Deer harvest variation in small and large management units in Pennsylvania

ABSTRACT Large game management units often lead to criticisms from hunters because they assume smaller units possess less variation in wildlife populations and more closely represent their local area. In 2003, Pennsylvania, USA, replaced smaller, socio‐political county‐based management units with la...

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Main Authors: Christopher S. Rosenberry, Duane R. Diefenbach
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Wiley 2019-03-01
Series:Wildlife Society Bulletin
Subjects:
Online Access:https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.939
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author Christopher S. Rosenberry
Duane R. Diefenbach
author_facet Christopher S. Rosenberry
Duane R. Diefenbach
author_sort Christopher S. Rosenberry
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT Large game management units often lead to criticisms from hunters because they assume smaller units possess less variation in wildlife populations and more closely represent their local area. In 2003, Pennsylvania, USA, replaced smaller, socio‐political county‐based management units with larger wildlife management units (WMUs). We tested the hypothesis that smaller county units possessed less variation in antlered and antlerless white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) harvest densities among municipalities than did larger WMUs. Spatial variation, as measured by standard deviation and coefficient of variation of deer harvested per km2 was similar for antlered deer (county units 0.44 SD, CV = 0.35; WMUs 0.43 SD, CV = 0.38) and antlerless deer (county units 0.71 SD, CV = 0.44; WMUs 0.84 SD, CV = 0.45). We found no support for the assumption that larger management units resulted in greater spatial variation in deer harvest density. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.
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spelling doaj-art-28d177591ed04cc19ac11dbdb1966e662025-08-20T02:36:19ZengWileyWildlife Society Bulletin2328-55402019-03-01431717610.1002/wsb.939Deer harvest variation in small and large management units in PennsylvaniaChristopher S. Rosenberry0Duane R. Diefenbach1Pennsylvania Game Commission2001 Elmerton AvenueHarrisburgPA17110USAU.S. Geological Survey, Pennsylvania Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research UnitPennsylvania State University, University ParkPA16802USAABSTRACT Large game management units often lead to criticisms from hunters because they assume smaller units possess less variation in wildlife populations and more closely represent their local area. In 2003, Pennsylvania, USA, replaced smaller, socio‐political county‐based management units with larger wildlife management units (WMUs). We tested the hypothesis that smaller county units possessed less variation in antlered and antlerless white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) harvest densities among municipalities than did larger WMUs. Spatial variation, as measured by standard deviation and coefficient of variation of deer harvested per km2 was similar for antlered deer (county units 0.44 SD, CV = 0.35; WMUs 0.43 SD, CV = 0.38) and antlerless deer (county units 0.71 SD, CV = 0.44; WMUs 0.84 SD, CV = 0.45). We found no support for the assumption that larger management units resulted in greater spatial variation in deer harvest density. © 2019 The Wildlife Society.https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.939countyharvestmanagement unitmunicipalityOdocoileus virginianusPennsylvania
spellingShingle Christopher S. Rosenberry
Duane R. Diefenbach
Deer harvest variation in small and large management units in Pennsylvania
Wildlife Society Bulletin
county
harvest
management unit
municipality
Odocoileus virginianus
Pennsylvania
title Deer harvest variation in small and large management units in Pennsylvania
title_full Deer harvest variation in small and large management units in Pennsylvania
title_fullStr Deer harvest variation in small and large management units in Pennsylvania
title_full_unstemmed Deer harvest variation in small and large management units in Pennsylvania
title_short Deer harvest variation in small and large management units in Pennsylvania
title_sort deer harvest variation in small and large management units in pennsylvania
topic county
harvest
management unit
municipality
Odocoileus virginianus
Pennsylvania
url https://doi.org/10.1002/wsb.939
work_keys_str_mv AT christophersrosenberry deerharvestvariationinsmallandlargemanagementunitsinpennsylvania
AT duanerdiefenbach deerharvestvariationinsmallandlargemanagementunitsinpennsylvania