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1999 FALL BOW SEASON OPENING DAY HARVEST ESTIMATE

November 8, 1999

For more information contact:
Daniel Ferrigno at 609-259-8692

According to the New Jersey Department of Environmental Protection's Division of Fish, Game and Wildlife, an estimated 2,199 white-tailed deer were harvested statewide during the opening day of the 1999 Fall Bow Season on October 2. This preliminary harvest estimate was based on a recent sampling of deer check stations throughout the state and represents a 3-percent increase from last year's record opening day harvest of 2,128 deer.

The total is the third highest opening day harvest in the 49-year history of New Jersey's fall bow season. Weather conditions and the continuation of the bonus tag program in most zones played a role in the increased harvest.

Results varied by region with the highest increase occurring in the central part of the state, followed by the north. The southern portion of the state, however, declined. Bow hunters in central Jersey registered 14-percent more deer than the previous year, while the northern region experienced more moderate increase of 4 percent. A closer look at the southern region harvest revealed that bow hunters fared better this year than in 1998, however, the region-wide total was lower because of a significant drop in the harvest from western Salem County where an outbreak of Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease in deer was experienced.

The opening day harvest estimate provided strong evidence that bow hunters are making an important contribution to reducing deer populations in agricultural and suburban areas. In those areas, bow hunters were required to harvest an antlerless deer before harvesting an antlered buck. The regulation applied to most of north Jersey and much of central Jersey, yet the deer harvest increased in those areas. These early results should be very encouraging to farmers and sportsmen like. Shifting hunting pressure from antlered bucks to antlerless deer will result in reduced damage to agriculture as well as older and bigger bucks in the future.

This harvest estimate was based on a comprehensive telephone survey of 97 deer check stations. In the past, this type of estimate has been extremely accurate. For example, last year's harvest estimate for the opening day of fall bow season was 2,145 deer and the actual harvest was 2,128.

A summary of recent opening day harvests follows:

YEAR

HARVEST

HUNTING CONDITIONS

1999

2,199*

sunny and cool in the a.m.

1998

2,128

overcast, breezy & cool w/late afternoon drizzle

1997

1,767

warm & sunny, highs in the mid to upper 70s

1996

2,555

excellent weather, cool & mostly sunny

1995

2,517

excellent weather, cool & partly sunny

1994

1,148

fair weather, light rain, light winds

1993

1,508

excellent weather, breezy

1992

804

rainy then clearing

1991

1,640

excellent weather

1990

1,019

mild weather

1989

1,388

good weather

1988

989

good weather

1987

1,230

excellent weather

1986

633

poor, rainy weather

*estimate

The fall bow season not only provides recreation to approximately 47,000 bow hunters, but also contributes to deer population management, because it allows for the taking of antlerless deer. By harvesting a sufficient number of antlerless deer in each zone, populations are maintained in a healthy condition and at levels that minimize conflicts between deer and people. This is particularly important in areas with a high incidence of agricultural damage and deer-vehicle collisions. Overall, the Division's population management objectives are designed to reduce deer populations on 76 percent of the range and stabilize populations on 14 percent. Deer populations are not being increased in any part of New Jersey.