South Carolina White-tailed Deer Antler Records

white-tailed deer | credit: USFWS

In October, the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources (SCDNR) announced that the complete listing of South Carolina’s antler records is now available to the public online.

The South Carolina white-tailed deer Antler Records Program was initiated in the spring of 1974 and since that time, 7,469 sets of antlers (7,167 typical and 302 non-typical) have been officially entered into the list, according to Charles Ruth, Big Game Program Coordinator for SCDNR.

Initially, measuring sessions were only conducted a few times each spring but, since 1987 antler scoring sessions have been scheduled throughout the state with approximately 12 sessions occurring annually.

Each year, SCDNR wildlife biologists, wildlife technicians, and volunteers measure approximately 500 sets of antlers. Generally, only about 25% of the antlers that are measured make the Antler Records List.

The first Records of South Carolina White-tailed Deer was published in 1998. Since that time, updates included only the new entries for the current year and the top 100 typical and top 50 nontypical entries from the All-time List.

The new online publication represents the complete listing of all typical and nontypical entries on file through Spring 2019. It is only available on SCDNR’s website because the size of the document makes printed copies cost prohibitive.

The purpose of the Antler Records Program is twofold. First, because of the increased interest in deer hunting exhibited by sportsmen, it is a means of recognizing outstanding white-tailed deer taken in South Carolina.

Secondly, it provides management information that allows SCDNR wildlife biologists to identify areas that produce quality deer. When particular areas stand out it is important to attempt to recognize the underlying characteristics that produce outstanding animals.

Mr. Ruth explained, “Records are based on the Boone and Crockett Club scoring system, which measures the mass and symmetry of deer antlers in two categories—typical and non-typical. The scoring system is based primarily on antler size and symmetry and includes measurements of the main beams, greatest inside spread of the beams, circumference measurements at certain designated locations, and the number and length of the points. To be counted as a point, a projection must be at least one inch long and it must be longer than it is wide at its base.”

Deductions are made for points that arise abnormally from the main beams or from other points and for symmetrical differences between corresponding measurements on the right and left antlers.

For non-typical antlers, abnormal points are added to the score rather than being deducted as in the typical category.

A set of antlers is classified as typical or non-typical based on its general conformation, the number of abnormal points, and a determination as to whether it will rank higher in the typical or non-typical category.

Current minimum scores for the South Carolina Antler Records List are 125 typical points and 145 non-typical points.

All antlers must undergo a minimum 60-day drying period before they can be officially measured and a fair-chase statement must be signed for all hunter killed deer.

If a set of antlers meets the minimum score the record is added to the list and a certificate is issued recognizing the outstanding white-tailed deer taken in South Carolina.

source: South Carolina Department of Natural Resources

Vermont Deer Processing Videos: Field Dressing, Skinning, and Butchering

white tailed deer

In Vermont, deer hunting is a way to harvest a sustainable, natural food source.

Making the most of the meals provided by deer taken in hunting seasons starts with processing them quickly and correctly.

To guide hunters, the Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department (VFWD) has three online videos demonstrating how to process deer.

Finding the videos is easy on the Fish and Wildlife website (www.vtfishandwildlife.com). Click on “Hunt” and then “From Field to Freezer.”

The educational videos are titled Field Dressing Your Deer, Skinning a Deer and Butchering a Deer.

“Correctly processing game can make a big difference in the taste of the meat,” said Nicole Meier, an information and education specialist with the department. “Taking the time to do it correctly assures that you and your family will have many enjoyable meals ahead.”

source: Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department

Vermont Deer Hunting

Vermont is home to a healthy white-tailed deer population, which could lead to opportunites for hunters this season.

“Vermont’s deer herd has benefitted from two relatively mild winters in a row,” according to Vermont deer biologist Adam Murkowski. “Mild winter weather coupled with a healthy and robust deer population mean herd growth is expected in many regions of the state this year, and hunters can choose between several different deer hunting opportunities starting in October and continuing into December.”

The 2012 Vermont Deer Harvest Report, available from the Fish and Wildlife Department’s web site (www.vtfishandwildlife.com) has a wealth of information to help plan a hunt, including the number of deer taken in each town.

The "2013 Vermont Hunting, Fishing & Trapping LAWS and GUIDE" explains all of Vermont’s hunting regulations and includes maps showing public hunting areas. The guide is available on the Vermont Fish & Wildlife website and where licenses are sold.   

Vermont hunting Licenses are available on Fish and Wildlife’s web site and from license agents statewide.

source: Vermont Fish and Wildlife Department

Virginia Bear, Deer, Turkey Hunting Harvest Data

Wildlife biologists with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries (VDGIF) have compiled preliminary figures for deer, turkey, and bear harvests for the 2010-11 fall/winter hunting seasons.

According to VDGIF, white-tailed deer, bear and wild turkey harvests all declined this year from the previous year. Exceptional acorn crops across the state coupled with other environmental conditions both this year and last as well as management actions to meet population objectives all factored into fluctuations in populations and harvest trends. The harvest figures continue to indicate that good hunting is available across the Commonwealth for these popular game species.

WHITE-TAILED DEER

During the past deer season 219,797 deer were reported killed by hunters in Virginia. This total included 95,543 antlered bucks, 19,191 button bucks, and 105,063 does (47.8%). The fall 2010 deer kill total was 15% lower than the 259,147 deer reported killed last year. It is 3% lower than the last 10 year average of 227,430.

BLACK BEAR

During the 2010-11 bear seasons 2,221 bears were reported killed during the archery, muzzleloader, and firearms seasons. The 2010 harvest was a 3.6% decrease from last year's kill of 2,304, but similar to the 2008 harvest of 2,204 bears. In 2010, bears were harvested in 69 counties with successful bear hunters coming from 18 states other than Virginia. Equaling the average over the last five years, female bears, or sows, represented 39% of the 2010 harvest, which was less than the 42% sows in the 2009 harvest.

FALL WILD TURKEY

In Virginia, 2,687 turkeys were harvested during the 2010-2011 fall turkey season. This harvest was 24% below last year's reported kill of 3,538 birds. The harvest declined 34% in counties west of the Blue Ridge Mountains (1,664 last year versus 1,102 this year). Counties east of the Blue Ridge Mountains decreased 15 percent (1,874 vs. 1,585). Bedford led all counties with a harvest of 92 birds. Most of the harvest was reported on private lands.

2010-11 Maryland Deer Season Harvest

According to MD DNR, Maryland deer hunters harvested a total of 98,663 deer during the 2010-2011 bow, muzzleloader and firearm seasons combined. This figure is down just 2 percent from last year’s record harvest of 100,663 deer. The antlered harvest declined 1 percent to 33,341 deer this year, while the antlerless harvest decreased 2 percent to 65,322 deer. The harvest totals include 2,780 sika deer; a 17 percent increase over last year’s total for this species.

A regulation change enacted in 2010 moved the western half of Washington County into Deer Management Region A, which includes Allegany and Garrett counties. The regulation change was instituted to reduce the deer harvest in that portion of Washington County. As a result of the boundary change, deer harvest numbers for the region are not directly comparable to previous years. A total of 9,324 deer (5,412 antlered, 3,912 antlerless) were harvested in Region A during the 2010-2011 season. The Garrett County harvest remained stable while the harvest in Allegany and Washington counties dropped approximately 30 percent. The decline in Washington County was an expected outcome of the change in the Region A boundary. While the decline in Allegany County was partly due to a decrease in the overall deer herd, the boundary change further reduced harvest by putting several popular public hunting areas in the same Management Region, removing the option to take deer under two separate bag limits.

The reported deer harvest in the remainder of the state (Deer Management Region B) was similar to the previous year. Hunters in Region B reported taking 89,339 deer for the year; down 2 percent from last year. The antlered harvest of 27,929 deer was 3 percent lower than last year, while the antlerless total decreased 2 percent to 61,410 deer. Frederick County led the state this year with 7,942 deer, followed by Baltimore County with 6,919 and Washington County with 6,035 deer.

Chronic Wasting Disease Found In Maryland White-Tailed Deer

The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) received laboratory confirmation on February 10, 2011 that a white-tailed deer harvested in Maryland tested positive for chronic wasting disease (CWD).

This is the first confirmed case of CWD in Maryland. A hunter in Allegany County reported taking the deer on November 27, 2010 in Green Ridge State Forest. Maryland is now one of 20 other states and Canadian provinces with CWD documented in deer, elk or moose.

For more information on CWD in Maryland and the DNR Response Plan, please visit the DNR Website at http://www.dnr.maryland.gov/wildlife/Hunt_Trap/deer/disease/cwdinformation.asp.



source: MD DNR