Hunting pressure, deer populations, and vegetation impacts in the Kaimanawa Recreational Hunting Area Research Completed
Title
Hunting pressure, deer populations, and vegetation impacts in the Kaimanawa Recreational Hunting Area
Lead Author
Fraser, K.W. & Speedy, J. C.
Organisation(s)
Department of Conservation
Publication Year
1997
Publisher
Department of Conservation
Contacts
Abstract
The relationships between recreational hunting pressure, indices of deer density and “condition” (= skeletal size), and two measures of deer impacts on vegetation (browse indices and seedling densities) were investigated in the Kaimanawa Recreational Hunting Area (RHA). There were distinct gradients in hunting pressure, deer density, and deer condition within the RHA. Hunting pressure was highest in the north and decreased towards the south, and was related to the ease of access and the presence of back-country huts. Deer density was inversely related to hunting pressure, being lowest in the northern hunting blocks and highest in the southern hunting blocks. Mean deer condition indices decreased from north to south, associated with the increase in deer density, a general increase in altitude, and a decrease in forest species diversity and the quantity of palatable forage present. Indices of browsing pressure were typically higher in the southern hunting blocks than in those in the north, although the overall gradient in browsing pressure throughout the RHA was not as clear as those for deer density and condition. While overall seedling densities were generally similar in each of the hunting blocks sampled, most moderately to highly palatable fern and woody species tended to have lower seedling densities in the southern hunting blocks. Seedlings of species of low palatability were generally more abundant in the south. The impact of deer was also apparent in the differing height-class distributions for a number of species common to all the areas sampled. The ecological costs of the presence of deer are summarised and a range of management options presented which could offer some scope for enhancement or manipulation of hunting pressure to achieve improved conservation outcomes.
Keywords:
recreational hunting, permits, red deer, deer, conservation, New Zealand
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Topics
Sport and Recreation Types
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1282
Added
July 13, 2012