Research IN Deer
Integrated Deer Management Project
What is the Integrated Deer Management Project?
The Integrated Deer Management Project is a multi-year research project led by the Department of Forestry and Natural Resources at Purdue University in partnership with the Indiana Department of Natural Resources – Division of Fish and Wildlife.
The goal of the Integrated Deer Management Project is to combine deer population and habitat condition information with public perceptions of deer and deer management to better inform white-tailed deer management in Indiana. This will be done by:
1. Estimating deer populations and fawn recruitment across Indiana.
2. Developing region-specific deer population models.
3. Assessing deer habitat condition and deer impacts to woodlands across Indiana.
4. Evaluating people's awareness, perceptions, and expectations of Indiana deer populations and how they are managed.
How is this being done?
We are undertaking a series of research studies to better understand deer, their habitat, and people’s values towards deer throughout Indiana. These studies are split into 3 broad categories; deer, habitat, and people. By combining information from these 3 studies, we can help Indiana deer managers make more informed decisions. Data for these projects are being collected through a variety of research methods.
Where is this being done?
As a first step in the Integrated Deer Management Project, we created 10 Research Management Units (RMUs) across Indiana. A Research Management Unit is a collection of counties that have similar deer habitat characteristics, hunter densities, and human development. A modification of these Research Management Units is being used by the Indiana DNR as Deer Management Units (DMUs). For more information about the Research Management Unit Process, see the 2018 Indiana White-tailed Deer Report or request a copy of the paper describing the process.
We are evaluating deer population and habitat condition in 3 of the 10 Research Management Units. Within those RMUs we are collecting data in multiple zones, each 16 square miles in size. Data from those zones will help us paint a picture of deer populations and habitat condition across each RMU.
Project Timeline
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January
Set trail cameras
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February
Aerial surveys, exclosure construction
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March
Retrieve trail cameras, pellet counts, winter browse surveys
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April
Retrieve trail cameras, pellet counts, winter browse surveys
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May
Plant oak seedlings, vegetation surveys
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June
Plant oak seedlings, vegetation surveys, process and classify images
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July
Vegetation surveys, process and classify images
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August
Measure oak seedlings, process and classify images
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September
Measure oak seedlings, process and classify images
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October
Secure property permissions
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November
Secure propery permissions
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December
Secure property permissions, generate survey points