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Bow hunter sightings log summary

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The Rhode Island Department of Environmental Management implemented a voluntary bowhunter sighting log survey in 2001 to monitor wildlife populations over time. In the 2008-2009 season, 12 hunters recorded over 1,000 hours of observations during 351 hunts across 20 towns. The number of antlerless deer sightings increased 18.5% while buck sightings decreased 36.5%. The survey provides a useful index of population trends and helps understand species distributions, though participation needs to increase for more accurate monitoring of wildlife in Rhode Island.

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RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE BOWHUNTER SIGHTING LOG 2008-09 SUMMARY In 2001, The Division of Fish and Wildlife implemented a voluntary sighting log survey for the states archery deer hunters. The survey is modeled on similar surveys that have been used successfully for a number of years in other states such as New York and Virginia. The objective of the sighting log survey is to collect reliable information on a variety of wildlife species to help monitor the relative abundance of these species over time. There are rarely enough personnel and resources available to wildlife managers to conduct population monitoring of more than a few wildlife species and particularly those that do not have to be tagged by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Harvest data is often relied upon to estimate changes in wildlife populations, yet many variables often make harvest information alone a poor index of population trends. The number of unsolicited sighting reports, nuisance complaints, and road-kills can be related to wildlife population levels and provide useful information. The sighting log will provide an additional source of information, which when combined with other available data will improve our ability to detect changes in population levels for furbearers and other wildlife species. Another use of the survey is to gain a better understanding of distribution of species for which there may be little or no information. Archery hunters have been the focus of sighting log surveys primarily because most archers still hunt from a stand, allowing them an opportunity to accurately identify any animals they observe. Additionally, the length of the archery season is longer than other methods, extending the observation period over several months. Many muzzleloader and shotgun hunters also hunt from a stand and the term bowhunter sighting log should not deter them from participating in the survey. Participants were asked to record the number of hours hunted and the number of sightings of selected wildlife species each time they hunted throughout the archery deer season. In addition to those species listed on the survey card, participants were asked to record other species observed such as chipmunks, hawks, owls and domestic animals such as cats or dogs. Sightings of other hunters or other people observed while hunting should also be recorded. The number of sightings recorded is converted to a sighting rate (number of sightings/100hrs). The sighting rate can be compared from year to year, from area to area, and can be a useful index of population trends for certain species. The total number of hunts reported remained about the same as last year but the total number of reported observation hours decreased slightly. During the 2008-2009 season twelve hunters logged 1033.5 hours of observation time during 351 individual outings. Those persons who participated continued to do an excellent job of recording their data. Unlike past years where some cards could not be used because of incorrect or incomplete recording of information, we were able to use all the cards that were returned in our analysis.
2 Observations were recorded in twenty different towns, one more than 2007-2008. Exeter again led all towns with the highest number of hunts, (86), followed by Coventry (39) and North Kingstown (28). November had the highest number of observation hours (483) as well as the most number of hunts (154). Ninety-seven percent of recorded hunts occurred on private land. The number of antlerless deer sighted statewide per 100 hours of observation time increased by 18.5% after four previous years of decline. The number of bucks observed statewide decreased 36.5% from 7.4/100 hrs in 2007/08 to 4.7/100 hrs in 2008/09. When looking at the tables, it is important to remember that a change from one year of the survey to the next does not necessarily mean a change in the population. Many factors can affect the visibility of wildlife including weather, availability of food, etc. Also the low number of participants, the distribution of participants and low number of observation hours will affect the data. Over time however, with an adequate and consistent number of participants and better distribution throughout the state, we may be able to detect trends in populations of some species. The Division of Fish and Wildlife wishes to thank those archers and other hunters that participated in the bowhunter sighting log. Survey forms will be available again this year prior to the opening of the mainland archery deer season. Survey forms can be downloaded from the DEM website: www.dem.ri.gov as well as various check stations and Fish and Wildlife offices. A continued effort will be made to increase the number of participants and the statewide distribution of effort and to refine the survey. The usefulness of the survey will depend on adequate participation and distribution of observers. Other potentially useful data that could be incorporated into the survey might include: weather conditions, number of bucks chasing does, doe to fawn ratios, or number of other hunters observed. Any comments or suggestions to make the survey more effective are welcomed. Survey results will be mailed to all participants who returned a survey card and provided a return address. Survey results are also available at Fish and Wildlife offices. If you know of anyone who might like to participate in the survey contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife at the Great Swamp Field Headquarters, West Kingston, RI. Telephone 401-789-0281.
3 Table 1. Number of hunts AM (morning) and PM (evening) Time of day # of hunts % of hunts AM 162 46 PM 189 54 Table 2. Number of recorded survey hours by month Month # of hours October 2008 327 November 2008 483 December 2008 159 January 2009 64.5 Total: 1033.5 Table 3. Number of hunts per month for 2008-09 sighting log Month # of hunts % of hunts October 2008 115 32.8 November 2008 154 43.9 December 2008 58 16.5 January 2009 24 6.8 Total: 351 Table 4. Number of hunts per town for 2008-09 sighting log Town # of hunts Barrington 3 Burrillville 25 Charlestown 8 Coventry 39 Cranston 2 East Providence 1 Exeter 86 Foster 17 Hopkinton 8 Jamestown 24 Little Compton 1 Middletown 3 Narragansett 4 North Kingstown 28 Portsmouth 26 Richmond 1 Scituate 23 South Kingstown 23 Tiverton 4 West Greenwich 25 Total: 351
4 Table 5. Number of animals seen per 100 hours of observation statewide 2008- 2007- 2006- 2005- 2004- 2003- 2002- 2001- Species 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 fisher 0.39 1.04 0.4 0.5 0.7 1.1 0.88 2.3 coyote 1.35 1.1 0.2 1.6 0.5 1.0 0.76 1.8 bobcat 0.09 0 0.1 0.7 0 0.1 0.22 0 squirrels 42.6 42.5 39.2 43.2 33.5 46.8 15.6 41.7 raccoon 0.58 0.68 1.1 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.11 0 red fox 0.39 0 0.4 0 1.1 0.2 0.44 1.3 gray fox 0.19 0.08 0.2 0 0.2 0.7 0.66 0.5 turkey 2.2 10.1 8.7 9.7 10.0 8.1 16.3 45.1 deer (bucks) 4.7 7.4 6.1 6.6 6.7 7.2 7.8 3.8 deer (antlerless) 30.1 25.4 31.0 35.2 37.2 38.5 25.2 22.8 Table 6. Number of animals seen per 100 hours of observation AM/PM statewide # # seen/100 seen/100 hours hours Species (AM) (PM) fisher 0.18 0.61 coyote 0.55 2.2 bobcat 0.18 0 squirrels 45.8 38.9 raccoon 0.7 0.41 red fox 0.37 0.41 gray fox 0.37 0 turkey 0.74 3.9 deer (bucks) 6.4 2.9 deer (antlerless) 20.3 40.9 Table 7. Number of deer seen per 100 hours of observation # seen/ # seen/ total 100 hours 100 hours hours (bucks) (antlerless) Prudence Island 32 12.5 37.5 Jamestown 86.5 1.2 17.9 Aquidneck Island 48.5 10.3 2.1 mainland only 866.5 4.5 32.5 1033.5
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Bow hunter sightings log summary

  • 1. RHODE ISLAND DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT DIVISION OF FISH AND WILDLIFE BOWHUNTER SIGHTING LOG 2008-09 SUMMARY In 2001, The Division of Fish and Wildlife implemented a voluntary sighting log survey for the states archery deer hunters. The survey is modeled on similar surveys that have been used successfully for a number of years in other states such as New York and Virginia. The objective of the sighting log survey is to collect reliable information on a variety of wildlife species to help monitor the relative abundance of these species over time. There are rarely enough personnel and resources available to wildlife managers to conduct population monitoring of more than a few wildlife species and particularly those that do not have to be tagged by the Division of Fish and Wildlife. Harvest data is often relied upon to estimate changes in wildlife populations, yet many variables often make harvest information alone a poor index of population trends. The number of unsolicited sighting reports, nuisance complaints, and road-kills can be related to wildlife population levels and provide useful information. The sighting log will provide an additional source of information, which when combined with other available data will improve our ability to detect changes in population levels for furbearers and other wildlife species. Another use of the survey is to gain a better understanding of distribution of species for which there may be little or no information. Archery hunters have been the focus of sighting log surveys primarily because most archers still hunt from a stand, allowing them an opportunity to accurately identify any animals they observe. Additionally, the length of the archery season is longer than other methods, extending the observation period over several months. Many muzzleloader and shotgun hunters also hunt from a stand and the term bowhunter sighting log should not deter them from participating in the survey. Participants were asked to record the number of hours hunted and the number of sightings of selected wildlife species each time they hunted throughout the archery deer season. In addition to those species listed on the survey card, participants were asked to record other species observed such as chipmunks, hawks, owls and domestic animals such as cats or dogs. Sightings of other hunters or other people observed while hunting should also be recorded. The number of sightings recorded is converted to a sighting rate (number of sightings/100hrs). The sighting rate can be compared from year to year, from area to area, and can be a useful index of population trends for certain species. The total number of hunts reported remained about the same as last year but the total number of reported observation hours decreased slightly. During the 2008-2009 season twelve hunters logged 1033.5 hours of observation time during 351 individual outings. Those persons who participated continued to do an excellent job of recording their data. Unlike past years where some cards could not be used because of incorrect or incomplete recording of information, we were able to use all the cards that were returned in our analysis.
  • 2. 2 Observations were recorded in twenty different towns, one more than 2007-2008. Exeter again led all towns with the highest number of hunts, (86), followed by Coventry (39) and North Kingstown (28). November had the highest number of observation hours (483) as well as the most number of hunts (154). Ninety-seven percent of recorded hunts occurred on private land. The number of antlerless deer sighted statewide per 100 hours of observation time increased by 18.5% after four previous years of decline. The number of bucks observed statewide decreased 36.5% from 7.4/100 hrs in 2007/08 to 4.7/100 hrs in 2008/09. When looking at the tables, it is important to remember that a change from one year of the survey to the next does not necessarily mean a change in the population. Many factors can affect the visibility of wildlife including weather, availability of food, etc. Also the low number of participants, the distribution of participants and low number of observation hours will affect the data. Over time however, with an adequate and consistent number of participants and better distribution throughout the state, we may be able to detect trends in populations of some species. The Division of Fish and Wildlife wishes to thank those archers and other hunters that participated in the bowhunter sighting log. Survey forms will be available again this year prior to the opening of the mainland archery deer season. Survey forms can be downloaded from the DEM website: www.dem.ri.gov as well as various check stations and Fish and Wildlife offices. A continued effort will be made to increase the number of participants and the statewide distribution of effort and to refine the survey. The usefulness of the survey will depend on adequate participation and distribution of observers. Other potentially useful data that could be incorporated into the survey might include: weather conditions, number of bucks chasing does, doe to fawn ratios, or number of other hunters observed. Any comments or suggestions to make the survey more effective are welcomed. Survey results will be mailed to all participants who returned a survey card and provided a return address. Survey results are also available at Fish and Wildlife offices. If you know of anyone who might like to participate in the survey contact the Division of Fish and Wildlife at the Great Swamp Field Headquarters, West Kingston, RI. Telephone 401-789-0281.
  • 3. 3 Table 1. Number of hunts AM (morning) and PM (evening) Time of day # of hunts % of hunts AM 162 46 PM 189 54 Table 2. Number of recorded survey hours by month Month # of hours October 2008 327 November 2008 483 December 2008 159 January 2009 64.5 Total: 1033.5 Table 3. Number of hunts per month for 2008-09 sighting log Month # of hunts % of hunts October 2008 115 32.8 November 2008 154 43.9 December 2008 58 16.5 January 2009 24 6.8 Total: 351 Table 4. Number of hunts per town for 2008-09 sighting log Town # of hunts Barrington 3 Burrillville 25 Charlestown 8 Coventry 39 Cranston 2 East Providence 1 Exeter 86 Foster 17 Hopkinton 8 Jamestown 24 Little Compton 1 Middletown 3 Narragansett 4 North Kingstown 28 Portsmouth 26 Richmond 1 Scituate 23 South Kingstown 23 Tiverton 4 West Greenwich 25 Total: 351
  • 4. 4 Table 5. Number of animals seen per 100 hours of observation statewide 2008- 2007- 2006- 2005- 2004- 2003- 2002- 2001- Species 2009 2008 2007 2006 2005 2004 2003 2002 fisher 0.39 1.04 0.4 0.5 0.7 1.1 0.88 2.3 coyote 1.35 1.1 0.2 1.6 0.5 1.0 0.76 1.8 bobcat 0.09 0 0.1 0.7 0 0.1 0.22 0 squirrels 42.6 42.5 39.2 43.2 33.5 46.8 15.6 41.7 raccoon 0.58 0.68 1.1 0.3 0.7 0.7 0.11 0 red fox 0.39 0 0.4 0 1.1 0.2 0.44 1.3 gray fox 0.19 0.08 0.2 0 0.2 0.7 0.66 0.5 turkey 2.2 10.1 8.7 9.7 10.0 8.1 16.3 45.1 deer (bucks) 4.7 7.4 6.1 6.6 6.7 7.2 7.8 3.8 deer (antlerless) 30.1 25.4 31.0 35.2 37.2 38.5 25.2 22.8 Table 6. Number of animals seen per 100 hours of observation AM/PM statewide # # seen/100 seen/100 hours hours Species (AM) (PM) fisher 0.18 0.61 coyote 0.55 2.2 bobcat 0.18 0 squirrels 45.8 38.9 raccoon 0.7 0.41 red fox 0.37 0.41 gray fox 0.37 0 turkey 0.74 3.9 deer (bucks) 6.4 2.9 deer (antlerless) 20.3 40.9 Table 7. Number of deer seen per 100 hours of observation # seen/ # seen/ total 100 hours 100 hours hours (bucks) (antlerless) Prudence Island 32 12.5 37.5 Jamestown 86.5 1.2 17.9 Aquidneck Island 48.5 10.3 2.1 mainland only 866.5 4.5 32.5 1033.5
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