt camp selecting a

specific response category. Our predictions for the 6 sources of variation we included in our

models were:

Property Ownership: For this study, there were three possible classes of private property

ownership: 1) property privately owned by hunt camp members, 2) property privately owned that

hunt camps leased from the landowner, and 3) property privately owned by industry (e.g. timber

industry) that hunt camps leased from the industry. We hypothesized that hunt camps on non-

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industry privately owned property would use harvest management strategies based on antler

characteristics and restriction of buck harvest more frequently than those on industry property.

Because industry properties typically have wildlife biologists implementing harvest management

plans for/in conjunction with hunt camps, we expected hunt camps on industry properties to be

more likely to use harvest management based on antlerless deer more frequently than harvest

management based on antler characteristics or restrictions on buck harvests. We also

hypothesized that hunt camps on non-industry privately owned property would use habitat

management strategies such as food plots and natural vegetation management, while camps on

industry property would use habitat management such as supplemental feeding and minerals due

to restrictions on land management practices by industry personnel.

Deer Management Unit: Based on underlying physical and biological characteristics of

the state and discussions with AGFC biologists, we classified Arkansas into 4 Deer Management

Units (DMUs): 1) Ozarks, 2) Ouachitas, 3) Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAV), and 4) Gulf

Coastal Plain (GCP) (Fig. 2).

Quality Deer Management: Typically, hunt camps under QDM strategies are actively

involved in white-tailed deer management (Woods et al. 1996). We classified hunt camps as

either under QDM (1) or not under QDM (0). We expected that hunt camps under QDM would

be actively involved in the management of white-tailed deer on their property through harvest

management of antlerless deer (does), and be more likely to use habitat management practices

such as food plots and natural vegetation management. We also expected that hunt camps under

QDM would be using harvest management practices that restricted harvest of younger bucks.

Hunt Camp Size: Given the mobility of white-tailed deer through daily, seasonal, and

annual ranges, we classified hunt camps into 3 classes according to size (acres): 1) <1000 acres,

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2) 1000-3000 acres, and 3) >3000 acres. We expected that larger hunt camps would be more

likely to use habitat management strategies that concentrate deer into specific areas during

hunting season (e.g. winter food plots, supplemental feeding).

Contact Type: For the question regarding interest in AGFC management assistance we

classified hunt camp contacts based on whether they were: 1) landowner (person who owns the

land that the hunt camp in located on), 2) land manager (person who owns the land and is

responsible for the management of the camp and wildlife), or 3) camp manager (person who does

not own the land but is responsible for the management of wildlife on the camp). We used the

contact type predictor to test for differences in responses regarding benefits from different

management assistance programs.

Biologist Contact: Typically, hunt camps that are actively involved in managing white-

tailed deer seek professional biologists for management assistance. We classified hunt camps as

either working with an AGFC biologist (1) or not working with an AGFC biologist (0). We

expected hunt camps working with AGFC biologist would have active habitat management

programs, and different interests and opinions regarding management assistance programs than

those camps not working with an AGFC biologist.

Binary Logit Modeling

Because our model selection program (W. L. Thompson, USGS Arkansas Cooperative

Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, personal communication) only identified and output model

selection results, we used the results from model selection procedures to identify those models

with substantial support ( < 2). We then evaluated each model with substantial support using

PROC GENMOD (SAS Institute Inc. 2000) to estimate parameters (odds ratios) and associated

measures of precision. Our objectives were to quantify which predictor variables contributed to

i∆

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differences in rank levels given by responding hunt camps. We estimated the odds of the ith

response category being ranked less than the jth response category (see: Data manipulation for

modeling) using the most parsimonious models from model selection results. We reported only

those estimated odds for comparisons where the estimated 95% confidence interval (CI) did not

include 1 (indicating a difference in the odds of response). An odds estimate farther from 1 in a

given direction represents a stronger level of association (Agresti 1996). Note that when

estimating odds ratios, that sample size influences precision of the estimates, but not the

direction of the estimate (G. Petris, University of Arkansas, personal communication.).

Therefore, although confidence interval coverage may be imprecise (e.g. lower confidence limit

near 1) for some estimates with small sample sizes (e.g. small cell counts), we are confident that

the direction the estimated odds represent (variation from independence) were accurate. To

quantify the importance of specific predictor variables in our candidate model set, we summed

the Akaike weights (wi) for models containing that variable in our candidate set (Burnham and

Anderson 2002). When evaluating the relative importance of predictor variables using summed

wi, the candidate model set must be balanced (e.g. equivalent numbers of candidate models

containing each predictor variable) (Burnham and Anderson 2002).

RESULTS

Survey Response

From the deer camp survey, we received 1,184 questionnaires from the 3,189 sent (37%).

Sixty-four surveys were classified as undeliverable, while deer camps that had not registered

during 2000 returned 13. Our adjusted response rate was 38%. Throughout this report,

discrepancies in percentages and/or number of respondents existed due to rounding error,

respondents provided equivalent ranks to multiple levels of ranking questions, respondents not

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answering all questions, or responses deemed impossible (e.g. 0 acres for hunt camp size).

Results (percentages, medians, means) provided will be based on the number of respondents to

each question (or category of a question), not to the entire sample.

General Hunt Camp Information

We received responses from ≥ 1 hunt camps from all but 5 counties (Table 4). All results

are interpreted without including those 5 counties. A majority of responding camps were located

in the Gulf Coastal Plain (GCP) (Table 5). Responding camps encompassed ~1.75 million acres

of land in Arkansas (~6% of the state land base). Responding camps had about 18,000 total

members with average camp member size varying from a low of 13 (SE = 0.88) in the Ozarks to

a high of 23 (SE = 3.15) in the Ouachitas (Table 6).

We asked respondents to classify property types that their deer camps were located on

(Table 7). Property types on which hunt camps were located were associated with predominant

land use practices. In the GCP, an area of predominately timber management, the majority of

hunt camps were located on industry lands, while in the Ozarks and Mississippi Alluvial Plain

(MAV), areas that are more agriculturally based, the majority of camps were located on land

privately owned by the hunt camp members (Table 7).

Across Arkansas, 40% of responding camps were under a QDM program (Table 8).

Regionally, the MAV had the highest percentage of responding camps under QDM programs

(Table 9). Of those camps under a QDM program, the primary management objective (61%)

was to improve antler development / physical condition of the deer herd (deer harvest restricted

to allow more bucks to reach older age classes of ≥ 2.5 years old) (Table 10). Across property

types, the management objective most frequently stated by respondents was to improve antler

development/physical condition of the deer herd (deer harvest restricted to allow more bucks to

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reach older age classes of ≥ 2.5 years old)(Table 11). Hunt camps stated that they usually (25%)

or always (53%) attempted to control hunter pressure on their properties (Table 12). Responding

hunt camps under a QDM program always (63%) or usually (23%) controlled hunter pressure

(Table 13). Across Arkansas, hunt camps on average had 1.5 (SE=0.04) hunters/100 acres. Hunt

camps averaged 1.8 (SE = 0.09), 1.5 (SE = 0.14), 1.5 (SE = 0.64), and 1.5 (SE = 0.05)

hunters/100 acres in the Ozarks, Ouachitas, MAV, and GCP, respectively.

Odds Ratio Estimation

Responding hunt camps across Arkansas that work with an AGFC biologist were 5.8

(95% CI = 4.28 – 7.97) times more likely to collect biological data from deer harvested by camp

members than hunt camps not working with an AGFC biologist. In the Ozarks, MAV, and GCP,

hunt camps working with AGFC biologists were 7.7 (95% CI = 3.78 – 15.53), 3.2 (95% CI =

1.52 – 6.75), and 7.9 (95% CI = 5.16 – 12.36) times, respectively, more likely to collect

biological data from deer harvested by camp members than those not working with an AGFC

biologist. Hunt camps on property owned by camp members were 6.0 (95% CI = 3.54 – 10.25)

times more likely to collect biological data when working with AGFC biologists. Camps on

non-member owned leased property were 4.4 (95% CI = 2.10 – 9.16) times more likely to collect

biological data when working with AGFC biologists, while camps on industry (e.g. timber

company lands) were 8.7 (95% CI = 5.08 – 14.95) times more likely to collect biological data

when working with AGFC biologists.

Hunt camps across Arkansas were 5.3 (95% CI = 3.82 – 7.26) times more likely to be

under a QDM strategy if they worked with an AGFC biologist. In the Ozarks, MAV, and GCP

hunt camps were 5.8 (95% CI = 2.99 – 11.36), 8.2 (95% CI = 1.55 – 42.01), and 8.2 (95% CI =

5.08 – 13.35) times, respectively, more likely to be under a QDM strategy if they worked with an

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AGFC biologist. Hunt camps on property owned by camp members were 3.1 (95% CI = 1.88 –

5.08) times more likely to be under a QDM strategy if they worked with an AGFC biologist,

while camps on non-member owned leased property and industry property were 5.5 (95% CI =

2.75 – 11.11) and 10.5 (95% CI = 5.74 – 19.20) times, respectively, more likely to be under a

QDM strategy if they worked with an AGFC biologist.

Hunt camps across Arkansas working with an AGFC biologist were 7.7 (95% CI = 2.61 –

5.34) times more likely to want increased AGFC management assistance than those not working

with an AGFC biologist. In the Ozarks and GCP, hunt camps working with AGFC biologists

were 4.1 (95% CI = 1.88 – 8.89) and 3.8 (95% CI = 2.30 – 6.26) times more likely to want

increased AGFC management assistance, while in the MAV those hunt camps working with

AGFC biologists were 5.0 (95% CI = 2.12 – 14.28) times less likely to want increased AGFC

management assistance than those not working with an AGFC biologist. Responding hunt

camps on property owned by camp members that work with AGFC biologists were 3.9 (95% CI

= 2.09 – 7.17) times more likely to want increased AGFC management assistance, while hunt

camps on non-member owned leased property working with AGFC biologists were 3.3 (95% CI

= 1.49 – 7.21) times more likely to want increased AGFC management assistance than those not

working with an AGFC biologist.

Harvest Management Summary

Across Arkansas, the primary harvest management practice being used by hunt camps in

excess of state regulations was restricted antlerless harvest (60%) (Table 14). The median rank

for the minimum 4-point rule was tied for first with restricted antlerless harvest. In each DMU,

restricted antlerless harvest (no button bucks) had a high median rank (M=1) (Tables 15-18). In

the Ozarks, MAV, and GCP, minimum 4-point rule was also ranked high (M=1), as was

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mandatory doe harvest in the MAV. In the Ozarks, MAV, and GCP, restricted buck harvest was

used frequently (M=2) (Tables 15, 17-18, respectively), while mandatory doe harvest was used

frequently in the Ouachitas (M=2) (Table 16). Harvest management practices such as mandatory

doe harvest before buck harvest and minimum spread restrictions were typically used less across

DMUs (M ≥ 4) except in the MAV, where minimum spread restrictions had median rank of 2.

Harvest Management Model Selection Results

Mandatory Doe Harvest

Model selection results for mandatory doe harvest being used instead of minimum 4-

point rule indicated 1 candidate model was supported [( QDM DMU,Π ): AICc wt = 0.65)]. Hunt

camps in the GCP were 2.3 (95% CI = 1.10 – 4.74) and 2.7 (95% CI = 1.30 – 5.61) times more

likely than hunt camps in the Ozarks and the MAV, respectively, to use mandatory doe harvest

rather than minimum 4-point rule. Hunt camps not under QDM were 2.8 (95% CI = 1.49 – 5.10)

times more likely than hunt camps under QDM to use mandatory doe harvest rather than

minimum 4-point rule. The best model indicated that respondent rankings were dependent upon

DMU and QDM, but that less evidence existed for an effect of property type. For instance,

model was 3 times more plausible than the highest ranked model containing

PROPTYPE ( ) and 9 times more plausible than the next highest ranked model

without DMU ( ). The sum of the normalized AIC

QDM DMU,Π

Π

Π

QDM DMU, Proptype,

QDM Proptype, c weights for models containing

QDM and DMU were 0.99 and 0.88, respectively, providing evidence that these predictors were

important in this model set. The summed AICC weight for models containing PROPTYPE was

only 0.29, indicating that PROPTYPE was a less important predictor relative to QDM and DMU.

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Model selection results for mandatory doe harvest being used rather than minimum antler

spread indicated that 2 models were plausible. The best model [( QDM DMU,Π ): AICc wt = 0.45)]

indicated that hunt camps in the Ozarks were 5.2 (95% CI = 1.32 – 20.5) times more likely than

hunt camps in the MAV to use mandatory doe harvest rather than minimum antler spread. Hunt

camps not under QDM were 3.0 (95% CI = 1.32 – 6.91) times more likely than hunt camps

under QDM to use mandatory doe harvest instead of minimum antler spread. The next best

model [( ): AICQDM Π c wt = 0.34)] suggested that hunt camps not under QDM were 3.1 (95% CI =

1.36 – 6.93) times more likely to use mandatory doe harvest instead of minimum antler spread.

The sum of the normalized AICc weights for this model set were 0.97 for QDM, 0.56 for DMU,

and 0.18 for PROPTYPE. All of the models that contained QDM were reasonably plausible

( <4), while models that did not contain QDM were not supported (i∆ i∆ >19).

Model selection results for mandatory doe harvest being used instead of restricted buck

harvest indicated 4 models were plausible. The top 3 models ( QDM Π : AICc wt = 0.31, Π :

AIC

DMU

c wt = 0.29, : AICProptypeΠ c wt = 0.17, respectively) did not suggest that hunt camps used

mandatory doe harvest more frequently than restricted buck harvest. The fourth model

( QDM DMU,Π : AICc wt = 0.11) indicated that hunt camps in the Ozarks were 3.9 (95% CI = 1.02 –

14.91) more likely to use mandatory doe harvest rather than restricted buck harvest. The sum of

the normalized AICc weights for this model set were 0.49 for QDM, 0.46 for DMU, and 0.29 for

PROPTYPE.

Model selection results for mandatory doe harvest being used rather than restricted

antlerless harvest (no button bucks) indicated 2 plausible models. In the best model ( Π :

AIC

DMU

c wt = 0.42) hunt camps in the MAV were 2.1 (95% CI = 1.04 – 4.35) times more likely than

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hunt camps in the GCP to use mandatory doe harvest rather than restricted antlerless harvest.

The next best model ( : AICQDM DMU,Π c wt = 0.18) suggested that hunt camps in the Ouachitas and

MAV were 4.0 (95% CI = 1.04 – 15.51) and 2.1 (95% CI = 1.04 – 4.33) times, respectively,

more likely that hunt camps in the GCP to use mandatory doe harvest instead of restricted

antlerless harvest. The sum of the normalized AICc weights for this model set were 0.77 for

DMU, 0.35 for PROPTYPE, and 0.34 for QDM.

Doe Harvest Prior to Buck Harvest

Model selection results for doe harvest before buck harvest being used instead of

minimum 4-point rule indicated 3 plausible models. In the best model ( QDM Proptype,Π : AICc wt =

0.31) hunt camps on property owned by camp members were 4.0 (95% CI = 1.10 – 14.4) times

more likely that hunt camps on industry property to use doe harvest before buck harvest rather

than minimum 4-point rule. The next best model ( ProptypeΠ : AICc wt = 0.26) indicated that hunt

camps on property owned by camp members were more likely to use doe harvest before buck

harvest instead of minimum 4-point rule (4.8 (95% CI = 1.36 – 16.87)). The next model

( : AICQDM Π c wt = 0.19) suggested that hunt camps use of doe harvest before buck harvest

instead of minimum 4-point rule did not differ due to QDM.

Minimum 4-Point Rule

Model selection results for use of minimum 4-point rule instead of mandatory doe harvest

indicated that 4 candidate models were supported. In the best model ( ProptypeΠ : AICc wt = 0.35)

hunt camps on property owned by camp members were 1.8 (95% CI = 1.01 – 3.35) times more

likely than hunt camps on industry property to use minimum 4-point rule rather than mandatory

doe harvest. For the 2 next models ( DMUΠ : AICc wt = 0.20) and third ( QDMΠ : AICc wt = 0.15)

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models, there was no evidence of differences in the estimated odds of minimum 4-point rule

being used rather than mandatory doe harvest across DMUs or QDM. The fourth model

( : AICQDM Proptype,Π c wt = 0.15) indicated that that hunt camps on property owned by camp

members were 1.9 (95% CI = 1.02 – 3.42) times more likely than hunt camps on industry

property to use minimum 4-point rule rather than mandatory doe harvest. The sum of the

normalized AICc weights for this model set were 0.58 for PROPTYPE, 0.39 for QDM, and 0.35

for DMU.

QDM DMU,Π

Model selection results for use of minimum 4-point rule rather than doe harvest before

buck harvest indicated 3 plausible models. In the best model ( ProptypeΠ : AICc wt = 0.34) hunt

camps on camp member owned property were 3.4 (95% CI = 1.07 – 10.81) times more likely

than hunt camps on privately owned leased property to use minimum 4-point rule instead of doe

harvest before buck harvest. The next best model ( QDM Proptype,Π : AICc wt = 0.28) indicated that

hunt camps on camp member owned property were more likely to use minimum 4-point rule

than hunt camps on leased property (3.6 [95% CI = 1.12 – 11.46]). In the third model ( QDM Π :

AICc wt = 0.21), use of minimum 4-point rule rather than doe harvest before buck harvest did not

differ due to QDM. The sum of the normalized AICc weights for this model set were 0.68 for

PROPTYPE, 0.57 for QDM, and 0.17 for DMU.

Model selection results for minimum 4-point rule being used instead of minimum spread

restriction indicated 2 plausible models. In the best model ( DMUΠ : AICc wt = 0.43) hunt camps in

the Ozarks were 3.6 (95% CI = 1.30 – 9.79) times more likely than hunt camps in the MAV to

use minimum 4-point rule rather than minimum spread restrictions. The next best model

( : AICc wt = 0.17) indicated that hunt camps in the Ozarks were more likely than hunt

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camps in the MAV to use minimum 4-point rule rather than minimum spread restrictions (3.5

[95% CI = 1.27 – 9.66]). The sum of the normalized AICc weights for this model set were 0.78

for DMU, 0.35 for QDM, and 0.31 for PROPTYPE.

Model selection results for minimum 4-point rule being used rather than restricted buck

harvest indicated 1 plausible model. In the best model ( QDMΠ : AICc wt = 0.59) the estimated

odds of using minimum 4-point rule instead of restricted buck harvest did not differ whether a

hunt camp practices QDM or not. The sum of the normalized AICC weights for this model set

were 0.69 for QDM, 0.29 for PROPTYPE, and 0.13 for DMU.

Model selection results for minimum 4-point rule being used instead of restricted

antlerless harvest (no button bucks) indicated that 2 models were plausible. In the best model

( : AICQDM Proptype,Π c wt = 0.55) hunt camps on leased property were 2.5 (95% CI = 1.10 – 5.53)

times more likely than hunt camps on industry property to use minimum 4-point rule instead of

restricted antlerless harvest. In the best model, hunt camps under QDM were 2.5 (95% CI = 1.38

– 4.57) times more likely than hunt camps not under QDM to use minimum 4-point rule rather

than restricted antlerless harvest. In the next best model ( QDMΠ : AICc wt = 0.34) hunt camps

under QDM were more likely to use minimum 4-point rule than restricted antlerless harvest (2.3

(95% CI = 1.27 – 4.06)). The sum of the normalized AICc weights for this model set were 0.98

for QDM, 0.62 for PROPTYPE, and 0.09 for DMU.

Minimum Spread Restriction

Model selection results for use of minimum antler spread rather than mandatory doe

harvest indicated 1 model was plausible. In the best model ( ProptypeΠ : AICc wt = 0.53) hunt camps

on property owned by camp members were 2.9 (95% CI = 1.24 – 6.88) times more likely than

camps on industry property to use minimum spread restrictions instead of mandatory doe

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harvest. The sum of the normalized AICc weights for this model set were 0.82 for PROPTYPE,

0.31 for QDM, and 0.21 for DMU.

Model selection results for use of minimum spread restrictions instead of minimum 4-

point rule indicated 2 plausible models. In the best model ( DMUΠ : AICc wt = 0.48), hunt camps in

the Ouachitas were 7.5 (95% CI = 1.03 – 54.95) and 6.9 (95% CI = 1.11 – 42.79) times more

likely than hunt camps in the Ozarks and the MAV, respectively, to use minimum spread

restrictions than minimum 4-point rule. In the best model, hunt camps in the GCP were 2.7

(95% CI = 1.04 – 6.87) times more likely than hunt camps in the MAV to use minimum spread

restrictions instead of a minimum 4-point rule. In the next best model ( QDM DMU,Π : AICc wt =

0.21) hunt camps in the Ouachitas and GCP were 6.7 (95% CI = 1.08 – 42.13) and 2.6 (95% CI =

1.02 – 6.79) times more likely than hunt camps in the MAV to use minimum spread restrictions

instead of minimum 4-point rule. Models containing PROPTYPE were at least 9 times less

likely to be the best fitting model in this set, indicating that little evidence existed for an effect of

property type on use of spread restrictions rather than minimum 4-point rule. The sum of the

normalized AICc weights for this model set were 0.89 for DMU, 0.36 for QDM, and 0.23 for

PROPTYPE.

Model selection results for use of minimum spread restrictions rather than restricted buck

harvest indicated 2 plausible models. For these 2 candidate models ( QDM Proptype,Π : AICc wt =

0.47, : AICProptypeΠ c wt = 0.26), hunt camps on non-members owned property were 4.8 (95% CI =

1.38 – 16.78) and 3.6 (95% CI = 1.11 – 11.41), times, respectively, more likely than hunt camps

on property owned by camp members and industry property, respectively, to use minimum

spread restrictions rather than restricted buck harvest. The sum of the normalized AICc weights

for this model set were 0.85 for PROPTYPE, 0.69 for QDM, and 0.15 for DMU.

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Restricted Buck Harvest

Model selection results for use of restricted buck harvest instead of mandatory doe

harvest indicated that 3 models were plausible. In the best model ( ProptypeΠ : AICc wt = 0.32) hunt

camps on property owned by camp members were 1.9 (95% CI = 1.04 – 3.45) times more likely

to use restricted buck harvest rather than mandatory doe harvest. The next best model

( : AICQDM Proptype,Π c wt = 0.30) hunt camps on property owned by camp members were 1.9 (95%

CI = 1.07 – 3.59) times more likely to use restricted buck harvest instead of mandatory doe

harvest. In the next model ( Π : AICQDM c wt = 0.21) the estimated odds of a hunt camps using

restricted buck harvest rather than mandatory doe harvest did not differ whether a hunt camp was

QDM or not. The sum of the normalized AICc weights for this model set were 0.73 for

PROPTYPE, 0.59 for QDM, and 0.15 for DMU.

Model selection results for restricted buck harvest being used instead of minimum 4-point

rule indicated that 2 models were plausible. In the best model ( QDM DMU,Π : AICc wt = 0.40) hunt

camps in the GCP were 2.5 (95% CI = 1.25 – 5.06) times more likely that hunt camps in the

MAV to use restricted buck harvest rather than minimum 4-point rule. In the best model, hunt

camps not under QDM were 2.1 (95% CI = 1.07 – 3.90) times more likely that hunt camps under

QDM to use restricted buck harvest instead of minimum 4-point rule. In the next best model

( : AICQDM Π c wt = 0.26) hunt camps not under QDM were more likely to use restricted buck

harvest rather than minimum 4-point rule (2.2 (95% CI = 1.12 – 4.04)). The sum of the

normalized AICc weights for this model set were 0.86 for QDM, 0.61 for DMU, and 0.24 for

PROPTYPE.

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Model selection results for restricted buck harvest being used instead of minimum spread

restrictions indicated 4 plausible models. Across these 4 candidate models ( : AICDMUΠ c wt =

0.37, : AICDMU Proptype,Π c wt = 0.28, Π : AICQDM DMU, c wt = 0.20, QDM DMU, Proptype, Π : AICc wt = 0.14)

hunt camps in the Ozarks, Ouachitas, and GCP were 6.0, 9.5, and 2.7 times, respectively, more

likely than hunt camps in the MAV to use restricted buck harvest instead of minimum antler

restrictions. The sum of the normalized AICc weights for this model set were 0.99 for QDM,

0.60 for DMU, and 0.16 for PROPTYPE.

Model selection results for restricted buck harvest being used rather than restricted

antlerless harvest indicated that 3 models were plausible. In the best model ( : AICQDMΠ c wt =

0.36) hunt camps under QDM were 2.1 (95% CI = 1.19 – 3.79) times more likely to use

restricted buck harvest than restricted antlerless harvest than hunt camps not under QDM. In the

next best model ( Π : AICQDM Proptype,

QDM DMU,

c wt = 0.35) hunt camps on member owned private property

were 1.84 (95% CI = 1.01 – 3.36) times more likely than hunt camps on industry property to use

restricted buck harvest instead of restricted antlerless harvest. Both the second and third model

( , Π AICQDM Proptype,Π c wt = 0.20) indicated that hunt camps under QDM were more likely

(2.23 (95% CI = 1.24 – 4.03) and 2.31 (95% CI = 1.27 – 4.22)) to use restricted buck harvest

instead of restricted antlerless harvest. The sum of the normalized AICc weights for this model

set were 0.96 for QDM, 0.43 for PROPTYPE, and 0.28 for DMU.

Restricted Antlerless Harvest (no Button Bucks)

Model selection results for restricted antlerless harvest being used rather than mandatory

doe harvest indicated 1 plausible model. In the best model ( QDM Π : AICc wt = 0.57) we found no

evidence that hunt camps used restricted antlerless harvest instead of mandatory doe harvest

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based on QDM. The sum of the normalized AICc weights for this model was 0.79 for QDM,

0.24 for PROPTYPE, and 0.22 for DMU.

Model selection results for restricted antlerless harvest being used instead of minimum 4-

point rule indicated that 3 models were plausible. Each of these 3 models ( Π : AICQDM c wt =

0.38, : AICQDM DMU,Π c wt = 0.30, Π : AICQDM Proptype, c wt = 0.20) indicated that hunt camps not under

QDM were more likely than camps under QDM to use restricted antlerless harvest rather than

minimum 4-point rule (2.1 (95% CI = 1.29 – 3.37); 2.1 (95% CI = 1.31 – 3.46); and 2.1 (95% CI

= 1.27 – 3.34)), respectively. The sum of the normalized AICc weights for this model was 0.99

for QDM, 0.41 for DMU, and 0.31 for PROPTYPE.

Model selection results for restricted antlerless harvest being used rather than restricted

buck harvest indicated that 2 models were plausible. In the best model ( QDM DMU,Π : AICc wt =

0.52) hunt camps in the GCP were 2.0 (95% CI = 1.06 – 2.95) times more likely than hunt camps

in the MAV to use restricted antlerless harvest instead of restricted buck harvest. The best model

also indicated that hunt camps not under QDM were 2.2 (95% CI = 1.36 – 3.51) times more

likely than those under QDM to use restricted antlerless harvest instead of restricted buck

harvest. In the next best fitting model ( QDM Π : AICc wt = 0.31) hunt camps not under QDM were

2.2 (95% CI = 1.36 – 3.51) times more likely than hunt camps under QDM to use restricted

antlerless harvest instead of restricted buck harvest. The sum of the normalized AICc weights for

this model were 0.99 for QDM, 0.60 for DMU, and 0.16 for PROPTYPE.

Hunt Camp Habitat Management Summary

Across Arkansas, 70% of hunt camps used winter food plots as their primary habitat

management practice, while 60% and 50% of hunt camps also used supplemental feeding and

supplemental minerals, respectively (Table 19). Nearly 2.5 times more hunt camps used winter

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food plots rather than summer food plots (673 versus 284) as their primary habitat management

practice, and approximately 2 times as many hunt camps used supplemental feeding rather than

summer food plots (605 versus 284). Few hunt camps used timber management (30%),

fertilization of natural vegetation (28%), set-aside programs (19%), and prescribed burning

(11%) as their primary habitat management practice. In each DMU, winter food plots had the

highest median rank (M=1) (Tables 20-23). In the Ozarks, summer food plots and supplemental

feeding were also ranked high (M=1) (Table 20), while supplemental feeding and supplemental

minerals were highly utilized in the MAV and GCP (Tables 22 – 23). In the Ouachitas,

supplemental feeding and supplemental minerals were used commonly (M=2) (Table 21).

Habitat management practices such as prescribed burning, timber management, and set-aside

programs were typically used less across DMUs (M ≥ 5) except in the MAV, where timber

management had a median rank of 2. Across Arkansas, hunt camps had used timber

management the longest (12 years) (Table 24). In each DMU, timber harvest had been used the

longest, and there were few differences between other practices in the amount of time they had

been in use (Table 24).

Habitat Management Model Selection Results

Summer Food Plots

Model selection results for use of summer food plots instead of winter food plots as a

habitat management practice on camp property indicated 1 plausible model. In the best model

( : AICProptypeΠ c wt = 0.87) hunt camps on non-member owned leased property were 2.6 (95% CI

= 1.41 – 3.86) and 2.1 (95% CI = 1.09 – 3.39) times more likely than hunt camps on property

owned by members and industry property, respectively, to use summer food plots than winter

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food plots. The best model ( Π ) was nearly 16 times more plausible than any other model

in the candidate set.

Proptype

Model selection results for summer food plots being used rather than supplemental

feeding indicated that 1 model was plausible. In the best model ( DMUΠ : AICc wt = 0.62) hunt

camps in the Ozarks and the MAV were 1.8 (95% CI = 1.14 – 2.93) and 3.0 (95% CI = 1.71 –

5.36) times more likely, respectively, than hunt camps in the GCP to use summer food plots

rather than supplemental feeding.

Model selection results for summer food plots being used instead of supplemental

minerals indicated that 1 model was plausible. For this model ( DMUΠ : AICc wt = 0.59), we found

no differences in the use of summer food plots instead of supplemental minerals across DMUs.

Winter Food Plots

Model selection results for use of winter food plots rather than summer food plots

indicated 4 plausible models. In the best model ( ProptypeΠ : AICc wt = 0.30) hunt camps on

industry property were 1.9 (95% CI = 1.34 – 2.60) and 1.7 (95% CI = 1.16 – 2.61) times more

likely than hunt camps on hunt camp member owned property and non-member owned leased

property, respectively, to use winter food plots rather than summer food plots. In the next best

model ( : AICDMU Proptype,Π c wt = 0.27) hunt camps on industry property were 1.5 (95% CI = 1.02 –

2.22) times more likely than hunt camps on member owned property to use winter food plots

instead of summer food plots. The second model ( DMU Proptype,Π ) also indicated that hunt camps in

the GCP were 1.7 (95% CI = 1.09 – 2.52) times more likely than hunt camps in the Ozarks to use

winter food plots rather than summer food plots. In the third model ( DMUΠ : AICc wt = 0.16) hunt

camps in the Ouachitas and GCP were 2.0 (95% CI = 1.04 – 3.93) and 2.1 (95% CI = 1.45 –

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2.99) times, respectively, more likely than hunt camps in the Ozarks to use winter food plots

instead of summer food plots. In the fourth model ( QDM DMU, Proptype,Π : AICc wt = 0.14) hunt camps

in the GCP were more likely than hunt camps in the Ozarks to use winter food plots instead of

summer food plots (1.7 (95% CI = 1.09 – 2.53), and that hunt camps on industry lands were 1.5

(95% CI = 1.02 – 2.23) and 1.5 (95% CI = 1.02 – 2.35) times, respectively, more likely, than

hunt camps on camp member owned property and non-member owned least property to use

winter food plots instead of summer food plots.

QDM DMU, Proptype,

DMU, Proptype,

Model selection results for winter food plots being used rather than supplemental feeding

indicated 1 plausible model. In the best model ( Π : AICc wt = 0.86) hunt camps in

the Ouachitas and the MAV were 2.1 (95 %CI = 1.20 – 3.75) and 2.3 (95% CI = 1.47 – 3.47)

times more likely than hunt camps in the GCP to use winter food plots instead of supplemental

feeding. The best model also indicated that hunt camps under QDM were 1.6 (95% CI = 1.24 –

2.16) times more likely than those not under QDM to use winter food plots rather than

supplemental feeding.

Model selection results for use of winter food plots rather than supplemental minerals

indicated that 1 model was plausible. In the best model ( QDM Π : AICc wt = 0.55) hunt

camps under QDM were 1.5 (95% CI = 1.14 – 1.98) times more likely than hunt camps not

under QDM to use winter food plots instead of supplemental minerals. The best model also

indicated that hunt camps in the Ouachitas were 1.9 (95% CI = 1.07 – 3.43) times more likely

than hunt camps in the GCP to use winter food plots rather than supplemental minerals.

Supplemental Feeding

Model selection results for use of supplemental feeding instead of summer food plots

indicated that 4 models were plausible. In the best model ( Acre DMU, Proptype,Π : AICc wt = 0.31) hunt

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camps on industry property were 2.3 (95% CI = 1.51 – 3.61) times more likely than hunt camps

on member owned private property to use supplemental feedings rather than summer food plots.

The best model also indicated that hunt camps in the GCP were more likely to use supplemental

feeding than hunt camps in the Ozarks (1.8 (95% CI = 1.14 – 2.77)). The second model

( : AICAcre Proptype,Π c wt = 0.22) suggested that hunt camps on industry property were 3.2 (95% CI =

2.19 – 4.54) and 1.8 (95% CI = 1.19 – 2.78) times, respectively, more likely than hunt camps on

member owned private property or non-member owned leased property to use supplemental

feeding rather than summer food plots. The third and fourth models ( Acre QDM, DMU, Proptype,Π : AICc

wt = 0.22, : AICQDM DMU, Proptype,Π c wt = 0.15) both indicated that hunt camps on industry property

were more likely than hunt camps on member owned property to use supplemental feeding

instead of summer food plots (2.3(95% CI = 1.49 – 3.57)) and (2.0 (95% CI = 1.33 – 3.09)),

respectively, and that hunt camps in the GCP were more likely to use supplemental feeding

instead of summer food plots than hunt camps in the Ozarks (1.8 (95% CI = 1.14 – 2.77)) and

MAV (1.73 (95% CI = 1.11 – 2.68)), respectively. The fourth model also indicated that hunt

camps not under QDM were 1.4 (95% CI = 1.02 – 1.87) times more likely than hunt camps

under QDM to use supplemental feeding rather than summer food plots.

Acre DMU,

Model selection results for supplemental feeding being used instead of winter food plots

indicated that 2 models were plausible. In the best model ( Proptype,Π : AICc wt = 0.48) hunt

camps on industry property were 2.0 (95% CI = 1.29 – 3.01) times more likely than hunt camps

on camp member owned private property to use supplemental feeding instead of winter food

plots. The best mode also indicated that hunt camps in the Ozarks, Ouachitas and the GCP were

3.2 (95% CI = 1.55 – 6.56), 2.7 (95% CI = 1.06 – 6.61), and 3.4 (95% CI = 1.67 – 6.76) times,

respectively, more likely than camps in the MAV to use supplemental feeding instead of winter

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food plots. In the next best model ( Π : AICAcre QDM, DMU, Proptype,

DMU

c wt = 0.22) hunt camps in the

Ozarks, Ouachitas, and GCP were 3.2 (95% CI = 1.28 – 6.57), 2.7 (95% CI = 1.06 – 6.62), and

3.4 (95% CI = 1.67 – 6.78) times, respectively, more likely than camps in the MAV to use

supplemental feeding instead of winter food plots. The next best model also indicated that hunt

camps on industry property were 2.0 (95% CI = 1.28 – 2.99) times more likely than hunt camps

on member owned private property to use supplemental feeding rather than winter food plots.

Model selection results for use of supplemental feeding instead of supplemental minerals

indicated 4 plausible models. In the best model ( Π : AICc wt = 0.31) hunt camps in the

Ouachitas were 2.1 (95% CI = 1.05 – 4.08), 2.6 (95% CI = 1.23 – 5.32), and 1.9 (95% CI = 1.02

– 3.51) times, respectively, more likely than responding hunt camps in the Ozarks, MAV, and

GCP to use supplemental feeding rather than supplemental minerals. The second model

( : AICQDM DMU, Proptype,Π

ProptypeΠ

c wt = 0.19) indicated that hunt camps in the Ouachitas were 2.4 (95% CI =

1.13 – 5.14) and 1.9 (95% CI = 1.04 – 3.63) times, respectively, more likely to use supplemental

feeding instead of supplemental minerals than hunt camps in the MAV or GCP. In the third

model ( : AICc wt = 0.19) we found no differences between property types in the odds of

using supplemental feeding instead of supplemental minerals. In the fourth model ( :

AIC

DMU Proptype,Π

c wt = 0.16) hunt camps in the Ouachitas were 1.9 (95% CI = 1.04 – 3.63) times more likely

than hunt camps in the GCP to use supplemental feeding rather than supplemental minerals.

Supplemental Minerals

Model selection results for supplemental minerals being used rather than summer food

plots indicated 5 plausible models. The first model ( QDM DMU, Proptype,Π : AICc wt = 0.25) indicated

that hunt camps on industry property were 2.4 (95% CI = 1.59 – 3.71) and 1.6 (95% CI = 1.03 –

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2.59) times more likely to use supplemental minerals instead of summer food plots than hunt

camps on member owned private property and non-camp member owned leased property,

respectively. The first model also indicated that hunt camps in the Ouachitas were 3.0 (95% CI

= 1.29 – 7.08) times more likely than hunt camps in the Ozarks to use supplemental minerals

instead of summer food plots. The second model ( Acre DMU, Proptype,Π : AICc wt = 0.24) indicated that

hunt camps on non-member owned leased property were 1.6 (95% CI = 1.01 – 2.47) times more

likely than hunt camps on member owned property to use supplemental mineral instead of

summer food plots and that hunt camps on industry property were 2.7 (95% CI = 1.76 – 4.22)

and 1.7 (95% CI = 1.08 – 2.74) more times more likely to use supplemental minerals rather than

hunt camps on member owned private property and non-member owned leased property,

respectively. The second model also indicated that hunt camps in the Ouachitas were 3.0 (95%

CI = 1.30 – 7.17) times more likely than hunt camps in the Ozarks to use supplemental minerals

instead of summer food plots. The third model ( DMU Proptype,Π : AICc wt = 0.16) indicated that hunt

camps on industry property were 2.4 (95% CI = 1.56 – 3.60) times more likely than hunt camps

on non-member owned leased property to use supplemental mineral instead of summer food

plots. The third model also indicated that hunt camps in the Ouachitas were 3.0 (95% CI = 1.27

– 6.97) times more likely than hunt camps in the Ozarks to use supplemental minerals rather than

summer food plots. The fourth model ( Acre QDM, DMU, Proptype,Π : AICc wt = 0.16) indicated that hunt

camps on industry property were 2.7 (95% CI = 1.76 – 4.22) and 1.8 (95% CI = 1.09 – 2.78)

times more likely to use supplemental minerals instead of summer food plots than hunt camps on

member owned private property and non-member owned leased property, respectively. The

fourth model also suggested that hunt camps in the Ouachitas were 3.1 (95% CI = 1.31 – 7.26)

times more likely than hunt camps in the Ozarks to use supplemental minerals instead of summer

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food plots. The fifth model ( : AICAcre Proptype,Π c wt = 0.11) indicated that hunt camps on industry

property were 3.2 (95% CI = 2.18 – 4.57) and 1.9 (95% CI = 1.24 – 2.98) times more likely than

hunt camps on camp member owned property and non member owned leased property to use

supplemental minerals instead of summer food plots. The fifth model also indicated that hunt

camps on non-member owned leased property were 1.7 (95% CI = 1.07 – 2.54) times more likely

than hunt camps on camp member owned property to use supplemental minerals higher than

summer food plots.

Model selection results for use of supplemental minerals rather than winter food plots

indicated 1 plausible model. In the best model ( DMUΠ : AICc wt = 0.62) hunt camps in the GCP

were 1.6 (95% CI = 1.03 – 2.45) and 2.9 (95% CI = 1.63 – 5.21) times, respectively, more likely

that hunt camps in the Ozarks and MAV to use supplemental minerals instead of winter food

plots. The best model also suggested that hunt camps in the Ouachitas were 2.4 (95% CI = 1.03

– 5.55) times more likely than hunt camps in the MAV to use supplemental minerals rather than

winter food plots.

Model selection for use of supplemental minerals instead of supplemental feeding

indicated 2 plausible models. For these 2 models, [( ProptypeΠ : AICc wt = 0.55); ( : AICAcre Proptype,Π c

wt = 0.23) we found no differences in the odds of using supplemental minerals rather than

supplemental feeding across property types and camp size.

Hunt Camp Management for Other Wildlife

Species Management

Across Arkansas, 80% of hunt camps stated that they managed turkeys most frequently

(Table 25). Other than managing for turkeys, there was not a tendency to manage for any

particular species or species group across Arkansas (Table 25). In each DMU, turkeys were

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managed for most frequently (M=1) (Tables 26-29). In the MAV, deer camp properties managed

for waterfowl (M=1) in addition to turkeys (Table 28). Across DMUs, few hunt camps managed

for elk, feral hogs, furbearers or non-game species (M ≥ 7).

About 50% of hunt camps responded that they actively conducted habitat management

for wildlife other than white-tailed deer. Across Arkansas, hunt camps used mowing/grassland

management (66%) and timber management (51%) most often as habitat management practices

for wildlife (Table 30). As was found across Arkansas, hunt camps primarily used mowing or

grassland management when managing for other wildlife in all DMUs (Tables 31-34). In the

MAV hunt camps frequently conducted timber management (M=1), and flooding fields for

waterfowl (M=1) (Table 33). In the GCP, hunt camps used timber management most often

(M=1) (Table 34). Hunt camps in the Ozarks, Ouachitas, and GCP typically did not conduct any

management for waterfowl (either flooding fields or nest platforms/boxes) (Tables 31, 32, and

34), while hunt camps in the MAV and GCP typically did not manage for songbirds (Tables 33

and 34).

Results from Hunt Camp Management

A majority of respondents (57%) stated that they had seen an increase in the number of

bucks > 2.5 years old on their deer camps since they began using harvest and habitat

management practices on their property (Table 35). Seventy-seven percent of respondents stated

that they had not seen an increase in the number of > 4.5 years old, while 65% felt that they did

not have a more equal ratio of bucks to does on their deer camps property (Table 35). Seventy-

two percent of responding hunt camps did not collect biological data off of deer harvest by camp

members (Table 36). A majority (60%) of those camps that collect biological data from deer

harvested on deer camp properties were located in the GCP (Table 37). However, proportionally

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fewer hunt camps in the Ozarks (20%) and GCP (28%) collected biological data from harvested

deer than in the Ouachitas (31%) and MAV (35%). A majority of the hunt camps collecting

biological data were located on industry lands (60%) and proportionally more hunt camps

collected biological data from harvested deer on industry property (36%) than other property

types (Table 38).

Only 19% of hunt camps worked with an AGFC biologist in establishing deer harvest and

habitat management guidelines (Table 39). Of the 19% of hunt camps that work with an AGFC

biologist, 38% were on privately owned lands, and 40% were on industry lands while only 19%

were on private leased lands (Table 40). Regionally, a majority (53%) of hunt camps working

with an AGFC biologist were in the GCP (Table 41). Sixty percent of responding deer camps

that worked with an AGFC biologist kept biological data from deer harvested by camp members,

while only 20% of those not working with a biologist keep biological data (Table 42). In

Arkansas, only 30% of the hunt camps have sought outside management assistance or advice on

harvest and habitat management from biologists (Table 43).

Hunt Camp Management Assistance Programs Summary

Across Arkansas, a majority of hunt camps (56%) felt that the management assistance

program that would most benefit/interest their hunt camp was recommendations from a wildlife

biologist (Table 44). Hunt camps also stated that wildlife management assistance programs

(49%), population estimation (47%), and habitat development (43%) would most benefit/interest

their camps. Management assistance programs such as public information (29%), hunter

education (22%), and non-game management (7%) were less important to hunt camps. In each

DMU, wildlife biologist recommendations had a high median rank (M=1) (Table 45-48). In the

Ozarks and GCP, wildlife management assistance programs were also ranked high (Tables 45

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and 48), as was population estimation in the GCP. In each DMU, hunt camps were frequently

interested in habitat development programs, while wildlife management assistance programs and

population estimation commonly interested hunt camps in the Ouachitas and MAV (M=2) (Table

46-47). Hunt camps were typically less interested in management assistance programs such as

public information, hunter education, and non-game management assistance across DMUs (M

≥4), except in the Ouachitas, where hunter education had a median rank of 3.

Management Assistance Programs Model Selection Results

Public Information Programs

Model selection results for public information programs being more beneficial than

hunter educational programs indicated that 7 models were plausible. In the best model

( : AICQDM DMU,Π c wt = 0.19) hunt camps in the MAV and the GCP were 10.2 (95% CI = 2.11 –

49.26) and 3.7 (95% CI = 1.05 – 13.32) times more likely, respectively, than hunt camps in the

Ouachitas to feel that they would benefit more from public information programs than hunter

educational programs. The second model ( Biologist Contact, QDM, DMU, Proptype,Π : AICc wt = 0.17) indicated

that hunt camps in the MAV were 3.6 (95% CI = 1.02 – 12.55) and 11.3 (95% CI = 1.26 – 60.98)

times, respectively, more likely, to feel that they would benefit from public information

programs than respondents in the Ozarks and Ouachitas. The second model also indicated that

hunt camps in the GCP were 5.4 (95% CI = 1.38 – 21.05) times more likely than hunt camps in

the Ouachitas to feel that they would benefit from public information programs. In the second

model hunt camps that do not work with an AGFC biologist were 2.3 (95% CI = 1.03 – 5.29)

times more likely than hunt camps working with an AGFC biologist to feel that they would

benefit from public information programs. The third model ( QDM Proptype,Π : AICc wt = 0.11)

indicated that hunt camps on member owned property were 2.3 (95% CI = 1.15 – 4.70) times

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more likely than hunt camps on industry property to feel that they would benefit from public

information programs more than hunter educational programs. The fourth model ( :

AIC

DMU Proptype,Π

c wt = 0.11), and fifth model ( : AICContact DMU,Π c wt = 0.11) both suggested that hunt camps in

the MAV and GCP were more likely than hunt camps in the Ouachitas to feel that they would

benefit from public information programs than hunter educational programs. The sixth model

( : AICProptypeΠ c wt = 0.09) indicated the same results as those found in the third model, and the

seventh model ( : AICDMUΠ C wt = 0.08) had the same results as those in the first and fourth

models.

BiologistΠ

BiologistΠ

Hunter Educational Programs

Model selection results for hunter educational programs being more beneficial than

public information programs indicated that 3 models were plausible. For these three models

( : AICc wt = 0.37, Π : AICQDM c wt = 0.22, DMUΠ : AICc wt = 0.14) we found no differences

in the odds of a hunt camp benefiting more from hunter educational programs rather than public

informational programs.

Wildlife Management Assistance Programs

Model selection results for wildlife management assistance programs (WMAP) being

more beneficial than management recommendations from a biologist indicated that 3 models

were plausible. The first two models ( : AICc wt = 0.40, QDMΠ : AICc wt = 0.17) indicated

no differences in the odds of hunt camps thinking that WMAP is more beneficial than

management recommendations from a biologist. The third model ( ProptypeΠ : AICc wt = 0.15)

suggested that hunt camps on property owned by camp members were 1.8 (95% CI = 1.06 –

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2.99) times more likely than hunt camps on industry property to feel that they would benefit

from WMAP rather than biologist recommendations.

Model selection results for WMAP being more beneficial than population estimation

indicated that 1 model was plausible. In the best model ( Contact DMU,Π : AICc wt = 0.45) hunt camps

in the Ozarks were 2.2 (95% CI = 1.27 – 3.67) times more likely than respondents in the GCP to

feel that they would benefit from WMAP rather than population estimation. The best model also

indicated that landowners were 2.2 (95% CI = 1.19 – 4.13) times more likely than camp

managers to feel that their camp would benefit from WMAP rather than population estimation.

Model selection results for WMAP being more beneficial than habitat development

indicated that 2 models were plausible. In the best model ( Contact Proptype,Π : AICc wt = 0.40) camp

mangers were 2.8 (95% CI = 1.43 – 5.36) times more likely than landowners to feel that WMAP

is more beneficial than habitat development assistance. The next best model ( Π : AICBiologist c wt =

0.31) suggested that hunt camps not working with an AGFC biologist were 1.6 (95% CI = 1.05 -

2.35) times more likely than camps working with an AGFC biologist to feel that WMAP

programs would be more beneficial than habitat development assistance.

Management Recommendations from a Biologist

Model selection results for management recommendations from a biologist being more

beneficial than WMAP indicated that 2 models were plausible. In the best model ( :

AIC

BiologistΠ

c wt = 0.59) hunt camps not working with an AGFC biologist were 1.7 (95% CI = 1.15 –

2.37) times more likely than hunt camps working with a AGFC biologist to feel that management

recommendations from a biologist are more beneficial than WMAP. The next best model

( : AICBiologist Contact, QDM, DMU, Proptype,Π c wt = 0.25) suggested that hunt camps on member owned

private property were 1.9 (95% CI = 1.05 -3.54) times more likely than hunt camps on non-

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member owned leased property to feel that management recommendations are more beneficial

than WMAP. The next best model also indicated that hunt camps under QDM were 1.5 (95% CI

= 1.05 – 2.13) times more likely than camps not under QDM to feel that management

recommendations are more beneficial than WMAP. The second model also indicated that camp

managers were 1.9 (95%CI = 1.06 – 3.52) times more likely than landowners to benefit from

management recommendations rather than WMAP. The second model also indicated that hunt

camps that not working with an AGFC biologist were more likely than those working with an

AGFC biologist to benefit from management recommendations rather than WMAP (1.9 (95% CI

= 1.33 – 2.96)).

Model selection results for management recommendations from a wildlife biologist being

more beneficial than population estimation indicated that 6 models were plausible. In the best

model ( : AICDMU Proptype,Π c wt = 0.22) hunt camps on member owned private property were 1.7

(95% CI = 1.04 – 2.66) times more likely to think that management recommendations were more

beneficial than population estimation than hunt camps on non-member owned leased property.

The best model also suggested that hunt camps in the Ozarks were 1.9 (95% CI = 1.13 – 3.09)

times more likely than hunt camps in the GCP to feel that management recommendations were

more beneficial than population estimation. The second model ( ProptypeΠ : AICc wt = 0.21)

indicated that hunt camps on privately owned camp member property were 1.8 (95% CI = 1.18 –

2.94) and 1.9 (95% CI = 1.37 – 2.84) times more likely than hunt camps on leased property or

hunt camps on industry property, respectively, to think management recommendations were

more beneficial that population estimation. The third model ( DMUΠ : AICc wt = 0.15) indicated

that hunt camps in the Ozarks and the MAV were 2.2 (95% CI = 1.46 – 3.42) and 1.7 (95% CI =

1.05 – 2.79) times more likely, respectively, than hunt camps in the GCP to feel that their hunt

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camps would benefit more from management recommendations than population estimation. The

fourth model ( Π : AICQDM Proptype,

Contact DMU,

c wt = 0.13) indicated that hunt camps on member owned private

property were 1.9 (95% CI = 1.19 – 2.99) and 2.0 (95% CI = 1.37 – 2.84) times more likely,

respectively, than hunt camps on non-member owned leased property and industry property to

feel that management recommendations were more beneficial than population estimation. The

fifth model ( : AICΠ c wt = 0.09) and sixth model ( QDM DMU,Π : AICc wt = 0.09) both

suggested that hunt camps in the Ozarks were 1.9 (95% CI = 1.19 – 3.06) and 2.2 (95% CI =

1.46 – 3.41) times more likely than hunt camps in the GCP to feel that management

recommendations were more beneficial than population estimation, while the sixth model also

indicated that hunt camps in the MAV were 1.7 (95% CI = 1.06 – 2.85) times more likely than

hunt camps in the GCP to feel that management recommendations were more beneficial than

population estimation.

Biologist

Model selection results for management recommendations for a biologist being more

beneficial than habitat development assistance indicated that 2 models were plausible. In the

best model ( Π : AICc wt = 0.52) hunt camps not working with an AGFC biologist were 1.5

(95% CI = 1.02 – 2.12) times more likely than hunt camps working with an AGFC biologist to

feel that management recommendations would be more beneficial than habitat development

assistance. In the second model ( Π : AICContact Proptype, c wt = 0.27) hunt camps on member owned

private property were 2.1 (95% CI = 1.16 – 3.84) and 1.8 (95% CI = 1.03 – 3.21) times more

likely, respectively, than hunt camps on non-member owned leased property and industry

property, to feel that management recommendations were more beneficial than habitat

development. The second model also suggested that camp managers were 2.4 (95% CI = 1.26 –

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4.43) times more likely than land managers to benefit more from management recommendations

than habitat development.

Population/Density Estimation

Model selection results for population estimation being more beneficial than WMAP

indicated that 4 models were plausible. In the first 3 models ( BiologistΠ : AICc wt =

0.29, Π : AICQDM Proptype,

Proptype

c wt = 0.21, Π : AICQDM c wt = 0.20) we found no differences in hunt camps

regarding population estimation being more beneficial than WMAP. The fourth model

( : AICΠ c wt = 0.17) suggested that hunt camps on industry property were 1.7 (95% CI =

1.03 – 2.64) times more likely than hunt camps on member owned property to get more benefit

from population estimation than WMAP.

Model selection results for population estimation being more beneficial than management

recommendations from a biologist indicated that 6 models were plausible. Results across this set

of models indicated no differences between hunt camps regarding population estimation and

management recommendations from a biologist.

Habitat Development Management Assistance

Model selection results for habitat development being more beneficial than WMAP

indicated that 1 model was plausible. The best model ( BiologistΠ : AICc wt = 0.40) indicated that

hunt camps not working with an AGFC biologist were 1.8 (95% CI = 1.17 – 2.65) times more

likely than hunt camps working with a AGFC biologist to get more benefit from habitat

development than WMAP.

Model selection results for habitat development being more beneficial than management

recommendations from a biologist indicated that 5 models were plausible. Results across this set

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of models indicated no differences between hunt camps regarding habitat development and

management recommendations from a biologist.

Hunt Camp Information Interests

Across Arkansas, other than information on prescribed burning, clubs were interested in

all other information types (Table 49). Across DMUs, hunt camps were typically not as

interested in information on hunting techniques, forest management, or prescribed burning, (M ≤

3), except in the Ozarks, where forest management had a median rank of 4 (Table 50).

Proportional Odds Modeling

Camp managers were 1.6 (95% CI = 1.08 – 2.33) times more likely to be more interested

in information on white-tailed deer behavior than landowners. Camps on member owned private

property were 1.9 (95% CI = 1.25 – 2.89) times more likely to be interested forest management

information than camps on non-member owned leased property and 1.8 (95% CI = 1.21 – 2.72)

times more likely than camps on industry land to be interested forest management information.

Hunt camps in the Ozarks were 1.6 (95% CI = 1.08 – 2.47) times more likely to be interested

forest management information than camps in the MAV and 1.7 (95% CI = 1.17 – 2.41) times

more likely than camps in the GCP. Camp managers were 1.9 (95% CI = 1.09 – 9.37) times

more likely to be interested forest management information than landowners, while land

managers were 1.6 (95% CI = 1.05 – 2.53) times more likely to be interested forest management

information than camp managers. Camps on member owned private property were 1.6 (95% CI

= 1.05 – 2.49) times more likely to be interested in information interest on prescribed burning

than camps non-member owned leased property. Camps in the Ozarks were 2.0 (95% CI = 1.11

– 3.40); 2.7 (95% CI = 1.75 – 4.09); and 2.0 (95% CI = 1.38 – 2.87) times more likely to be

interested in information interest on prescribed burning than camps in the Ouachitas, MAV, and

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GCP, respectively. Landowners and land managers were 1.7 (95% CI = 1.12 – 2.59) and 2.0

(95% CI = 1.29 – 3.19) times, respectively, more likely to be interested in information on

prescribed burning than camp managers. Camps in the Ozarks and GCP were 2.1 (95% CI =

1.22 – 3.70) and 1.8 (95% CI = 1.11 – 2.99) times more likely to be interested in information on

white-tailed deer genetics than camps in the Ouachitas. Camp managers were 1.5 (95% CI =

1.03 – 2.19) times more likely than landowners to rank interest in supplemental feeding

information higher. We found no differences in information interests in aging techniques, food

plots, wildlife plants, Quality Deer Management techniques across property types, deer

management units, or contact category.

Hunt Camp Delivery Method Interests

Across Arkansas, except for AGFC seminars, all forms of delivery method of deer

management information were rated about the same (high) based on median scores (Table 54).

In each DMU, respondents were usually less interested in AGFC seminars (M=3) than other

categories, but there was little difference among other categories (Tables 55 - 58).

Goals and Future Management Options

The current goal of the AGFC deer program is to “maintain a healthy deer herd with a

balanced sex and age structure at a level that is consistent with long-term habitat capability and

to maintain deer populations and parameters at levels that are consistent with public satisfaction

and acceptance.” We asked respondents whether they felt that the AGFC was doing a good job

of managing the white-tailed deer herd to meet this objective. Eighty percent of respondents felt

that the AGFC was doing a good job of managing the statewide deer herd to meet these goals

(Table 59).

Hunt Camp State Management Options Summary

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Across Arkansas, 35% of hunt camps felt that expanding educational efforts for hunters

and hunt camps on deer management assistance for private lands was the most important

management option for the AGFC, while 30% felt that increased antlerless hunting opportunities

was the most important management option (Table 60). Few hunt camps ranked reduction in

buck season length (15%), buck bag limit (12%), or hunting permit quotas for bucks (7%) as the

most important future management option. Expanding educational efforts on deer management

assistance for private lands had the highest median rank (M=2) across Arkansas (Table 60). In

each DMU, expanding educational efforts for hunters and hunt camps on deer management

assistance for private lands had the highest median rank (M=2) followed by increased deer

research and increased public information on proper deer management techniques (M=3) (Tables

61-64). Respondents typically gave lower ranks for future management option that regulated or

restricted harvest of antlered white-tailed deer (M≥6 in each DMU, Tables 61-64).

Hunt Camp Wildlife Related Recreation and Public Hunting

Forty percent of hunt camps offered wildlife observation and had on average 10

individuals involved, while 34% of respondents had fishing on their camps with an average of 9

individuals involved (Table 65). Most hunt camps (82%) allowed guests of hunt camp members

to harvest antlerless deer on camp properties (Table 66).

Hunt Camp Problems and Concerns Summary

Thirty-two percent of hunt camps felt that illegal hunting (poaching) and trespassing were

the greatest problems on their hunt camp property (Table 67). Hunt camps commonly stated that

unauthorized hunting of deer (30%) and non-members hunting near camp boundaries (30%)

were the greatest problems on their hunt camp. Few hunt camps ranked hunter safety (7%)

among the greatest problems on hunt camp properties. In each DMU, hunt camp problems were

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illegal hunting (M=3), followed by trespassing (M=2 or 3), and unauthorized hunting (M=3)

(Tables 68-71, respectively). In each DMU, there was little concern of respondents for hunter

safety (M=7), and unauthorized hunting of other wildlife (M=5) (Tables 68-71).

ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS

This research was supported by the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission and the

Arkansas Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, under University of Arkansas

Institutional Review Board Protocol # 02174. We thank A. Marston for her administrative

assistance. We thank G. R. Woods and D. C. Guynn for providing example survey instruments.

We thank R. A. James, F. L. Loncarich, M. Cartwright, and D. Urbston for providing valuable

assistance and comments on survey design. We thank N. Myatt for assistance in figure creation.

We thank J. E. Dunn and G. Petris for assistance with statistical analysis and interpretation.

Model selection and interpretation was greatly facilitated by a SAS macro written by W. L.

Thompson. None of this could have been possible without the hunt camps involvement in this

study and assistance from the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission staff.

.

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W. H. Freeman and Company, New York, New York.

Powell, D. S., J. L. Faulkner, D. R. Darr, Z. Zhu, and D. W. MacCleery. 1994. Forest resources

of the United States, 1992. General Technical Report RM-234, Fort Collins, Colorado.

Royall, R. 1997. Statistical evidence: a likelihood paradigm. Chapman and Hall, New York,

New York.

SAS Institute, Inc. 2000. SAS language reference dictionary. Version 8. SAS Institute, Inc.,

Cary, North Carolina.

Smith, K. G., R. S. Dzur, D. G. Catanzaro, M. E. Gardner, and W. F. Limp. 1998. The Arkansas

GAP Analysis Project: Final Report. Center for Advance Spatial Technologies,

University of Arkansas, Fayetteville.

United States Department of the Interior. 2001. National survey of hunting, fishing, and

wildlife-associated recreation. U.S. Department of the Interior, U.S. Fish and Wildlife

Service, U. S. Department of Commerce, U. S. Census Bureau Washington, D.C., USA.

Woods, G. R., D. C. Guynn, W. E. Hammitt, and M. E. Patterson. 1996. Determinants of

participant satisfaction with quality deer management. Wildlife Society Bulletin 24:318-

324.

47

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Statewide Regulations Buck Bag Limit, Antler Restrictions

Regional (DMU) Regulations Doe Bag Limit, Season Length

Zone (DMZ) Regulations Season Length

Permit/Quota on WMAs, NWRs Private Land Regulations

Mandatory Doe / Restricted Buck Inter Zone Regulations

Figure 1. Hierarchical structure of deer harvest regulation in Arkansas. Regulations at large

scales are typically broad (e.g. bag limits and season lengths) and more restrictive at smaller

scales (e.g. permit hunts on wildlife management areas).

48

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Figure 2. Delineation of Arkansas Deer Management Units (DMUs) used in this study.

49

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Table 1. Form, notation, and description of candidate models used to estimate log-odds between response categories for hunt camp

contact survey question on white-tailed deer harvest management strategies in excess of state regulations in Arkansas.

Model Form Model Notation Model Description

)QDM(ˆ)DMU(ˆ)Proptype(ˆˆp1

pln 3210i

i β+β+β+β=

QDM DMU, Proptype,Π Log-odds differ by property ownership status1,

deer management unit2, and QDM3 strategy

)DMU(ˆ)Proptype(ˆˆp1

pln 210i

i β+β+β=

DMU Proptype,Π Log-odds differ by property ownership status and

deer management unit

)QDM(ˆ)Proptype(ˆˆp1

pln 210i

i β+β+β=

QDM Proptype,Π Log-odds differ by property ownership status and

QDM strategy

)QDM(ˆ)DMU(ˆˆp1

pln 210i

i β+β+β=

QDM Region,Π Log-odds differ by deer management unit and

QDM strategy

)Proptype(ˆˆp1

pln 10i

i β+β=

ProptypeΠ Log-odds differ by property ownership status

)DMU(ˆˆp1

pln 10i

i β+β=

DMUΠ Log-odds differ by deer management unit

)QDM(ˆˆp1

pln 10i

i β+β=

QDM Π Log-odds differ by QDM strategy

1 Property Ownership Categories: Private Owned by Camp Members, Privately Owned Leased Land, and Industry Land. 2 Deer Management Unit Categories: Ozarks, Ouachitas, Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAV), and Gulf Coastal Plain (GCP). 3 QDM Strategy Categories: Under QDM or Not Under QDM.

50

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Table 2. Form, notation, and description of candidate models used to estimate log-odds between response categories for hunt camp

contact question on white-tailed deer habitat management practices used by hunt camps in Arkansas.

Model Form Model Notation Model Description

Acre)(ˆ)QDM(ˆ)DMU(ˆ)Proptype(ˆˆp1

pln 43210

i

i β+β+β+β+β=

Acre QDM, DMU, Proptype,Π Log-odds differ by property ownership

status1, deer management unit2, QDM3

strategy and hunt camp size4

Acre)(ˆ)DMU(ˆ)Proptype(ˆˆp1

pln 3210i

i β+β+β+β=

Acre DMU, Proptype,Π Log-odds differ by property ownership

status, deer management unit, and hunt

camp size

QDM)(ˆ)DMU(ˆ)Proptype(ˆˆp1

pln 3210

i

i β+β+β+β=

QDM DMU, Proptype,Π Log-odds differ by property ownership

status, deer management unit, and

QDM strategy

)Acre(ˆ)DMU(ˆˆp1

pln 210

i

i β+β+β=

Acre DMU,Π Log-odds differ by deer management

unit and hunt camp size

)Acre(ˆ)Proptype(ˆˆp1

pln 210

i

i β+β+β=

Acre Proptype,Π Log-odds differ by property ownership

status and hunt camp size

DMU)(ˆ)Proptype(ˆˆp1

pln 210

i

i β+β+β=

DMU Proptype,Π Log-odds differ by property ownership

status and Deer Management Unit

)DMU(ˆˆp1

pln 10

i

i β+β=

DMUΠ Log-odds differ by deer management

unit

51

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)Proptype(ˆˆp1

pln 10

i

i β+β=

Proptype Π Log-odds differ by property ownership

status

1 Property Ownership Categories: Private Owned by Camp Members, Privately Owned Leased Land, and Industry Land. 2 Deer Management Unit Categories: Ozarks, Ouachitas, Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAV), and Gulf Coastal Plain (GCP). 3 QDM Strategy Categories: Under QDM or Not Under QDM. 4 Hunt Camp Size Categories: < 1000ac, 1000 – 3000ac, > 3000ac.

52

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Table 3. Form, notation, and description of candidate models used to estimate log-odds between response categories for hunt camp

contact survey question on Arkansas Game and Fish Commission management assistance program interest in Arkansas.

Model Form Model Notation Model Description

)Biologist(ˆ)Contact(ˆ

)QDM(ˆ)DMU(ˆ)Proptype(ˆˆp1

pln

54

3210i

i

β+β

+β+β+β+β=

Biologist Contact, QDM, DMU, Proptype,Π Log-odds differ by property ownership

status1, deer management unit2, QDM3

strategy, contact type4, and biologist

contact5

)Contact(ˆ)DMU(ˆ)Proptype(ˆˆp1

pln 3210

i

i β+β+β+β=

Contact DMU, Proptype,Π Log-odds differ by property ownership

status, deer management unit, and

contact type

)DMU(ˆ)Proptype(ˆˆp1

pln 210

i

i β+β+β=

DMU Proptype,Π Log-odds differ by property ownership

status and deer management unit

)Contact(ˆ)Proptype(ˆˆp1

pln 210i

i β+β+β=

Contact Proptype,Π Log-odds differ by property ownership

status and contact type

)Contact(ˆ)DMU(ˆˆp1

pln 210

i

i β+β+β=

Contact DMU,Π Log-odds differ by deer management

unit and contact type

53

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)QDM(ˆ)DMU(ˆˆp1

pln 210

i

i β+β+β=

QDM DMU,Π Log-odds differ by deer management

unit and QDM strategy

)QDM(ˆ)Proptype(ˆˆp1

pln 210

i

i β+β+β=

QDM Proptype,Π Log-odds differ by property ownership

status and QDM strategy

)Proptype(ˆˆp1

pln 10i

i β+β=

ProptypeΠ Log-odds differ by property ownership

status

)DMU(ˆˆp1

pln 10

i

i β+β=

DMUΠ Log-odds differ by deer management

unit

)Biologist(ˆˆp1

pln 10i

i β+β=

BiologistΠ Log-odds differ by biologist contact

)QDM(ˆˆp1

pln 10i

i β+β=

QDMΠ Log-odds differ by QDM strategy

1 Property Ownership Categories: Private Owned by Camp Members, Privately Owned Leased Land, and Industry Land. 2 Deer Management Unit Categories: Ozarks, Ouachitas, Mississippi Alluvial Plain (MAV), and Gulf Coastal Plain (GCP). 3 QDM Strategy Categories: Under QDM or Not Under QDM. 4 Contact Type Categories: Landowner, Land manager, Camp manager. 5 Biologist Contact Categories: Work with Biologist or Do Not Work with Biologist

54

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Table 4. County level frequency, total acreage, and mean acreage (SE) of responding hunt

camps in Arkansas.

County No. Responding Camps Total Acres Mean Acreage (SE)

Arkansas 21 28,143 1,340 (242)

Ashley 63 91,477 1,452 (115)

Baxter 6 5,994 999 (146)

Benton 1 1,400 1,400 (---)

Boone 4 7,800 1,950 (523)

Bradley 48 97,960 2,040 (237)

Calhoun 41 70,884 1,728 (200)

Carroll 3 2,673 891 (207)

Chicot 13 35,355 2,719 (541)

Clark 62 88,372 1,425 (145)

Clay 0 0 0

Cleburne 11 13,222 1,202 (288)

Cleveland 44 62,532 1,421 (177)

Columbia 32 42,139 1,316 (161)

Conway 14 13,880 991 (235)

Craighead 0 0 0

Crawford 1 563 563 (---)

Crittenden 2 12,200 6,100 (5,900)

Cross 1 700 700 (---)

Dallas 52 89,746 1,725 (204)

Desha 23 45,786 1,990 (346)

Drew 47 65,884 1,401 (161)

Faulkner 6 6,336 1,056 (232)

Franklin 1 410 410 (---)

Fulton 29 30,325 1,045 (135)

Garland 6 12,635 2,105 (818)

Grant 26 60,142 2,313 (425)

Greene 0 0 0

55

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Hempstead 27 29,093 1,077 (154)

Hot Springs 10 21,711 2,171 (386)

Howard 12 61,781 5,148 (2,870)

Independence 15 19,861 1,324 (293)

Izard 35 40,211 1,148 (173)

Jackson 2 6,400 3,200 (2,800)

Jefferson 8 11,869 1,483 (273)

Johnson 5 4,589 917 (231)

Lafayette 15 19,623 1,308 (289)

Lawrence 11 12,163 1105 (256)

Lee 1 10,000 10,000 (---)

Lincoln 26 22,425 862 (154)

Little River 9 13,972 1,552 (490)

Logan 6 4,770 795 (164)

Lonoke 4 2,425 606 (165)

Madison 9 7,456 828 (200)

Marion 6 6,044 1007 (222)

Miller 4 3,617 904 (338)

Mississippi 1 1,200 1,200 (---)

Monroe 7 8,586 1,226 (230)

Montgomery 2 1,000 500 (200)

Nevada 34 51,084 1,502 (199)

Newton 1 1,540 1,540 (---)

Ouachita 44 67,572 1,535 (164)

Perry 4 16,876 4,219 (1,434)

Phillips 5 16,212 3,242 (1,377)

Pike 9 14,182 1,575 (352)

Poinsett 1 1,386 1,386 (---)

Polk 5 16,747 3,349 (1,707)

Pope 4 1,179 294 (24)

Prairie 16 20,375 1,273 (460)

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Pulaski 2 9,500 4,750 (1,250)

Randolph 15 12,713 847 (161)

St. Francis 3 6,610 2,203 (1,412)

Saline 19 46,705 2,458 (484)

Scott 0 0 0

Searcy 6 7,832 1,305 (304)

Sebastian 0 0 0

Sevier 2 1,848 924 (474)

Sharp 34 28,589 840 (273)

Stone 11 10,080 916 (173)

Union 61 128,814 2,111 (245)

Van Buren 16 27,129 1,695 (541)

Washington 13 11,966 920 (245)

White 28 28,887 1,031 (101)

Woodruff 16 24,211 1,513 (380)

Yell 8 22,396 2,799 (1,901)

Total 1,129 1,769,787

57

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Table 5. Number respondents, total acreage, and mean acreage (SE) of responding hunt camps by

Deer Management Unit in Arkansas.

DMU

No. Responding

Camps

Total Camp

Acreage

Mean Camp Acreage

(SE)

Ozarks 226 241,576 1,069 (74)

Ouachitas 72 150,845 2,095 (308)

Mississippi Alluvial Plain 152 254,029 1,671 (151)

Gulf Coastal Plain 666 1,095,016 1,644 (74)

Table 6. Number respondents, total number of members, and mean number of hunt camps

members by Deer Management Unit (DMU) in Arkansas.

DMU No. Responding

Camps

Total No.

Members

Mean No. Members

(SE)

Ozarks 223 2,886 13 (0.88)

Ouachitas 72 1,642 23 (3.15)

Mississippi Alluvial Plain 144 2,222 15 (1.20)

Gulf Coastal Plain 659 11,399 17 (0.40)

58

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Table 7. Property ownership status for responding hunt camps by Deer Management Unit

(DMU) and statewide in Arkansas.

Deer Management Unit

Property Type

Ozarks

Ouachitas

Mississippi

Plain

Gulf Coastal

Plain

Statewide

Privately Owned

(Member)

157

(67%)

26

(35%)

99

(63%)

114

(16%)

400

(34%)

Privately Owned

(Leased)

57

(24%)

8

(11%)

34

(22%)

120

(17%)

226

(19%)

Industry Land

(Leased)

13

(5%)

36

(49%)

23

(15%)

448

(66%)

530

(45%)

Public Land 8

(3%)

3

(4%)

0

(0%)

2

(1%)

13

(1%)

Table 8. Property ownership status of responding deer camps under a Quality Deer Management

(QDM) program in Arkansas.

Under QDM

Privately

Owned

(Member)

Privately

Owned

(Leased)

Industry Land

(Leased)

Public Land

Statewide

Yes

161

(40%)

80

(35%)

224

(42%)

0

(0%)

465

(40%)

No 239

(60%)

146

(65%)

306

(58%)

13

(100%)

704

(60%)

59

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Table 9. Responding deer camps under a Quality Deer Management (QDM) program by Deer

Management Unit (DMU) in Arkansas.

Under QDM

Ozarks

Ouachitas

Mississippi

Alluvial Plain

Gulf Coastal

Plain

Statewide

Yes

77

(33%)

27

(39%)

79

(51%)

273

(40%)

456

(40%)

No 158

(67%)

45

(61%)

77

(49%)

413

(60%)

639

(60%)

Table 10. Management objectives of responding hunt camps under a Quality Deer Management

(QDM) program in Arkansas.

Maintain

Present

Density

Increase

Deer

Density

Improve Antler

Development/Physical

Condition

Trophy Deer

Management

No

Response

Under

QDM

34

(7%)

33

(7%)

286

(61%)

88

(19%)

24

(5%)

60

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Table 11. Management objective of responding hunt camps under a Quality Deer Management

(QDM) program by property ownership status in Arkansas.

Property Type

Maintain

Present

Density

Increase

Deer

Density

Improve Antler

Development/Physical

Condition

Trophy Deer

Management

Total

Under

QDM

Privately Owned

(Member)

8

(5%)

16

(11%)

78

(52%)

48

(32%)

150

(34%)

Privately Owned

(Leased)

9

(12%)

3

(4%)

51

(68%)

12

(16%)

75

(17%)

Industry Land

(Leased)

17

(8%)

14

(6%)

156

(73%)

27

(13%)

214

(49%)

Table 12. Frequency and level of hunter pressure controlled by

responding hunt camps in Arkansas.

Control Pressure

Always

Usually

Sometimes

Never

No

Response

Control

Pressure

627

(53%)

298

(25%)

80

(7%)

151

(13%)

28

(2%)

61

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Table 13. Frequency of hunt camps controlling hunter pressure that are

under a Quality Deer Management (QDM) program in Arkansas.

Control Pressure

Always Usually Sometimes Never

Under QDM

290

(63%)

107

(23%)

20

(4%)

44

(10%)

62

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Table 14. Response frequencies of harvest management strategies in excess of minimum state regulations in use by hunt camps in Arkansas. Rank levels are

from 1 (practice most used) to 7 (practice least used).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Restrictive Management Practices

Most Used

1

2

3

4

5

6

Least Used

7

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Mandatory Doe Harvest

191

(47%)

53

(13%)

46

(11%)

32

(8%)

28

(7%)

14

(4%)

42

(10%)

2.66 (0.10)

2

Doe Harvest before Buck Harvest 49

(18%)

22

(8%)

25

(9%)

27

(10%)

44

(16%)

44

(16%)

65

(23%)

4.40 (0.13) 5

Four-Point Rule or Greater 205

(51%)

34

(8%)

33

(8%)

24

(6%)

22

(5%)

30

(8%)

57

(1%)

2.86 (0.11) 1

Minimum Inside Spread 88

(28%)

31

(10%)

20

(6%)

36

(12%)

37

(12%)

32

(10%)

70

(22%)

3.89 (0.13) 4

Restricted Buck Harvest 156

(43%)

47

(13%)

49

(13%)

32

(9%)

22

(6%)

14

(4%)

46

(12%)

2.84 (0.11) 2

Restricted Antlerless Harvest 317

(60%)

64

(12%)

52

(10%)

35

(7%)

16

(3%)

14

(3%)

28

(5%)

2.09 (0.08) 1

63

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Table 15. Response frequencies of harvest management strategies in excess of minimum state regulations in use by hunt camps in the Ozarks DMU. Rank levels

are from 1 (practice most used) to 7 (practice least used).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Restrictive Management Practices

Most Used

1

2

3

4

5

6

Least Used

7

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Mandatory Doe Harvest

32

(43%)

10

(13%)

7

(9%)

8

(11%)

4

(5%)

5

(7%)

9

(12%)

2.91 (0.25)

2

Doe Harvest before Buck Harvest 7

(13%)

5

(9%)

4

(7%)

4

(7%)

14

(26%)

8

(15%)

12

(22%)

4.57 (0.28) 5

Four-point Rule or Greater 43

(52%)

8

(10%)

7

(9%)

6

(6%)

4

(5%)

5

(6%)

9

(11%)

2.64 (0.24) 1

Minimum Inside Spread 11

(20%)

5

(9%)

5

(9%)

7

(13%)

9

(17%)

8

(15%)

9

(17%)

4.07 (0.29) 4

Restricted Buck Harvest 32

(44%)

10

(14%)

11

(15%)

9

(12%)

2

(3%)

4

(5%)

5

(7%)

2.60 (0.22) 2

Restricted Antlerless Harvest 65

(61%)

12

(11%)

10

(9%)

10

(9%)

5

(5%)

3

(3%)

2

(2%)

2.02 (0.15) 1

64

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Table 16. Response frequencies of harvest management strategies in excess of minimum state regulations in use by hunt camps in the Ouachitas DMU. Rank

levels are from 1 (practice most used) to 7 (practice least used).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Restrictive Management Practices

Most Used

1

2

3

4

5

6

Least Used

7

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Mandatory Doe Harvest

10

(42%)

2

(8%)

3

(13%)

3

(13%)

2

(8%)

0

(0%)

4

(17%)

2.04 (0.46)

2

Doe Harvest before Buck Harvest 4

(22%)

0

(0%)

1

(6%)

2

(11%)

4

(22%)

2

(11%)

5

(28%)

4.56 (0.54) 5

Four-point Rule or Greater 6

(26%)

4

(17%)

1

(4%)

2

(9%)

1

(4%)

1

(4%)

8

(35%)

4.00 (0.54) 4

Minimum Inside Spread 3

(14%)

3

(14%)

3

(14%)

1

(5%)

2

(9%)

3

(14%)

7

(32%)

4.50 (0.49) 5

Restricted Buck Harvest 8

(35%)

3

(13%)

3

(13%)

1

(4%)

1

(4%)

1

(4%)

6

(26%)

3.48 (0.53) 3

Restricted Antlerless Harvest 15

(54%)

2

(7%)

0

(0%)

3

(11%)

2

(7%)

2

(7%)

4

(14%)

2.89 (0.45) 1

65

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Table 17. Response frequencies of harvest management strategies in excess of minimum state regulations in use by hunt camps in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain

DMU. Rank levels are from 1 (practice most used) to 7 (practice least used).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Restrictive Management Practices

Most Used

1

2

3

4

5

6

Least Used

7

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Mandatory Doe Harvest

32

(51%)

6

(10%)

6

(10%)

5

(8%)

6

(10%)

2

(3%)

6

(10%)

2.63 (0.26)

1

Doe Harvest before Buck Harvest 8

(21%)

3

(8%)

5

(13%)

0

(0%)

2

(5%)

11

(29%)

9

(24%)

4.42 (0.39) 6

Four-point Rule or Greater 49

(59%)

8

(10%)

9

(11%)

4

(5%)

4

(5%)

4

(5%)

5

(6%)

2.25 (0.21) 1

Minimum Inside Spread 26

(47%)

6

(11%)

2

(4%)

7

(13%)

5

(9%)

2

(4%)

7

(13%)

2.87 (0.30) 2

Restricted Buck Harvest 29

(44%)

11

(17%)

14

(21%)

3

(5%)

1

(2%)

1

(2%)

7

(11%)

2.50 (0.24) 2

Restricted Antlerless Harvest 42

(58%)

9

(13%)

6

(8%)

10

(14%)

3

(4%)

0

(0%)

2

(3%)

2.04 (0.18) 1

66

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Table 18. Response frequencies of harvest management strategies in excess of minimum state regulations in use by hunt camps in the Gulf Coastal Plain DMU.

Rank levels are from 1 (practice most used) to 7 (practice least used).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Restrictive Management Practices

Most Used

1

2

3

4

5

6

Least Used

7

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Mandatory Doe Harvest

113

(49%)

31

(13%)

30

(13%)

15

(6%)

15

(6%)

7

(3%)

22

(9%)

2.56 (0.13)

2

Doe Harvest before Buck Harvest 28

(18%)

14

(9%)

15

(10%)

19

(12%)

22

(14%)

23

(15%)

35

(22%)

4.29 (0.17) 5

Four-point Rule or Greater 105

(51%)

13

(6%)

14

(7%)

12

(6%)

12

(6%)

18

(9%)

33

(16%)

2.99 (0.17) 1

Minimum Inside Spread 45

(26%)

17

(10%)

10

(6%)

19

(11%)

21

(12%)

16

(9%)

44

(26%)

4.03 (0.18) 4

Restricted Buck Harvest 84

(44%)

23

(12%)

19

(10%)

19

(10%)

14

(7%)

7

(4%)

27

(14%)

2.92 (0.16) 2

Restricted Antlerless Harvest 185

(61%)

40

(13%)

32

(11%)

12

(4%)

6

(2%)

8

(3%)

19

(6%)

2.05 (0.10) 1

67

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Table 19. Response frequencies of habitat management practices in use by hunt camps in Arkansas. Rank levels are from 1 (practice most used) to 9 (practice

least used).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Habitat Management Practices

Most Used

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Least Used

9

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Summer Food Plots

284

(42%)

76

(11%)

66

(10%)

83

(12%)

62

(9%)

17

(3%)

18

(3%)

15

(2%)

59

(9%)

3.17 (0.10)

2

Winter Food Plots 673

(70%)

146

(15%)

60

(6%)

30

(3%)

23

(2%)

6

(1%)

6

(1%)

2

(0.5%)

20

(2%)

1.71 (0.05) 1

Fertilization of Vegetation 153

(28%)

39

(7%)

67

(12%)

66

(12%)

73

(13%)

43

(8%)

23

(4%)

11

(2%)

68

(13%)

4.01 (0.12) 4

Supplemental Feeding 605

(60%)

154

(15%)

101

(10%)

54

(5%)

43

(4%)

10

(1%)

16

(2%)

2

(0.5%)

23

(2%)

2.03 (0.05) 1

Supplemental Minerals 504

(50%)

115

(12%)

158

(16%)

108

(11%)

63

(6%)

23

(2%)

9

(1%)

5

(1%)

15

(2%)

2.33 (0.06) 1

Prescribed Burning 36

(11%)

6

(2%)

13

(4%)

8

(2%)

18

(5%)

36

(11%)

53

(16%)

35

(11%)

125

(38%)

6.67 (0.15) 7

Timber Management 142

(30%)

23

(5%)

30

(6%)

31

(7%)

43

(9%)

47

(10%)

49

(11%)

20

(4%)

81

(17%)

4.57 (0.14) 5

Set-Aside Programs 66

(19%)

1

(0.5%)

14

(4%)

14

(4%)

20

(6%)

31

(9%)

24

(7%)

60

(17%)

126

(35%)

6.27 (0.16) 8

68

Page 69: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 20. Response frequencies of habitat management practices in use by hunt camps in the Ozarks DMU. Rank levels are from 1 (practice most used) to 9

(practice least used).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Habitat Management Practices

Most Used

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Least Used

9

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Summer Food Plots

78

18

(12%)

15

(10%)

15

(10%)

8

(5%)

5

(3%)

2

(1%)

2

(1%)

9

(6%)

2.63 (0.19)

1

Winter Food Plots 132

(70%)

34

(18%)

9

(5%)

5

(3%)

3

(2%)

0

(0%)

2

(1%)

0

(0%)

3

(2%)

1.61 (0.10) 1

Fertilization of Vegetation 38

(31%)

10

(8%)

15

(12%)

14

(11%)

12

(10%)

11

(9%)

8

(7%)

3

(2%)

12

(10%)

3.84 (0.24) 3

Supplemental Feeding 115

(59%)

21

(11%)

22

(11%)

17

(9%)

10

(5%)

5

(3%)

2

(1%)

1

(1%)

3

(2%)

2.14 (0.13) 1

Supplemental Minerals 100

(50%)

19

(10%)

30

(15%)

20

(10%)

17

(9%)

7

(4%)

4

(2%)

1

(1%)

2

(1%)

2.44 (0.13) 1.5

Prescribed Burning 14

(17%)

2

(2%)

6

(7%)

3

(4%)

10

(12%)

10

(12%)

10

(12%)

2

(2%)

26

(31%)

5.75 (0.32) 6

Timber Management 25

(24%)

6

(6%)

3

(3%)

9

(9%)

19

(18%)

4

(4%)

14

(13%)

6

(6%)

18

(17%)

4.89 (0.29) 5

Set-Aside Programs 15

(20%)

0

(0%)

4

(5%)

3

(4%)

1

(1%)

4

(5%)

8

(11%)

15

(20%)

24

(32%)

6.21 (0.36) 8

(51%)

69

Page 70: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 21. Response frequencies of habitat management practices in use by hunt camps in the Ouachitas DMU. Rank levels are from 1 (practice most used) to 9

(practice least used).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Habitat Management Practices

Most Used

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Least Used

9

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Summer Food Plots

14

(33%)

4

(9%)

4

(9%)

6

(14%)

7

(16%)

1

(2%)

2

(5%)

0

(0%)

5

(12%)

3.67 (0.40)

3

Winter Food Plots 45

(69%)

8

(12%)

5

(8%)

2

(3%)

3

(5%)

1

(2%)

0

(0%)

0

(0%)

1

(2%)

1.75 (0.19) 1

Fertilization of Vegetation 10

(28%)

4

(11%)

3

(8%)

5

(14%)

4

(14%)

2

(6%)

2

(6%)

2

(6%)

3

(8%)

3.92 (0.44) 4

Supplemental Feeding 27

(45%)

15

(25%)

7

(12%)

2

(3%)

4

(7%)

1

(2%)

3

(5%)

0

(0%)

1

(2%)

2.36 (0.24) 2

Supplemental Minerals 25

(38%)

9

(14%)

14

(22%)

9

(14%)

5

(8%)

2

(3%)

0

(0%)

0

(0%)

1

(2%)

2.57 (0.21) 2

Prescribed Burning 3

(13%)

2

(9%)

2

(9%)

1

(4%)

0

(0%)

1

(4%)

2

(9%)

4

(17%)

8

(35%)

6.13 (0.66) 8

Timber Management 4

(13%)

1

(3%)

4

(13%)

4

(13%)

3

(9%)

8

(25%)

4

(13%)

1

(3%)

3

(9%)

5.00 (0.42) 5

Set-Aside Programs 8

(28%)

0

(0%)

2

(7%)

1

(3%)

2

(7%)

5

(17%)

3

(10%)

2

(7%)

6

(21%)

5.14 (0.57) 6

70

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Table 22. Response frequencies of habitat management practices in use by hunt camps in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain DMU. Rank levels are from 1 (practice

most used) to 9 (practice least used).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Habitat Management Practices

Most Used

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Least Used

9

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Summer Food Plots

46

(46%)

12

(12%)

7

(7%)

11

(11%)

9

(9%)

2

(2%)

3

(3%)

2

(2%)

8

(8%)

3.01 (0.26)

2

Winter Food Plots 110

(77%)

21

(15%)

4

(3%)

4

(3%)

1

(1%)

1

(1%)

0

(0%)

0

(0%)

2

(1%)

1.46 (0.10) 1

Fertilization of Vegetation 18

(27%)

2

(3%)

5

(7%)

7

(10%)

9

(13%)

8

(12%)

3

(4%)

3

(4%)

12

(18%)

4.64 (0.36) 5

Supplemental Feeding 53

(46%)

20

(17%)

17

(15%)

9

(8%)

7

(6%)

1

(1%)

2

(2%)

0

(0%)

7

(6%)

2.57 (0.20) 2

Supplemental Minerals 69

(52%)

9

(7%)

25

(19%)

12

(9%)

11

(8%)

2

(2%)

3

(2%)

0

(0%)

1

(1%)

2.33 (0.15) 1

Prescribed Burning 2

(5%)

1

(2%)

1

(2%)

0

(0%)

2

(5%)

4

(9%)

7

(16%)

8

(18%)

19

(43%)

7.39 (0.33) 8

Timber Management 36

(43%)

7

(8%)

5

(6%)

8

(10%)

5

(6%)

8

(10%)

6

(7%)

3

(4%)

5

(6%)

3.39 (0.29) 2

Set-Aside Programs 18

(30%)

0

(0%)

4

(7%)

6

(10%)

7

(12%)

3

(5%)

3

(5%)

4

(7%)

15

(25%)

4.92 (0.41) 5

71

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Table 23. Response frequencies of habitat management practices in use by deer hunt camps in the Gulf Coastal Plain DMU. Rank levels are from 1 (practice most

used) to 9 (practice least used).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Habitat Management Practices

Most Used

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

Least Used

9

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Summer Food Plots

135

(37%)

39

(11%)

39

(11%)

50

(14%)

35

(10%)

9

(2%)

11

(3%)

11

(3%)

36

(10%)

3.42 (0.14)

3

Winter Food Plots 367

(68%)

78

(14%)

41

(8%)

16

(3%)

16

(3%)

4

(1%)

4

(1%)

2

(1%)

14

(3%)

1.82 (0.07) 1

Fertilization of Vegetation 82

(28%)

21

(7%)

40

(13%)

38

(13%)

43

(14%)

21

(7%)

9

(3%)

3

(1%)

40

(13%)

3.99 (0.16) 4

Supplemental Feeding 398

(66%)

92

(15%)

49

(8%)

24

(4%)

20

(3%)

3

(1%)

7

(1%)

1

(0.5%)

12

(2%)

1.83 (0.07) 1

Supplemental Minerals 297

(52%)

74

(13%)

86

(15%)

60

(10%)

28

(5%)

11

(2%)

2

(0.5%)

4

(1%)

10

(2%)

2.25 (0.07) 1

Prescribed Burning 16

(10%)

1

(1%)

4

(2%)

4

(2%)

6

(4%)

18

(11%)

29

(17%)

20

(12%)

68

(41%)

6.98 (0.19) 8

Timber Management 73

(31%)

8

(3%)

17

(7%)

10

(4%)

15

(6%)

25

(11%)

23

(10%)

9

(4%)

54

(23%)

4.80 (0.21) 5

Set-Aside Programs 22

(12%)

0

(0%)

3

(2%)

4

(2%)

10

(6%)

17

(10%)

9

(5%)

35

(20%)

70

(44%)

7.00 (0.20) 8

72

Page 73: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 24. Number of respondents (n) and mean (SE) number of years habitat management practices have been in use on hunt camp

properties in Arkansas.

Deer Management Unit

Management Practice Ozarks Ouachitas Mississippi Alluvial Plain Gulf Coastal Plain Statewide

Summer Food Plots

7.07 (0.46)

(n=134)

5.73 (0.85)

(n=38)

10.1 (1.00)

(n=86)

6.41 (0.28)

(n=323)

7.06 (0.25)

(n=581)

Winter Food Plots 7.54 (0.38)

(n=184)

6.35 (0.59)

(n=63)

11.35 (0.76)

(n=141)

8.49 (0.27)

(n=529)

8.59 (0.22)

(n=917)

Fertilizing Natural Vegetation 9.29 (0.93)

(n=96)

6.10 (0.75)

(n=30)

6.26 (0.78)

(n=47)

6.43 (0.37)

(n=234)

7.06 (0.33)

(n=407)

Supplemental Feeding 6.95 (0.31)

(n=187)

5.58 (0.46)

(n=58)

8.03 (0.51)

(n=108)

8.71 (0.24)

(n=598)

8.10 (0.18)

(n=951)

Supplemental Minerals 8.52 (0.47)

(n=194)

6.92 (0.58)

(n=62)

11.52 (0.84)

(n=121)

9.95 (0.26)

(n=547)

9.65 (0.22)

(n=924)

Prescribed Burning 7.06 (1.26)

(n=45)

7.33 (1.85)

(n=9)

7.63 (2.48)

(n=11)

9.60 (1.05)

(n=40)

8.08 (0.74)

(n=105)

Timber Management 7.38 (0.69)

(n=71)

10.1 (2.35)

(n=20)

15.11 (2.09)

(n=65)

15.11 (1.03)

(n=122)

12.77 (0.73)

(n=278)

Set-Aside Programs 6.93 (0.85)

(n=27)

6.69 (1.16)

(n=13)

8.74 (1.02)

(n=38)

7.29 (0.97)

(n=45)

7.59 (0.53)

(n=123)

73

Page 74: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 25. Response frequencies of management for other wildlife performed by hunt camps in Arkansas. Rank levels are from 1 (managed for the most) to 12

(managed for the least).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics Other wildlife

Managed Most

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Managed Least

12

Mean Rank

(SE)

M Waterfowl

87

(30%)

25

(9%)

14

(5%)

11

(4%)

5

(2%)

9

(3%)

10

(3%)

6

(2%)

13

(5%)

8

(3%)

4

(1%)

96

(33%)

6.30 (0.28)

6

Turkey

587 49 (80%) (7%)

17 (2%)

9 (1%)

12 (2%)

15 (2%)

2 (0.5%)

4 (1%)

4 (1%)

4 (1%)

1 (0.5%)

32 (4%)

1.96 (0.10) 1

Quail 91 69 (25%) (19%)

47 (13%)

30 (8%)

19 (5%)

9 (2%)

10 (3%)

10 (3%)

3 (1%)

8 (2%)

0 (0%)

67 (18%)

4.68 (0.21) 3

Bear 15 9 (8%) (5%)

5 (3%)

1 (1%)

5 (3%)

8 (4%)

6 (3%)

10 (5%)

8 (4%)

15 (8%)

9 (5%)

103 (53%)

9.29 (0.27) 12

Elk 6(4%)

1 (1%)

1 (1%)

1 (1%)

1 (1%)

1 (1%)

3 (2%)

2 (1%)

12 (7%)

6 (4%)

17 (10%)

118 (70%)

10.85 (0.19) 12

Squirrel 141 77 (33%) (18%)

48 (11%)

32 (7%)

29 (7%)

14 (3%)

10 (2%)

1 (0.5%)

1 (0.5%)

7 (2%)

0 (0%)

68 (16%)

4.13 (0.19) 2

Dove 45 22 (16%) (8%)

30 (11%)

24 (9%)

26 (9%)

24 (9%)

12 (4%)

7 (3%)

3 (1%)

10 (4%)

0 (0%)

75 (27%)

6.17 (0.25) 5

Rabbit 59 13 (19%) (4%)

32 (10%)

46 (15%)

30 (10%)

20 (6%)

11 (4%)

9 (3%)

5 (2%)

5 (2%)

0 (0%)

80 (26%)

5.93 (0.23) 5

Feral Hogs 42 (19%)

8 (4%)

12 (5%)

6 (3%)

2 (1%)

6 (3%)

7 (3%)

9 (4%)

13 (6%)

12 (5%)

4 (2%)

102 (46%)

8.02 (0.30) 10

Furbearers 19(9%)

4 (2%)

10 (5%)

8 (4%)

17 (8%)

22 (10%)

12 (6%)

11 (5%)

7 (3%)

6 (3%)

2 (1%)

98 (45%)

8.33 (0.27) 9

Non-Game Species 13 (8%)

2 (1%)

9 (6%)

4 (3%)

4 (3%)

4 (3%)

9 (6%)

10 (6%)

9 (6%)

6 (4%)

10 (6%)

75 (48%)

9.02 (0.31) 11

74

Page 75: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 26. Response frequencies of management for other wildlife performed by deer camps in the Ozarks DMU. Rank levels are from 1 (managed for the most) to

12 (managed for the least).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics Other wildlife

Managed Most

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Managed Least

12

Mean Rank

(SE)

M Waterfowl

5

(11%)

3

(7%)

4

(9%)

1

(2%)

0

(0%)

2

(4%)

3

(7%)

2

(4%)

6

(13%)

2

(4%)

1

(2%)

17

(37%)

7.93 (0.61)

9

Turkey

161 5 (91%) (3%)

1 (1%)

2 (1%)

1 (1%)

3 (2%)

1 (1%)

1 (1%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1 (1%)

0 (0%)

1.31 (0.09) 1

Quail 30 32 (30%) (32%)

12 (12%)

9 (9%)

3 (3%)

1 (1%)

3 (3%)

2 (2%)

0 (0%)

1 (1%)

0 (0%)

7 (7%)

3.18 (0.30) 2

Bear 7 8 (13%) (15%)

4 (8%)

1 (2%)

2 (4%)

4 (8%)

2 (4%)

3 (6%)

3 (6%)

1 (2%)

1 (2%)

16 (31%)

6.75 (0.61) 6

Elk 3(8%)

1 (3%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1 (3%)

1 (3%)

0 (0%)

1 (3%)

4 (11%)

2 (5%)

4 (11%)

20 (54%)

9.84 (0.57) 12

Squirrel 24 16 (27%) (18%)

13 (15%)

10 (11%)

11 (12%)

3 (3%)

3 (3%)

1 (1%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

8 (9%)

3.74 (0.33) 3

Dove 12 3 (18%) (4%)

8 (12%)

10 (15%)

5 (7%)

12 (18%)

4 (6%)

2 (3%)

1 (1%)

1 (1%)

0 (0%)

9 (13%)

5.22 (0.42) 5

Rabbit 12 3 (18%) (5%)

9 (14%)

9 (14%)

8 (12%)

6 (9%)

2 (3%)

4 (6%)

2 (3%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

11 (17%)

5.35 (0.45) 4

Feral Hogs 0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1 (3%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

3 (9%)

3 (9%)

6 (17%)

2 (6%)

20 (57%)

10.74 (0.33) 12

Furbearers 2(4%)

1 (2%)

3 (7%)

2 (4%)

8 (18%)

4 (9%)

2 (4%)

2 (4%)

3 (7%)

1 (2%)

0 (0%)

17 (38%)

7.91 (0.55) 8

Non-Game Species 3 (9%)

0 (0%)

4 (12%)

1 (3%)

1 (3%)

0 (0%)

2 (6%)

4 (12%)

1 (3%)

1 (3%)

5 (15%)

12 (35%)

8.47 (0.67) 10.5

75

Page 76: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 27. Response frequencies of management for other wildlife performed by hunt camps in the Ouachitas DMU. Rank levels are from 1 (managed for the most)

to 12 (managed for the least).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics Other wildlife

Managed Most

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Managed Least

12

Mean Rank

(SE)

M Waterfowl

6

(24%)

1

(4%)

0

(0%)

1

(4%)

0

(0%)

2

(8%)

3

(12%)

1

(4%)

2

(8%)

1

(4%)

0

(0%)

8

(32%)

7.08 (0.88)

7

Turkey

45 3 (82%) (5%)

2 (4%)

0 (0%)

1 (2%)

2 (4%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1 (2%)

0 (0%)

1 (2%)

1.75 (0.29) 1

Quail 8 6 (26%) (19%)

4 (13%)

2 (6%)

3 (10%)

2 (6%)

0 (0%)

1 (3%)

0 (0%)

2 (6%)

0 (0%)

3 (10%)

4.22 (0.65) 3

Bear 1 1 (5%) (5%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

3 (14%)

2 (9%)

1 (5%)

2 (9%)

1 (5%)

2 (9%)

1 (5%)

8 (36%)

8.59 (0.75) 9

Elk 1(6%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

2 (12%)

1 (6%)

0 (0%)

1 (6%)

2 (12%)

10 (59%)

10.29 (0.73) 12

Squirrel 6 6 (21%) (21%)

3 (11%)

3 (11%)

1 (4%)

1 (4%)

1 (4%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1 (4%)

0 (0%)

6 (21%)

4.96 (0.80) 3

Dove 5 4 (19%) (15%)

2 (8%)

1 (4%)

2 (8%)

2 (8%)

3 (12%)

1 (4%)

0 (0%)

1 (4%)

0 (0%)

5 (19%)

5.53 (0.79) 5

Rabbit 1 0 (4%) (0%)

3 (13%)

3 (13%)

4 (17%)

4 (17%)

1 (4%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1 (4%)

0 (0%)

6 (26%)

6.74 (0.76) 6

Feral Hogs 1 (6%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

2 (11%)

0 (0%)

2 (11%)

2 (11%)

2 (11%)

9 (50%)

10.17 (0.67) 11

Furbearers 1(4%)

2 (9%)

0 (0%)

3 (13%)

0 (0%)

4 (17%)

4 (17%)

1 (4%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

8 (35%)

7.52 (0.78) 7

Non-Game Species 4 (31%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

3 (23%)

1 (8%)

1 (8%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

4 (31%)

6.92 (1.26) 7

76

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Table 28. Response frequencies of management for other wildlife performed by hunt camps in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain DMU. Rank levels are from 1

(managed for the most) to 12 (managed for the least).

Rank Levels SummaryStatistics

Other wildlife

Managed Most

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Managed Least

12

Mean Rank

(SE)

M Waterfowl

43

(58%)

9

(12%)

2

(3%)

4

(5%)

1

(1%)

3

(4%)

1

(1%)

0

(0%)

0

(0%)

2

(3%)

0

(0%)

9

(12%)

3.26 (0.44)

1

Turkey

70(69%)

13 (13%)

5 (5%)

3 (3%)

1 (1%)

4 (4%)

0 (0%)

2 (2%)

1 (1%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

3 (3%)

2.09 (0.24) 1

Quail 12(20%)

13 (21%)

9 (15%)

3 (5%)

5 (8%)

1 (2%)

3 (5%)

2 (3%)

0 (0%)

24 (7%)

0 (0%)

9 (15%)

4.80 (0.50) 3

Bear 4(14%)

0 (0%)

1 (4%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1 (4%)

1 (4%)

0 (0%)

1 (4%)

3 (11%)

17 (61%)

9.61 (0.77) 12

Elk 0(0%)

0 (0%)

1 (4%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1 (4%)

21 (92%)

11.57 (0.39) 12

Squirrel 20(29%)

2 (15%)

9 (13%)

8 (12%)

6 (9%)

2 (3%)

2 (3%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

2 (3%)

0 (0%)

9 (13%)

4.16 (0.45) 3

Dove 13(22%)

7 (12%)

10 (17%)

6 (10%)

5 (9%)

3 (5%)

2 (3%)

1 (2%)

0 (0%)

3 (5%)

0 (0%)

8 (14%)

4.68 (0.49) 3

Rabbit 12(23%)

2 (4%)

6 (12%)

9 (17%)

6 (12%)

4 (8%)

1 (2%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

3 (6%)

0 (0%)

9 (17%)

5.17 (0.54) 4

Feral Hogs 3 (10%)

2 (7%)

3 (10%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1 (3%)

0 (0%)

1 (3%)

1 (3%)

1 (3%)

0 (0%)

18 (60%)

8.83 (0.80) 12

Furbearers 4(13%)

0 (0%)

2 (6%)

1 (3%)

2 (6%)

3 (9%)

1 (3%)

0 (0%)

1 (3%)

4 (13%)

0 (0%)

14 (44%)

8.31 (0.73) 10

Non-Game 2(8%)

1 (4%)

1 (4%)

2 (8%)

1 (4%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1 (4%)

2 (8%)

1 (4%)

0 (0%)

13 (54%)

8.83 (0.85) 12

77

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Table 29. Response frequencies of management for other wildlife performed by hunt camps in the Gulf Coastal Plain DMU. Rank levels are from 1 (managed for

the most) to 12 (managed for the least).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics Other wildlife

Managed Most

1

2

4

5

6

7

8

9

10

11

Managed Least

12

Mean Rank

(SE)

M Waterfowl

28

(21%)

12

(10%)

7

(5%)

5

(4%)

3

(2%)

2

(1%)

3

(2%)

3

(2%)

5

(4%)

3

(2%)

3

(2%)

60

(45%)

7.41 (041)

9

Turkey

295 (77%)

27 (7%)

8 (2%)

4 (1%)

8 (2%)

6 (2%)

1 (0.5%)

1 (0.5%)

3 (1%)

3 (1%)

0 (0%)

25 (7%)

2.19 (0.15) 1

Quail 35(22%)

15 (10%)

22 (14%)

16 (10%)

8 (5%)

3 (2%)

4 (3%)

5 (3%)

3 (2%)

1 (1%)

0 (0%)

45 (29%)

5.71 (0.35) 4

Bear 3(3%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1 (1%)

1 (1%)

4 (5%)

4 (5%)

10 (12%)

4 (5%)

59 (69%)

10.88 (0.25) 12

Elk 2(2%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1 (1%)

0 (0%)

0 (0%)

1 (1%)

0 (0%)

8 (9%)

3 (3%)

9 (10%)

64 (73%)

11.16 (0.22) 12

Squirrel 84(37%)

43 (19%)

22 (10%)

10 (4%)

10 (4%)

8 (4%)

4 (2%)

0 (0%)

1 (0.5%)

4 (2%)

0 (0%)

42 (18%)

4.19 (0.27) 2

Dove 14(12%)

5 (4%)

9 (8%)

5 (4%)

14 (12%)

7 (6%)

3 (3%)

3 (3%)

2 (2%)

4 (3%)

0 (0%)

51 (44%)

7.67 (0.40) 8

Rabbit 29(19%)

8 (5%)

11 (7%)

22 (14%)

11 (7%)

6 (4%)

7 (5%)

5 (3%)

3 (2%)

1 (1%)

0 (0%)

51 (33%)

6.46 (0.35) 5

Feral Hogs 36 (27%)

6 (4%)

8 (6%)

6 (5%)

2 (1%)

4 (3%)

5 (4%)

4 (3%)

7 (5%)

3 (2%)

0 (0%)

53 (40%)

6.91 (0.41) 7

Furbearers 11(10%)

1 (1%)

5 (5%)

2 (2%)

7 (6%)

11 (10%)

4 (4%)

8 (7%)

3 (3%)

1 (1%)

2 (0%)

55 (50%)

8.62 (0.38) 11

Non-Game 4(5%)

1 (1%)

3 (4%)

1 (1%)

2 (3%)

4 (5%)

4 (5%)

4 (5%)

4 (5%)

4 (5%)

5 (6%)

43 (54%)

9.62 (0.38) 12

3

78

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Table 30. Response frequencies of management practices for other wildlife in use by hunt camps in Arkansas. Rank levels are from 1

(technique most used) to 6 (technique least used).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Management Technique

Most Used

1

2

3

4

5

Least Used

6

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Flooding fields for waterfowl

66

(30%)

6

(3%)

9

(4%)

8

(4%)

16

(7%)

117

(53%)

4.14 (0.15)

6

Nest platforms or boxes for waterfowl 36

(16%)

24

(11%)

16

(7%)

23

(10%)

11

(5%

113

(51%)

4.29 (0.13) 6

Feeders or nest boxes for songbirds 61

(24%)

22

(9%)

37

(15%)

16

(6%)

15

(6%)

103

(41%)

3.83 (0.13) 4

Mowing or grassland management 350

(66%)

82

(15%)

42

(8%)

16

(3%)

1

(0.5%)

43

(8%)

1.81 (0.06) 1

Timber Management 208

(51%)

77

(19%)

37

(9%)

11

(3%)

5

(1%)

67

(17%)

2.33 (0.09) 1

79

Page 80: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 31. Response frequencies of management practices for other wildlife in use by deer camps in the Ozarks DMU. Rank levels are

from 1 (technique most used) to 6 (technique least used).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Management Technique

Most Used

1

2

3

4

5

Least Used

6

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Flooding fields for waterfowl

3

(9%)

0

(0%)

2

(6%)

1

(3%)

3

(9%)

26

(74%)

5.26 (0.26)

6

Nest platforms or boxes for waterfowl 2

(5%)

7

(16%)

5

(11%)

7

(16%)

3

(7%)

20

(45%)

4.41 (0.26) 5

Feeders or nest boxes for songbirds 20

(33%)

7

(12%)

11

(18%)

4

(7%)

2

(3%)

16

(27%)

3.15 (0.26) 3

Mowing or grassland management 104

(76%)

18

(13%)

6

(4%)

2

(1%)

0

(0%)

6

(4%)

1.48 (0.10) 1

Timber Management 37

(42%)

28

(31%)

10

(11%)

2

(2%)

1

(1%)

11

(12%)

2.27 (0.17) 2

80

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Table 32. Response frequencies of management practices for other wildlife in use by deer camps in the Ouachitas DMU. Rank levels

are from 1 (technique most used) to 6 (technique least used).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Management Technique

Most Used

1

2

3

4

5

Least Used

6

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Flooding fields for waterfowl

5

(26%)

2

(11%)

0

(0%)

0

(0%)

3

(16%)

9

(47%)

4.11 (0.52)

5

Nest platforms or boxes for waterfowl 5

(25%)

2

(10%)

0

(0%)

3

(15%)

1

(5%)

9

(45%)

4.00 (0.49) 4

Feeders or nest boxes for songbirds 6

(27%)

0

(0%)

5

(23%)

2

(9%)

1

(5%)

8

(36%)

3.73 (0.44) 3

Mowing or grassland management 22

(63%)

4

(11%)

3

(9%)

1

(3%)

0

(0%)

5

(14%)

2.09 (0.30) 1

Timber Management 19

(56%)

7

(21%)

4

(12%)

0

(0%)

0

(0%)

4

(12%)

2.03 (0.28) 1

81

Page 82: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 33. Response frequencies of management practices for other wildlife in use by deer camps in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain

DMU. Rank levels are from 1 (technique most used) to 6 (technique least used).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Management Technique

Most Used

1

2

3

4

5

Least Used

6

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Flooding fields for waterfowl

38

(63%)

3

(5%)

1

(2%)

6

(10%)

0

(0%)

12

(20%)

2.38 (0.26)

1

Nest platforms or boxes for waterfowl 16

(34%)

7

(15%)

6

(13%)

0

(0%)

4

(9%)

14

(30%)

3.23 (0.31) 3

Feeders or nest boxes for songbirds 3

(8%)

4

(10%)

5

(13%)

4

(10%)

7

(18%)

17

(42%)

4.48 (0.27 5

Mowing or grassland management 45

(52%)

26

(30%)

10

(11%)

4

(5%)

0

(0%)

2

(2%)

1.78 (0.11) 1

Timber Management 49

(58%)

13

(15%)

11

(13%)

4

(5%)

1

(1%)

6

(7%)

1.96 (0.16) 1

82

Page 83: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 34. Response frequencies of management practices for other wildlife in use by deer camps in the Gulf Coastal Plain DMU. Rank

levels are from 1 (technique most used) to 6 (technique least used).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Management Technique

Most Used

1

2

3

4

5

Least Used

6

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Flooding fields for waterfowl

13

(13%)

1

(1%)

6

(6%)

1

(1%)

10

(10%)

68

(69%)

5.00 (0.18)

6

Nest platforms or boxes for waterfowl 11

(11%)

6

(6%)

5

(5%)

13

(13%)

3

(3%)

65

(63%)

4.81 (0.18) 6

Feeders or nest boxes for songbirds 26

(22%)

10

(9%)

16

(13%)

6

(5%)

3

(3%)

58

(49%)

4.04 (0.19) 5

Mowing or grassland management 165

(64%)

34

(13%)

21

(8%)

8

(3%)

1

(0.5%)

28

(11%)

1.94 (0.10) 1

Timber Management 98

(53%)

28

(15%)

9

(5%)

4

(2%)

3

(2%)

43

(23%)

2.54 (0.15) 1

83

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84

Table 35. Opinions (number respondents (n) and %) of responding hunt camps on changes in

white-tailed deer population and harvest structure since camp began using harvest and habitat

management practices for white-tailed deer in Arkansas.

Opinions on Deer Herd Yes No

Increase in Total Number of Deer on Camp Property

500 (42%)

684 (58%)

Increase in Number >2.5 years olds Harvested 673 (57%) 511 (43%)

Increase in number >4.5 years old Harvested 268 (23%) 916 (77%)

Increase in Antler Size, Spread, Total Points of Harvested Deer 538 (45%) 646 (55%)

Improvements in Health/Weight of Harvested Deer 559 (47%) 625 (53%)

More Equal Ratio of Bucks to Does 420 (35%) 764 (65%)

Table 36. Responding hunt camps that currently collect biological information on white-tailed

deer harvested by hunt camp members in Arkansas.

Biological information Response Frequency

Yes

327 (28%)

No 857 (72%)

Page 85: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

85

DMU

Table 37. Responding hunt camps that currently collect biological information on white-tailed deer

harvested by club members across deer management units (DMUs) in Arkansas.

Biological Records

190 (60%)

Ozarks Ouachitas Mississippi Alluvial Plain Gulf Coastal Plain

Yes

48 (15%)

23 (7%)

54 (17%)

No 187 (22%) 51 (6%) 102 (12%) 496 (59%)

Table 38. Responding hunt camps that currently collect biological information on white-tailed

deer harvested by club members across property types in Arkansas.

Property Type

Biological Records Privately Owned Private Leased Industry Land Public Land

Yes

87 (27%)

41 (13%)

194 (60%)

1 (0.5%)

No 313 (37%) 185 (22%) 336 (40%) 12 (1%)

Page 86: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

86

Table 39. Responding hunt camps that currently work with an Arkansas Game and Fish

Commission (AGFC) biologist in establishing harvest and habitat management guidelines for

white-tailed deer in Arkansas.

Work Biologist Response Frequency

Yes

223 (19%)

No 961 (81%)

Table 40. Responding hunt camps that currently work with an Arkansas Game and Fish

Commission (AGFC) biologist in establishing harvest and habitat guidelines for white-tailed

deer across property types in Arkansas.

Property Type

Work Biologist Privately Owned Private Leased Industry Land Public Land

Yes

84 (38%)

46 (19%)

89 (40%)

1 (0.5%)

No 316 (33%) 180 (19%) 441 (46%) 12 (1%)

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87

Table 41. Responding hunt camps that currently work with an Arkansas Game and Fish

Commission (AGFC) biologist in establishing harvest and habitat guidelines for white-tailed deer

across deer management units (DMUs) in Arkansas.

DMU

Work Biologist Ozarks Ouachitas Mississippi Alluvial Plain Gulf Coastal Plain

Yes

51 (24%)

10 (5%)

40 (18%)

116 (53%)

No 184 (20%) 64 (7%) 116 (12%) 570 (61%)

Table 42. Number of responding hunt camps currently working with an Arkansas Game and

Fish Commission (AGFC) biologist that collect biological information off white-tailed deer

harvested by hunt camp members in Arkansas.

Biological records

Work Biologist Yes No

Yes

133 (60%)

90 (40%)

No 194 (20%) 767 (80%)

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88

Table 43. Number of respondents that have sought advice on white-tailed deer harvest or habitat

management from Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) biologists or outside biologists

in Arkansas.

Sought Assistance Response Frequency

Yes

354 (30%)

No 830 (70%)

Page 89: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 44. Response frequencies of responding hunt camps on type of AGFC provided management assistance programs that would

most benefit/interest their hunt camps across Arkansas. Rank levels from 1 (most beneficial) to 7 (least beneficial).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Management Assistance Type

Most

Benefit

1

2

3

4

5

6

Least

Benefit

7

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Public Information Programs

155

(29%)

28

(5%)

29

(5%)

32

(6%)

87

(16%)

106

(20%)

95

(18%)

4.06 (0.10)

5

Hunter Education Programs 103

(22%)

26

(6%)

40

(8%)

26

(6%)

100

(21%)

110

(23%)

68

(14%)

4.26 (0.10) 5

Wildlife Management Assistance Programs 341

(49%)

99

(14%)

91

(13%)

103

(15%)

24

(3%)

9

(1%)

28

(4%)

2.29 (0.06) 2

Wildlife Biologist Recommendations 430

(56%)

132

(17%)

92

(12%)

46

(6%)

25

(3%)

10

(1%)

30

(4%)

2.02 (0.06) 1

Population Estimation 329

(47%)

109

(15%)

94

(13%)

82

(12%)

35

(5%)

21

(3%)

36

(5%)

2.42 (0.07) 2

Habitat Development Assistance Programs 294

(43%)

93

(14%)

112

(16%)

88

(13%)

34

(5%)

18

(3%)

41

(6%)

2.55 (0.07) 2

Non-game Management Assistance 28

(7%)

6

(1%)

7

(2%)

20

(5%)

56

(14%)

27

(7%)

266

(65%)

5.96 (0.09) 7

89

Page 90: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 45. Response frequencies of responding hunt camps on type of AGFC provided management assistance programs that would

most benefit/interest their hunt camps in the Ozarks DMU. Rank levels from 1 (most beneficial) to 7 (least beneficial).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

2 3

Benefit

7

36 6

Management Assistance Type

Most

Benefit

1

4

5

6

Least

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Public Information Programs

(32%)

3

(3%)

(5%)

3

(3%)

21

(19%)

18

(16%)

25

(22%)

4.11 (0.23)

5

Hunter Education Programs 17

(18%)

3

(3%)

3

(3%)

6

(22%)

5

71 2 1

16

(6%)

21 30

(32%)

15

(16%)

4.69 (0.21)

Wildlife Management Assistance Programs

(50%)

26

(18%)

17

(12%)

23

(16%) (1%) (1%)

2

(1%)

2.08 (0.11) 1.5

Wildlife Biologist Recommendations 86

(56%)

30

(20%)

21

(14%)

10

(7%)

2

(1%)

0

(0%)

4

(3%)

1.88 (0.11) 1

Population Estimation 48

(37%) (12%)

24

(18%)

26

(20%)

8

(6%)

4

(3%)

4

(3%)

2.68 (0.14) 3

Habitat Development Assistance Programs 69

(49%)

19

(14%)

21

(15%)

21

(15%)

5

(4%)

2

(1%)

3

(2%)

2.23 (0.13) 2

Non-game Management Assistance 6

(7%)

0

(0%)

1

(1%)

2

(2%)

17

(20%)

6

(7%)

51

(61%)

5.96 (0.19) 7

90

Page 91: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 46. Response frequencies of responding hunt camps on type of AGFC provided management assistance programs that would

most benefit their hunt camps in the Ouachitas DMU. Rank levels from 1 (most beneficial) to 7 (least beneficial).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Management Assistance Type

Most

Benefit

1

2

3

4

5

6

Least

Benefit

7

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Public Information Programs

9

(30%)

2

(7%)

2

(7%)

3

(10%)

4

(13%)

6

(20%)

4

(13%)

3.83 (0.42)

4

Hunter Education Programs 13

(41%)

2

(6%)

2

(6%)

3

(9%)

3

(9%)

4

(13%)

5

(16%)

3.41 (0.43) 3

Wildlife Management Assistance Programs 18

(49%)

6

(16%)

4

(11%)

2

(5%)

3

(8%)

1

(3%)

3

(8%)

2.49 (0.32) 2

Wildlife Biologist Recommendations 25

(52%)

8

(17%)

8

(17%)

2

(4%)

1

(2%)

1

(2%)

3

(6%)

2.19 (0.25) 1

Population Estimation 19

(48%)

3

(8%)

8

(20%)

2

(5%)

5

(13%)

1

(3%)

2

(5%)

2.55 (0.29) 2

Habitat Development Assistance Programs 17

(43%)

7

(18%)

(76%)

2

(5%)

5

(13%)

2

(5%)

4

(10%)

3

(7%)

2.80 (0.33) 2

Non-game Management Assistance 2

(8%)

1

(4%)

2

(8%)

0

(0%)

1

(4%)

0

(0%)

19 5.92 (0.42) 7

91

Page 92: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 47. Response frequencies of responding hunt camps on type of AGFC provided management assistance programs that would

most benefit/interest their hunt camps in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain DMU. Rank levels from 1 (most beneficial) to 7 (least

beneficial).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Management Assistance Type

Most

Benefit

1

2

3

4

5

6

Least

Benefit

7

Mean Rank (SE)

(11%)

M

Public Information Programs

22

(31%)

1

(1%)

4

(6%)

8

8

(11%)

16

(23%)

11

(16%)

4.01 (0.28)

4.5

Hunter Education Programs 13

(23%)

3

(5%)

9

(16%)

1

(2%)

17

(30%)

4

(7%)

9

(16%)

3.96 (0.29) 5

Wildlife Management Assistance Programs 39

(42%)

13

(14%)

18 5

(21%)

12

(13%) (20%)

4

(4%)

1

(1%) (5%)

2.54 (0.18) 2

Wildlife Biologist Recommendations 53

(52%)

21 11

(11%)

4

(4%)

8

(8%)

2

(2%)

3

(3%)

2.13 (0.16) 1

Population Estimation 36

(40%)

16

(18%)

11

(12%)

10

(11%)

6

(7%)

6

(7%)

4

(4%)

2.64 (0.20) 2

Habitat Development Assistance Programs 39

(43%)

11

(12%)

18

(20%)

9

(10%)

3

(3%)

4

(4%)

7

(8%)

2.63 (0.20) 2

Non-game Management Assistance 4

(8%)

2

(4%)

0

(0%)

1

(2%)

5

(10%)

3

(6%)

36

(71%)

6.02 (2.63) 7

92

Page 93: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 48. Response frequencies of responding hunt camps on type of AGFC provided management assistance programs that would

most benefit/interest their hunt camps in the Gulf Coastal Plain DMU. Rank levels from 1 (most beneficial) to 7 (least beneficial).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Management Assistance Type

Most

Benefit

1

2

3

4

5

6

Least

Benefit

7

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Public Information Programs

84

(28%)

21

(7%)

15

(5%)

17

(6%)

53

(17%)

64

(21%)

51

(17%)

4.08 (0.13)

5

Hunter Education Programs 58

(21%)

17

(6%)

24

(9%)

16

(6%)

57

(21%)

70

(25%)

36

(13%)

4.26 (0.13) 5

Wildlife Management Assistance Programs 202

(50%)

53

(13%)

56

(14%)

57

(14%)

13

(3%)

5

(1%)

17

(4%)

2.28 (0.08) 1

Wildlife Biologist Recommendations 253

(58%)

67

(15%)

49

(11%)

29

(7%)

14

(3%)

7

(2%)

19

(4%)

2.04 (0.08) 1

Population Estimation 217

(51%)

71

(17%)

45

(11%)

43

(10%)

14

(3%)

10

(2%)

25

(6%)

2.28 (0.09) 1

Habitat Development Assistance Programs 162

(42%)

54

(14%)

66

(17%)

51

(13%)

23

(6%)

7

(2%)

27

(7%)

2.61 (0.09) 2

Non-game Management Assistance 15

(6%)

3

(1%)

3

(1%)

13

(5%)

32

(13%)

18

(8%)

156

(65%)

6.01 (0.11) 7

93

Page 94: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 49. Response frequencies of responding hunt camps on types of Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) provided information that would most assist respondents in managing white-tailed deer across Arkansas. Rank levels from 1 (not interested) to 5 (extremely interested). Rank Levels Summary Statistics Information Type

Not Interested

1

2

3

4

Extremely Interested

5

Mean Rank (SE)

M Hunting Techniques

325

(34%)

143

(15%)

231

(25%)

140

(15%)

104

(11%) 2.53 (0.04)

3

Aging Techniques 111 (11%)

96

102 (11%)

259 (27%)

289 (30%)

335

206 (21%)

3.39 (0.04) 4

Harvest Management (10%)

68 (7%)

206 (21%)

209 (34%)

274

276 (28%)

3.64 (0.04) 4

Deer Behavior 144 (15%)

79 (8%) (22%) (28%)

264 (27%)

3.45 (0.04) 4

Food Plots 79 (7%)

37 (3%)

157 (15%)

315 (30%)

477 (45%)

4.01 (0.04) 4

Forest Management 267 (30%)

118 (13%)

107

154 (17%)

174 (19%)

180 (20%)

2.87 (0.05) 3

Prescribed Burning 408 (46%) (12%)

137 (15%)

113 (13%)

122 (14%)

2.36 (0.05) 2

Deer Genetics 123 (13%)

92 (10%)

210 (22%)

256 (27%)

268 (28%)

3.48 (0.04) 4

Wildlife Plants 95 (10%)

70 (7%)

194 (20%)

296 (30%)

324 (33%)

3.70 (0.04) 4

Quality Deer Management Techniques 134 (15%)

85 (10%)

190 (21%)

237 (27%)

240 (27%)

3.41 (0.05) 4

Supplemental Feeding 86 (8%)

39 (4%)

174 (17%)

349 (33%)

406 (39%)

3.90 (0.04) 4

94

Page 95: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 50. Response frequencies of responding hunt camps on types of Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) provided information that would most assist respondents in managing white-tailed deer in the Ozarks DMU. Rank levels from 1 (not interested) to 5 (extremely interested). Rank Levels Summary Statistics Information Type

Not Interested

1

2

3

4

Extremely Interested

5

Mean Rank (SE)

M Hunting Techniques

58

(32%)

27

(15%)

49

(27%)

21

(11%)

28

(15%)

3.64 (0.11)

3

Aging Techniques 19 (10%)

20 (11%)

54 (29%)

51 (27%)

44 (23%)

3.43 (0.09) 4

Harvest Management 14 (7%)

13 (7%)

37 (20%)

62 (33%)

63 (33%)

3.78 (0.09) 4

Deer Behavior 30 (16%)

15 (8%)

39 (21%)

50 (27%)

50 (27%)

3.41 (0.10) 4

Food Plots 16 (8%)

7 (3%)

26 (13%)

49 (24%)

106 (52%)

4.09 (0.09) 5

Forest Management 26 (14%)

17 (9%)

39 (21%)

41 (22%)

60 (33%)

3.50 (0.10) 4

Prescribed Burning 49 (26%)

16 (9%)

14

36 (19%)

34 (18%)

51 (27%)

3.12 (0.11) 3

Deer Genetics 18 (10%) (8%)

41 (22%)

48 (26%)

63 (34%)

3.67 (0.09) 4

Wildlife Plants 17 (9%)

12 (6%)

33 (17%)

53 (28%)

75 (39%)

3.83 (0.09) 4

Quality Deer Management Techniques 20 (11%)

16 (9%)

41 (23%)

40 (22%)

61 (34%)

3.60 (0.10) 4

Supplemental Feeding 18 (9%)

12 (6%)

32 (16%)

62 (30%)

81 (40%)

3.86 (0.09) 4

95

Page 96: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 51. Response frequencies of responding hunt camps on types of Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) provided information that would most assist respondents in managing white-tailed deer in the Ouachitas DMU. Rank levels from 1 (not interested) to 5 (extremely interested).

Information Type

Not Interested

1

2

3

4

Extremely Interested

5

Mean Rank (SE)

M Hunting Techniques

19

(32%)

18

(31%)

3

(5%)

13

(22%) 6

(10%)

2

Aging Techniques 5 (8%)

11 (17%)

14 (22%)

23 (37%)

10 4 (16%)

3.35 (0.15)

Harvest Management 6 (10%)

11 (17%)

14 (22%)

23 (37%)

9 (14%)

3.29 (0.15) 4

Deer Behavior 6 (9%)

6 (9%)

11 (17%)

21 (33%)

20 (31%)

3.67 (0.16) 4

Food Plots 2 (3%)

1 (2%)

12 (18%)

25 (38%)

26 (39%)

4.10 (0.12) 4

Forest Management 13 (22%)

7 (12%)

15 (26%)

16 (28%)

7 (12%)

2.95 (0.18) 3

Prescribed Burning 28 (45%)

8 (13%)

11 (18%)

8 (13%)

7 (11%)

2.32 (0.18) 2

Deer Genetics 10 (16%)

12 (20%)

14 (23%)

13 (21%)

12 (20%)

3.08 (0.18) 3

Wildlife Plants 10 (16%)

3 (5%)

11 (18%)

25 (41%)

12 (20%)

3.43 (0.17) 4

Quality Deer Management Techniques 15 (26%)

7 (12%)

11 (20%)

15 (26%)

10 (17%)

2.97 (0.19) 3

Supplemental Feeding 4 (6%)

6 (9%)

12 (17%)

22 (31%)

26 (37%)

3.86 (0.14) 4

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

2.47 (0.18)

96

Page 97: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 52. Response frequencies of responding hunt camps on types of Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) provided information that would most assist respondents in managing white-tailed deer in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain DMU. Rank levels from 1 (not interested) to 5 (extremely interested). Rank Levels Summary Statistics Information Type

Not Interested

1

2

3

4

Extremely Interested

5

Mean Rank (SE)

M Hunting Techniques

52

(40%)

21

(16%)

35

(27%)

16

(12%)

5

(4%)

2.23 (0.11)

2

Aging Techniques 17 (13%)

11 (8%)

37 (28%)

39 (29%)

30 (22%)

3.40 (0.11) 4

Harvest Management 17 (13%)

4 (3%)

30 (22%)

37 (28%)

46 (34%)

3.68 (0.11) 4

Deer Behavior 22 (16%)

11 (8%)

36 (26%)

40 (29%)

28 (20%)

3.30 (0.11) 3

Food Plots 16 (11%)

5 (4%)

17 (12%)

46 (32%)

58 (41%)

3.88 (0.11) 4

Forest Management 36 (28%)

14 (11%)

22 (17%)

26 (20%)

29 (23%)

2.98 (0.14) 3

Prescribed Burning 64 (51%)

14 (11%)

15 (12%)

16 (13%)

16 (13%)

2.25 (0.13) 1

Deer Genetics 22 (17%)

12 (9%)

20 (15%)

41 (32%)

35 (27%)

3.42 (0.12) 4

Wildlife Plants 15 (11%)

10 (7%)

30 (22%)

36 (27%)

44 (33%)

3.62 (0.11) 4

Quality Deer Management Techniques 22 (18%)

8 (7%)

21 (17%)

32 (26%)

38 (31%)

3.46 (0.13) 4

Supplemental Feeding 19 (13%)

3 (2%)

25 (18%)

40 (28%)

55 (39%)

3.77 (0.11) 4

97

Page 98: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 53. Response frequencies of responding hunt camps on types of Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC) provided information that would most assist respondents in managing white-tailed deer in the Gulf Coastal Plain DMU. Rank levels from 1 (not interested) to 5 (extremely interested). Rank Levels Summary Statistics Information Type

Not Interested

1

2

3

4

Extremely Interested

5

Mean Rank (SE)

M Hunting Techniques

185

(34%)

77

(14%)

136

(25%)

86

(16%)

62

(11%)

2.57 (0.06)

3

Aging Techniques 68 (12%)

59 (11%)

145 (26%)

169 (30%)

114 (21%)

3.36 (0.05) 4

Harvest Management 56 (10%)

39 (7%)

119 (21%)

203 (36%)

151 (27%)

3.62 (0.05) 4

Deer Behavior 83 (15%)

45 (8%)

117 (21%)

155 (28%)

160 (29%)

3.47 (0.06) 4

Food Plots 43 (7%)

22 (4%)

97 (16%)

186 (30%)

275 (44%)

4.01 (0.05) 4

Forest Management 187 (37%)

76 (15%)

74 (15%)

86 (17%)

77 (15%)

2.58 (0.07) 2

Prescribed Burning 257 (52%)

67 (14%)

71 (14%)

52 (11%)

44 (10%)

2.10 (0.06) 1

Deer Genetics 68 (12%)

52 (10%)

128 (23%)

148 (27%)

149 (27%)

3.47 (0.06) 4

Wildlife Plants 50 (9%)

41 (7%)

115 (20%)

173 (31%)

186 (33%)

3.72 (0.05) 4

Quality Deer Management Techniques 75 (15%)

50 (10%)

110 (22%)

144 (28%)

128 (25%)

3.39 (0.06) 4

Supplemental Feeding 44 (7%)

16 (3%)

95 (16%)

219 (36%)

234 (38%)

3.96 (0.05) 4

98

Page 99: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

99

Table 54. Response frequencies on value of delivery method of white-tailed deer management information to responding hunt camps

across Arkansas. Rank levels from 1 (not valuable) to 5 (extremely valuable).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Delivery Method

Not

Valuable

1

2

3

4

Extremely

Valuable

5

Mean Rank (SE)

M

AGFC Seminar

212

(22%)

197

(20%)

302

(31%)

189

(19%)

74

(8%)

2.71 (0.04)

3

Biologist Contact 104

(10%)

87

(9%)

202

(20%)

280

(28%)

344

(34%)

3.66 (0.04) 4

Book or Magazine 74

(7%)

99

(10%)

309

(30%)

340

(33%)

217

(21%)

3.51 (0.04) 4

Video 86

(9%)

82

(8%)

268

(27%)

326

(32%)

243

(24%)

3.56 (0.04) 4

Research Publications 81

(8%)

72

(7%)

273

(26%)

339

(33%)

270

(26%)

3.62 (0.04) 4

Page 100: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

100

Table 55. Response frequencies on value of delivery method of white-tailed deer management information to responding hunt camps

in the Ozarks DMU. Rank levels from 1 (not valuable) to 5 (extremely valuable).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Delivery Method

Not

Valuable

1

2

3

4

Extremely

Valuable

5

Mean Rank (SE)

M

AGFC Seminar

39

(21%)

30

(16%)

61

(33%)

32

(17%)

25

(13%)

2.86 (0.10)

3

Biologist Contact 15

(8%)

13

(7%)

38

(19%)

55

(28%)

75

(38%)

3.83 (0.09) 4

Book or Magazine 12

(6%)

21

(10%)

49

(24%)

70

(34%)

55

(27%)

3.65 (0.08) 4

Video 12

(6%)

16

(8%)

48

(25%)

59

(31%)

58

(30%)

3.70 (0.08) 4

Research Publications 14

(7%)

10

(5%)

55

(28%)

47

(24%)

72

(36%)

3.77 (0.09) 4

Page 101: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

101

Table 56. Response frequencies on value of delivery method of white-tailed deer management information to responding hunt camps

in the Ouachitas DMU. Rank levels from 1 (not valuable) to 5 (extremely valuable).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Delivery Method

Not

Valuable

1

2

3

4

Extremely

Valuable

5

Mean Rank (SE)

M

AGFC Seminar

16

(24%)

11

(16%)

21

(31%)

15

(22%)

4

(6%)

2.70 (0.15)

3

Biologist Contact 9

(13%)

5

(7%)

14

(21%)

24

(35%)

16

(24%)

3.49 (0.16) 4

Book or Magazine 6

(9%)

9

(13%)

21

(30%)

20

(29%)

14

(20%)

3.38 (0.14) 3

Video 18 7 10

(11%) (15%)

20

(30%) (27%)

11

(17%)

3.24 (0.15) 3

Research Publications 9

(13%)

6

(9%)

16

(24%)

26

(38%)

11

(16%)

3.35 (0.15) 4

Page 102: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

102

Table 57. Response frequencies on value of delivery method of white-tailed deer management information to responding hunt camps

in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain DMU. Rank levels from 1 (not valuable) to 5 (extremely valuable).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Delivery Method

Not

Valuable

1

2

3

4

Extremely

Valuable

5

Mean Rank (SE)

M

AGFC Seminar

32

(24%)

28

(21%)

43

(32%)

25

(19%)

6

(4%)

2.59 (0.10)

3

Biologist Contact 15

(11%)

11

(8%)

28

(20%)

39

(28%)

45

(33%)

3.64 (0.11) 4

Book or Magazine 11

(8%)

9

(7%)

47

(34%)

46

(34%)

24

(18%)

3.46 (0.09) 4

Video

(19%)

12

(29%)

16 10

(12%) (7%)

41

(30%)

45

(32%)

27 3.41 (0.10) 4

Research Publications

(9%)

6

(4%)

40 44

(32%)

36

(26%)

3.62 (0.10) 4

Page 103: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

103

Table 58. Response frequencies on value of delivery method of white-tailed deer management information to responding hunt camps

in the Gulf Coastal Plain DMU. Rank levels from 1 (not valuable) to 5 (extremely valuable).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Delivery Method

Not

2

M

120 2.69 (0.05)

Valuable

1

3

4

Extremely

Valuable

5

Mean Rank (SE)

AGFC Seminar

(21%)

120

(21%)

166

(30%)

116

(21%)

37

(7%)

3

Biologist Contact 62

(11%)

53

(9%)

117

(20%)

157

(27%)

196

(34%)

3.64 (0.05)

(24%)

4

Book or Magazine 43

(7%)

57

(10%)

183

(31%)

193

(32%)

121

(20%)

3.49 (0.05) 4

Video 49

(8%)

44

(8%)

152

(26%)

190

(33%)

145

(25%)

3.58 (0.05) 4

Research Publications 43

(7%)

46

(8%)

155

(26%)

212

(35%)

146 3.62 (0.05) 4

Page 104: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

104

Table 59. Number of responding hunt camps that feel that the Arkansas Game and Fish

Commission (AGFC) is doing a good job managing the Arkansas white-tailed deer herd to meet

AGFC white-tailed deer program goals?

Meeting Goals Response Frequency

Yes

944 (80%)

No 240 (20%)

Page 105: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 60. Response frequencies of responding hunt camps opinions on future management options available to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)

for white-tailed deer management across Arkansas. Rank levels from 1 (most important) to 8 (least important).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Management Options

Most

Important

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Least

Important

8

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Increasing Antlerless Hunting Opportunities

280

(30%)

67

(7%)

63

(7%)

133

(14%)

96

(10%)

45

(5%)

37

(4%)

207

(22%)

4.09 (0.09)

4

Antler Restrictions (other than 3 point rule) 248

(27%)

92

(10%)

58

(6%)

105

(11%)

132

(14%)

57

(6%)

49

(5%)

174

(19%)

4.11 (0.09) 4

Expanding Education Efforts on Deer Management

Assistance for Private Lands

343

(35%)

176

(18%)

141

(15%)

109

(11%)

55

(6%)

50

(5%)

36

(4%)

62

(6%)

2.96 (0.07) 2

Increasing Deer Research and Survey Work to Solve Deer

Management Problems

233

(24%)

185

(19%)

178

(18%)

138

60

(14%)

92

(10%)

54

(6%)

33

(3%)

53

(5%)

3.23 (0.06) 3

Increasing Public Information and Education on Deer

Management Techniques

261

(27%)

148

(15%)

172

(17%)

159

(16%)

111

(11%)

37

(4%)

37

(4%) (6%)

3.27 (0.07) 3

Reducing Antlered Buck Bag Limit from 2 Deer/Hunter to

1 Deer/Hunter

108

(12%)

46

(5%)

30

(3%)

42

(5%)

41

(5%)

127

(14%)

146

(16%)

357

(40%)

5.91 (0.08) 7

Reducing Number of Days Antlered Bucks Can Be

Harvested With Modern Gun

135

(15%)

42

(5%)

47

(5%)

59

(6%)

72

(8%)

135

(15%)

176

(19%)

255

(28%)

5.47 (0.08) 6

Implementing Hunting Permit Quotas for Antlered Bucks 56

(7%)

16

(2%)

28

(3%)

53

(6%)

75

(9%)

109

(13%)

101

(12%)

419

(49%)

6.39 (0.07) 7

105

Page 106: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 61. Response frequencies of responding hunt camps opinions on future management options available to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)

for white-tailed deer management in the Ozarks DMU. Rank levels from 1 (most important) to 8 (least important).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Management Options

Most

Important

1

2

Important

8 Mean Rank (SE)

47 11

(6%)

13 23 19 9 46

3

4

5

6

7

Least

M

Increasing Antlerless Hunting Opportunities

(27%)

(7%)

(13%)

(11%)

(5%)

9

(5%)

(26%)

4.41 (0.20)

4

Antler Restrictions (other than 3 point rule) 57

(32%)

20

(11%)

16

(9%)

21

(12%)

19

(11%)

14

(8%)

8

(4%)

24

(13%)

3.66 (0.19) 3

Expanding Education Efforts on Deer Management

Assistance for Private Lands

61

(32%) (9%)

12

37

26

44

(23%)

27

(14%)

17 13

(7%) (6%)

5

(3%)

9

(5%)

2.88 (0.15) 2

Increasing Deer Research and Survey Work to Solve Deer

Management Problems (21%)

31

(17%)

43

(24%)

27

(15%)

20

(11%)

8

(4%)

4

(2%)

9

(5%)

3.26 (0.14) 3

Increasing Public Information and Education on Deer

Management Techniques

47

(25%)

30

(16%)

28

(15%)

33

(18%) (14%)

10

(5%)

6

(3%)

7

(4%)

3.27 (0.14) 3

Reducing Antlered Buck Bag Limit from 2 Deer/Hunter to

1 Deer/Hunter

27

(15%)

9

(5%)

9

(5%)

6

(3%)

7

(7%)

31

(17%)

34

(19%)

56

(56%)

5.60 (0.19) 7

Reducing Number of Days Antlered Bucks Can Be

Harvested With Modern Gun

40

(22%)

8

(4%)

8

(4%)

10

(5%)

18

(10%)

21

(11%)

39

(21%)

41

(22%)

5.06 (0.20) 6

Implementing Hunting Permit Quotas for Antlered Bucks 9

(5%)

4

(2%)

5

(3%)

11

(7%)

14

(8%)

26

(16%)

18

(11%)

78

(47%)

6.38 (0.16) 7

106

Page 107: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 62. Response frequencies of responding hunt camps opinions on future management options available to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)

for white-tailed deer management in the Ouachitas DMU. Rank levels from 1 (most important) to 8 (least important).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Management Options

Most

Important

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Least

Important

8

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Increasing Antlerless Hunting Opportunities

18

(30%)

5

(8%)

4

(7%)

6

(10%)

7

(12%)

6

(10%)

2

(3%)

12

(20%)

4.08 (0.35)

4

Antler Restrictions (other than 3 point rule) 6

(10%)

11

(18%)

4

(7%)

8

(13%)

7

(12%)

3

(5%)

5

(8%)

16

(27%)

4.80 (0.33) 5

Expanding Education Efforts on Deer Management

Assistance for Private Lands

27

(41%)

11

(17%)

9

(14%)

6

(9%)

4

(6%)

1

(2%)

4

(6%)

4

(6%)

2.82 (0.27) 2

Increasing Deer Research and Survey Work to Solve Deer

Management Problems

17

(26%)

11

(17%)

11

(17%)

11

(17%)

8

(12%)

3

6

(54%)

3

(5%)

2

(3%)

3

(5%)

3.21 (0.24) 3

Increasing Public Information and Education on Deer

Management Techniques

19

(29%)

9

(14%)

12

(18%)

8

(12%)

8

(12%)

5

(8%)

2

(3%)

3

(5%)

3.22 (0.25)

Reducing Antlered Buck Bag Limit from 2 Deer/Hunter to

1 Deer/Hunter

7

(12%)

3

(5%)

1

(2%)

4

(7%)

1

(2%)

9

(15%)

11

(18%)

24

(40%)

6.00 (0.32) 7

Reducing Number of Days Antlered Bucks Can Be

Harvested With Modern Gun

4

(7%)

2

(3%)

5

(8%)

6

(10%)

5

(8%)

15

(25%)

7

(12%)

16

(27%)

5.65 (0.28)

Implementing Hunting Permit Quotas for Antlered Bucks 3

(5%)

3

(5%)

1

(2%)

4

(7%)

5

(9%)

4

(7%)

6

(11%)

31 6.43 (0.29) 8

107

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Table 63. Response frequencies of responding hunt camps opinions on future management options available to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)

for white-tailed deer management in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain DMU. Rank levels from 1 (most important) to 8 (least important).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Management Options

Most

Important

1

2

3

4

5

6

7 8 M

(8%)

Least

Important

Mean Rank (SE)

Increasing Antlerless Hunting Opportunities

23

(18%)

10

8

(6%)

31

(24%)

17

(13%)

7

(6%)

2

(2%)

29

(23%)

4.44 (0.22)

4

Antler Restrictions (other than 3 point rule) 40

(31%)

12

(9%)

9

(7%)

18

(14%)

21

(16%)

4

(3%)

7

(5%)

17

(13%)

3.73 (0.22) 4

Expanding Education Efforts on Deer Management

Assistance for Private Lands

50

(37%)

28

(21%)

23

(17%)

13

(10%)

5

(4%)

8

(6%)

3

(2%)

6

(4%)

2.71 (0.17) 2

Increasing Deer Research and Survey Work to Solve Deer

Management Problems

28

(21%)

33

(24%)

25

(18%)

18

(13%)

15

(11%)

11

(8%)

4

(3%)

2

(1%)

3.13 (0.15) 3

Increasing Public Information and Education on Deer

Management Techniques

36

(26%)

25

(18%)

25

(18%)

17

(12%)

16

(12%)

7

(5%)

7

(5%)

5

(4%)

3.19 (0.17) 3

Reducing Antlered Buck Bag Limit from 2 Deer/Hunter to

1 Deer/Hunter

11

(9%)

2

(2%)

6

(5%)

8

(7%)

9

(7%)

21

(17%)

17

(14%)

48

(39%)

6.06 (0.20) 7

Reducing Number of Days Antlered Bucks Can Be

Harvested With Modern Gun

14

(11%)

6

(5%)

4

(3%)

9

(7%)

16

(13%)

12

(9%)

31

(24%)

36

(28%)

5.71 (0.21) 7

Implementing Hunting Permit Quotas for Antlered Bucks 11

(9%)

2

(2%)

4

(3%)

8

(7%)

16

(13%)

20

(17%)

9

(8%)

49

(41%)

6.00 (0.21) 6

108

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Table 64. Response frequencies of responding hunt camps opinions on future management options available to the Arkansas Game and Fish Commission (AGFC)

for white-tailed deer management in the Gulf Coastal Plain DMU. Rank levels from 1 (most important) to 8 (least important).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Management Options

Most

Important

1

2

3

4

5

6

7

Least

Important

8

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Increasing Antlerless Hunting Opportunities

182

(34%)

40

(7%)

36

(7%)

69

(13%)

50

(9%)

23

(4%)

24

(4%)

114

(21%)

3.93 (0.12)

4

Antler Restrictions (other than 3 point rule) 140

(27%)

48

(9%)

27

(5%)

53

(10%)

82

(16%)

36

(7%)

26

(5%)

112

(21%)

4.26 (0.12) 4

Expanding Education Efforts on Deer Management

Assistance for Private Lands

199

(36%)

87

(16%)

81

(15%)

69

(12%)

30

(5%)

28

(5%)

22

(4%)

41

(7%)

3.04 (0.09) 2

Increasing Deer Research and Survey Work to Solve Deer

Management Problems

143

(26%)

108

(19%)

95

(17%)

79

(14%)

43

(8%)

29

(5%)

23

(4%)

38 3.25 (0.09)

78 15

(4%)

3.30 (0.09)

Reducing Antlered Buck Bag Limit from 2 Deer/Hunter to

1 Deer/Hunter

31

(3%)

23

(12%)

218 5.94 (0.11)

5.51 (0.11)

250

(7%)

3

Increasing Public Information and Education on Deer

Management Techniques

154

(27%) (14%)

102

(18%)

98

(17%)

58

(10%) (3%)

21 43

(8%)

3

62

(12%) (6%)

14 24

(5%) (4%)

61 80

(16%) (43%)

7

Reducing Number of Days Antlered Bucks Can Be

Harvested With Modern Gun

75

(14%)

26

(5%)

29

(6%)

32

(6%)

31

(6%)

83

(16%)

95

(18%)

154

(29%)

6

Implementing Hunting Permit Quotas for Antlered Bucks 31

(6%)

7

(1%)

17

(3%)

30

(6%)

40

(8%)

55

(11%)

63

(13%) (51%)

6.46 (0.09) 8

109

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110

Table 65. Number of responding hunt camps (%) that offer wildlife related recreational

opportunities for members and the number of members (mode (sample size)) involved across

Arkansas.

Response Frequency No. Members Involved

Wildlife Related Opportunities Yes Mode and sample size (n)

Fishing

404 (34%)

6: n=311

Swimming 109 (9%) 5: n=76

Hiking 294 (25%) 5: n=213

Wildlife Observation 472 (40%) 6: n=341

Bird Watching 255 (22%) 2: n=168

Table 66. Number of responding hunt camps that allow guests of camp members to harvest

antlerless deer on hunt camp property by DMU and statewide in Arkansas.

Guest

Hunting

Ozarks

Ouachitas

Mississippi Alluvial

Plain

Gulf Coastal

Plain

Statewide

Yes

183 (78%)

49 (66%)

130 (83%)

586 (85%)

974 (82%)

No 52 (22%) 25 (34%) 26 (17%) 100 (15%) 210 (18%)

Page 111: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 67. Response frequencies of problems occurring on responding hunt camps property across Arkansas. Rank levels from 1 (greatest problem) to 7

(least problem).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Camp Problems

Greatest

Problem

1

2

3

4

5

6

Least

Problem

7

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Unauthorized Hunting of Deer

285

(30%)

142

(15%)

116

(12%)

126

(13%)

101

(11%)

61

(6%)

126

(13%)

3.32 (0.07)

3

Unauthorized Hunting of Other Wildlife 148

(16%)

65

(7%)

114

(13%)

118

(13%)

158

(17%)

117

(13%)

187

(21%)

4.29 (0.07) 5

Illegal Hunting (Poaching) 314

(32%)

171

(18%)

129

(13%)

109

(11%)

69

(7%)

44

(5%)

132

(14%)

3.11 (0.07) 2

Dog Hunting Forcing Deer off Camp

Property

191

(21%)

60

(7%)

80

(9%)

62

(7%)

81

(9%)

134

(15%)

291

(32%)

4.50 (0.08) 5

Non-Member Hunting Near Camp Boundary 293

(30%)

131

(13%)

112

(11%)

95

(10%)

100

(10%)

99

(10%)

145

(15%)

4.47 (0.07) 3

Trespassing 316 160

(32%)

140

(14%) (16%)

135

(14%)

85

(9%)

62

(6%)

99

(10%)

3.12 (0.06) 3

Safety of Members While Hunting 59

(7%)

18

(2%)

20

(2%)

28

(3%)

56

(7%)

109

(13%)

566

(66%)

6.03 (0.06) 7

111

Page 112: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 68. Response frequencies of problems occurring on responding hunt camps property in the Ozarks DMU. Rank levels from 1 (greatest problem) to 7

(least problem).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Camp Problems

Problem

1

2

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Unauthorized Hunting of Deer

31 12

(6%)

21 59

(30%)

(16%)

21

(11%)

28

(14%)

23

(12%)

(11%)

3.23 (0.15)

3

Unauthorized Hunting of Other Wildlife 27

(15%) (13%)

23

12

(7%)

21

(12%)

23 35

(19%) (13%)

40

(22%)

4.41 (0.15) 5

Illegal Hunting (Poaching) 54

(28%)

42

(22%)

24

(13%)

23

(12%)

13

(7%)

9

(5%)

27

(14%)

3.18 (0.15) 2

Dog Hunting Forcing Deer off Camp

Property

52

(28%)

15

(8%)

16

(9%)

10

(5%)

22

(13%)

22

(13%)

49

(26%)

4.06 (0.18) 4

Non-Member Hunting Near Camp Boundary 57

(30%)

24

(13%)

26

(14%)

21

(11%)

16

(8%)

22

(12%)

24

(13%)

3.41 (0.16) 3

Trespassing 61 37

(31%)

28

(14%) (19%)

25

(13%)

15

(8%)

15

(8%)

19

(10%)

3.13 (0.14) 3

Safety of Members While Hunting 13

(8%)

4

(2%)

3

(2%)

8

(5%)

12

(7%)

19

(11%)

109

(65%)

5.95 (0.14) 7

Greatest

3

4

5

6

Least

Problem

7

112

Page 113: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 69. Response frequencies of problems occurring on responding hunt camps property in the Ouachitas DMU. Rank levels from 1 (greatest problem)

to 7 (least problem).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Camp Problems

Greatest

Problem

1

2

3

4

5

6

Least

Problem

7

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Unauthorized Hunting of Deer

23

(37%)

6

(10%)

7

(11%)

7

(11%)

10

(16%)

5

(8%)

5

(8%)

3.16 (0.26)

3

Unauthorized Hunting of Other Wildlife 11

(19%)

4

(7%)

2

(3%)

10

(17%)

15

(25%)

8

(14%)

9

(15%)

4.25 (0.27) 5

Illegal Hunting (Poaching) 23

(35%)

11

(17%)

11

(17%)

6

(9%)

5

(8%)

5

(8%)

4

(6%)

2.85 (0.24) 2

Dog Hunting Forcing Deer off Camp Property 19

(31%)

5

(8%)

8

(13%)

6

(10%)

4

(6%)

6

(10%)

14

(23%)

3.73 (0.30) 3

Non-Member Hunting Near Camp Boundary 11

(17%)

8

(13%)

7

(11%)

9

(14%)

8

(3%)

12

(19%)

8

(13%)

4.00 (0.26) 4

Trespassing 24 13

(36%)

12

(18%) (19%)

8

(12%)

3

(4%)

4

(4%)

4

(6%)

2.69 (0.22) 2

Safety of Members While Hunting 5

(8%)

1

(2%)

0

(0%)

2

(3%)

3

(5%)

8

(13%)

41

(68%)

6.08 (0.23) 7

113

Page 114: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 70. Response frequencies of problems occurring on responding hunt camps property in the Mississippi Alluvial Plain DMU. Rank levels from 1

(greatest problem) to 7 (least problem).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Camp Problems

Greatest

Problem

1

2

3

4

5

6

Least

Problem

7

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Unauthorized Hunting of Deer

34

(27%)

21

(17%)

19

(15%)

15

(12%)

12

(10%)

8

(6%)

17

(13%)

3.33 (0.19)

3

Unauthorized Hunting of Other Wildlife 10

(8%)

13

(10%)

18

(15%)

20

(16%)

21

(17%)

20

(16%)

22

(18%)

4.43 (0.17) 5

Illegal Hunting (Poaching) 50

(37%)

26

(19%)

22

(16%)

13

(9%)

12

(9%)

4

(3%)

10

(7%)

2.73 (0.16) 2

Dog Hunting Forcing Deer off Camp Property 8

(7%)

6

(5%)

14

(12%)

13

(11%)

11

(9%)

27

(23%)

41

(34%)

5.15 (0.18) 6

Non-Member Hunting Near Camp Boundary 43

(32%)

23

(17%)

18

(13%)

11

(8%)

12

(9%)

11

(8%)

16

(12%)

3.17 (0.18) 3

Trespassing 47

(34%)

25

(18%)

21

(15%)

23

(17%)

8

(6%)

9

(6%)

6

(4%)

2.79 (0.15) 2

Safety of Members While Hunting 7

(6%)

1

(1%)

5

(4%)

5

(4%)

8

(7%)

15

(13%)

77

(65%)

6.04 (0.16) 7

114

Page 115: White-Tailed Deer Management on Private Lands in Arkansas Camp Report.pdfwhite-tailed deer management on private lands. This study provides the AGFC with an evaluation of hunt camp

Table 71. Response frequencies of problems occurring on responding hunt camps property in the Gulf Coastal Plain DMU. Rank levels from 1 (greatest

problem) to 7 (least problem).

Rank Levels Summary Statistics

Camp Problems

Greatest

Problem

1

2

3

4

5

6

Least

Problem

7

Mean Rank (SE)

M

Unauthorized Hunting of Deer

160

(29%)

81

(15%)

61

(11%)

72

(13%)

55

(10%)

35

(6%)

82

(15%)

3.39 (0.09)

3

Unauthorized Hunting of Other Wildlife 91

(18%)

33

(6%)

68

(13%)

61

(12%)

83

(16%)

65

(13%)

115

(22%)

4.29 (0.09) 5

Illegal Hunting (Poaching) 177

(32%)

86

(16%)

70

(13%)

62

(11%)

38

(7%)

24

(4%)

90

(16%)

3.24 (0.09) 3

Dog Hunting Forcing Deer off Camp Property 109

(21%)

32

(6%)

40

(8%)

32

(6%)

42

(8%)

75

(15%)

178

(35%)

4.58 (0.11) 5

Non-Member Hunting Near Camp Boundary 175

(31%)

70

(13%)

59

(11%)

52

(9%)

61

(11%)

50

(9%)

91

(16%)

3.48 (0.10) 3

Trespassing 171

(31%)

69

(12%)

86

(15%)

74

(13%)

56

(10%)

35

(6%)

69

(12%)

3.28 (0.09) 3

Safety of Members While Hunting 32

(7%)

12

(2%)

11

(2%)

13

(3%)

32

(7%)

66

(14%)

321

(66%)

6.05 (0.08) 7

115

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116

Appendix 1

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117

In order to categorize the data more effectively, please indicate which of the following most

closely applies to you.

(___) Land Owner – person who owns the land that the hunt club is located on.

(___) Land Manager – person who owns the land and is responsible for the management of the

club and wildlife management practices used on the land.

(___) Club Manager – person who does not own the land but is responsible for the management

of the club and wildlife management practices used on the land.

Arkansas Deer Club Contact Questionnaire

Club Information

Club Name______________________________________________________________

1) What is your AGFC hunt club identification number? #_____________

2) Where is the property that you manage (or hunt) located?

Deer Zone-__________ County-_______________

3) How many acres is your hunt club?

Acres-__________

4) Which type of property is a majority of the hunt club located on?

(___) – Privately owned land (club member owned)

(___) – Privately owned land the club leases (non-member owned)

(___) – Industry Land (e.g. timber company land)

(___) – Public Lands

5) How many members does your club have?

Number of Club Members -__________

6) How many white-tailed deer did members of your club harvest last season?

(___) – Antlered Bucks (___) – Does (___) – Fawns (under 12 months old)

7) Is your club under a Quality Deer Management (QDM) program?

(___) – Yes (___) – No

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118

8) If yes to question seven (7), what is your clubs management objective (check only one)?

(___) – Maintain present deer herd density (deer harvest used to prevent herd growth,

maintain current age-sex ratios, and maintain herd health).

(___) – Increase deer density (deer harvest restricted to allow for increase in total deer

numbers on the club property).

(___) – Improve antler development/physical condition of the deer herd (deer harvest

restricted to allow more bucks to reach older age classes of >2.5 years old).

(___) – Trophy deer (deer harvest restricted to allow more bucks to reach mature age

classes of >4.5 years old)

(___) – Other (please explain) _______________________________________________

9) Does your club attempt to control hunter pressure or density (hunters per acre(s)) on your

clubs land?

(___) – Always (___) – Usually (___) – Sometimes (___) – Never

If so what is the maximum number of hunters per acre(s)?

Number of hunters (________) per (________) acre(s)

10) Does your club practice more restrictive deer management practices than those set by the

AGFC, and if so what are they? (Please Rank all that apply from 1 (practice most

used) to 7 (practice least used)).

(___) – Do not practice more restrictive deer management.

(___) – Mandatory doe harvest

(___) – Mandatory doe harvest prior to buck harvest

(___) – Minimum 4-point rule or greater

(___) – Minimum antler spread

(___) – Restricted buck harvest

(___) – Restricted antlerless harvest (no “button” bucks harvested)

(___) – Other (please list) __________________________________________________

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119

11) What types of habitat management practices does your club use for white-tailed deer

(Please Rank all that apply from 1 (practice most used) to 9 (practice least used)).

(___) – Summer food plots

(___) – Winter food plots

(___) – Fertilizing of natural vegetation

(___) – Supplemental feeding (automatic feeders) of corn, beans, etc (not through normal

agricultural practices)

(___) – Supplemental salt/mineral blocks

(___) – Prescribed burns

(___) – Timber management/timber harvest

(___) – Set-aside programs (e.g. CRP, WRP, Acres for Wildlife (AFW))

(___) – Other (list)________________________________________________________

12) How long has your hunt club been using these habitat management practices (please fill

in the number of years that a particular management practices has been used)?

Practice No. Years

Summer Food Plots (_______)

Winter Food Plots (_______)

Fertilizing natural vegetation (_______)

Supplemental feeding (corn, beans, etc.) (_______)

Supplemental salt/mineral blocks (_______)

Prescribed burns (_______)

Timber harvest/timber management (_______)

Set-aside programs (CRP, WRP, AFW) (_______)

Other- (from previous question) (_______)

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13) In addition to management practices for white-tailed deer, does your club manage for any

other wildlife? (Please Rank all that apply from 1 (managed the most) to 12

(managed the least)).

(___) – Ducks and Geese (___) – Dove

(___) – Turkey (___) – Rabbit

(___) – Quail (___) – Feral Hogs

(___) – Bear (___) – Furbearers

(___) – Elk (___) – Non-game/endangered species

(___) – Squirrels

(___) – Other (please explain)______________________________

14) What management practices does your club use for other wildlife on the club property?

(Please Rank all that apply from 1 (technique used most) to 6 (technique used

least)).

(___) – Flooding fields for waterfowl

(___) – Nest platforms or boxes for waterfowl

(___) – Feeders/nest boxes for songbirds

(___) – Mowing or grassland management

(___) – Timber management

(___) – Other (please explain)-_______________________________________________

15) Since your club began using different management practices for white-tailed deer, have

you seen (please check all that apply)?

(___) – An increase in the total number of deer on the club property

(___) – An increase in the number of bucks on the club property (2.5 years and older)

(___) – An increase in the number of bucks on the club property (4.5 years and older)

(___) – An increase in the overall antler size/spread/total points of harvested bucks

(___) – An improvement in harvested deer health/weight (both does and bucks)

(___) – A more equal number of bucks and does on the club property

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16) Does your hunt club keep harvest totals and biological records of deer harvested by the

club members (e.g. total points, beam length, tine length, inside spread, jawbones aged,

dressed weight)?

(___) – Yes (___) - No

17) If your club keeps harvest records, would you make them available for research

purposes?

(___) – Yes (___) – No

18) Does your club work with an AGFC wildlife biologist in establishing white-tailed deer

harvest and habitat management guidelines?

(___) – Yes (___) – No

19) Do you feel that your club would benefit from increased management assistance from the

AGFC?

(___) – Yes (___) – No

20) What type of management assistance from the AGFC do you feel would benefit/interest

your club? (Please Rank from 1 (most beneficial) to 7 (least beneficial)).

(___) – Public Information Programs

(___) – Hunter Educational Programs

(___) – Wildlife Management Assistance Programs

(___) – Management recommendations from a Wildlife Biologist

(___) – Population/Density Estimation of clubs white-tailed deer herd

(___) – Habitat Development and Management Assistance

(___) – Non-game/endangered species management

(___) – Other (please explain) - ______________________________________________

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21) Has your club sought outside assistance or advice on harvest or habitat management for

the clubs property (including AGFC assistance or other wildlife biologists)?

(___) – Yes (___) - No

22) As the club contact, what type of information provided by the AGFC would interest you

and assist you in managing the white-tailed deer on the club? Please circle the number for

each statement that best describes the type of information that interests you.

Not Slightly Moderately Very Extremely Interested Interested Interested Interested Interested

Hunting Techniques 1 2 3 4 5

Aging Techniques 1 2 3 4 5

Harvest Management 1 2 3 4 5

Deer Behavior 1 2 3 4 5

Food Plots 1 2 3 4 5

Forest Management 1 2 3 4 5

Prescribed Burning 1 2 3 4 5

Deer Genetics 1 2 3 4 5

Wildlife Plants 1 2 3 4 5

QDM Techniques 1 2 3 4 5

Supplemental Feeding 1 2 3 4 5

23) Circle the number that best describes how valuable each method of information delivery

is to you.

Not Slightly Moderately Very Extremely Valuable Valuable Valuable Valuable Valuable

AGFC Seminar 1 2 3 4 5

Biologist Contact 1 2 3 4 5

Book or Magazine 1 2 3 4 5

Video 1 2 3 4 5

Research Publications 1 2 3 4 5

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24) The current goal of the AGFC deer program is to “maintain a healthy deer herd with a

balanced sex and age structure at a level that is consistent with long-term habitat

capability; and to maintain deer populations and parameters at levels that are consistent

with public satisfaction and acceptance.” Do you feel that the AGFC is doing a good job

of managing the white-tailed deer herd in the state to meet this objective.

(___) – Yes (___) – No

25) The AGFC has many different management options available to increase herd quality in

the future. Which of these management options do you feel would be best for the state of

Arkansas (please Rank from 1 (most important) to 8 (least important)?

(___) – Increasing antlerless hunting opportunities for the modern firearm season and

allow antlerless harvest at the beginning of the firearm season

(___) – Antler restrictions (other than the state 3 point rule)

(___) – Expanding efforts to educate hunters and hunt clubs on deer management

assistance programs for private lands

(___) – Increasing deer research and survey work to help solve deer management

programs

(___) – Increasing public information and educational materials on proper deer

management techniques

(___) – Reducing the annual antlered buck bag limit from 2 deer/hunter to 1 deer/hunter

each year.

(___) – Reducing the number of days antlered bucks may be harvested with modern

firearms.

(___) – Implementing hunting permit quotas for antlered bucks

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26) Does your club offer other wildlife-related recreational opportunities on the club

property? If so please provide the following information.

Yes No Number members involved

Fishing (___) (___) (___)

Swimming (___) (___) (___)

Hiking (___) (___) (___)

Wildlife Observation (___) (___) (___)

Bird Watching (___) (___) (___)

27) Does your club make any of its lands available to public hunting by individually issuing

permits?

(___) – Yes (___) – No

If yes, how many acres are involved?

Number acres (___)

28) Does your club allow guests of members to hunt for antlerless deer?

(___) – Yes (___) – No

29) Please rank problems that occur on your club’s property. Please Rank all that apply

from 1 to 7 (1 being the greatest problem and 7 being the least).

(___) – Unauthorized hunting of deer

(___) – Unauthorized hunting of other game species

(___) – Illegal hunting (Poaching on the club property)

(___) – Dog hunting in the area forcing deer off club boundaries

(___) – Non-club members harvesting deer near club boundaries (private lands

surrounding club)

(___) – Trespassing

(___) – Safety of members while hunting