South Mountain Land Association

Deer Stats March 2011

"If you can't say something nice, don't say anything at all." We've all been given that advice by an authority figure a time or two in our life, and most of us have had to bite our tongue a time or two as a result. While few agree with everything related to their state/provincial deer management program, it's easy to find something good to say about each of them. QDMA has members in all 50 states and Canadian provinces, so here is a "nice" stat taken from QDMA's 2011 Whitetail Report specific to each.

Alabama - shot most antlerless deer per antlered buck (1.5) in Southeast in 2009.

Alaska - has the next-to-least-expensive resident archery license in the Pacific Region ($25).

Arizona - increased buck harvest 158% from 2008 to 2009.

Arkansas - one of only four states in Southeast to shoot more than 1 antlerless deer per antlered buck in 2009.

California - has third highest percentage of state residents (13.5%) who only hunted out of state in 2006 (most recent survey assessing this statistic).

Colorado - increased harvest rate of Boone & Crockett bucks per thousand square miles (PTSM) 200% from 1999 to 2009.

Connecticut - ranked eighth in U.S. with 2.07 Pope & Young bucks harvested (and registered) PTSM annually from 1999 to 2009.

Delaware - shot most antlerless deer per antlered buck (2.6) in Northeast in 2009.

Florida - has Families Afield Partners designation of "least restrictive states" with regard to youth hunting opportunities.

Georgia - shot most antlerless deer per square mile (PSM; 6.7) in Southeast in 2009.

Hawaii - has the least expensive resident archery license in U.S. ($10).

Idaho - increased harvest rate of Boone & Crockett bucks PTSM 100% from 1999 to 2009.

Illinois - shot (and registered) most Boone & Crockett bucks PTSM (1.07) in U.S. from 1999 to 2009.

Indiana - increased harvest rate of Boone & Crockett bucks 236% from 1999 to 2009.

Iowa - tied for harvesting most antlerless deer per antlered buck (1.8) in Midwest in 2009.

Kansas - one of only six states to rank in top 10 of Boone & Crockett and Pope & Young bucks harvested PTSM from 1999 to 2009.

Kentucky - shot second most Boone & Crockett bucks PTSM (0.85) in U.S. from 1999 to 2009.

Louisiana - one of only three states in U.S. to have yearling bucks constitute less than 20% of the 2009 buck harvest.

Maine - one of only two states in Northeast to have more than 30% of the 2009 buck harvest be 3.5 years or older.

Maryland - one of only two states in Northeast to shoot more than 6 antlerless deer PSM in 2009.

Massachusetts - agency staff collected biological data from 24% of the 2009 deer harvest; no state in the Northeast and only two in the entire U.S. collected biological data from a higher percentage of the 2009 deer harvest.

Michigan - shot most antlered bucks (215,120) in Midwest in 2009.

Minnesota - shot a higher percentage of the total deer harvest (29%) on opening day of 2009 firearms season than all other states in U.S.

Mississippi - led U.S. by having 66% of 2009 buck harvest being 3.5 years or older.

Missouri - one of only three states in Midwest to shoot more than 100,000 antlered bucks in 2009.

Montana - has least expensive resident archery license in the West ($21).

Nebraska - increased harvest rate of Pope & Young bucks by 69% from 1999 to 2009.

Nevada - recently passed Families Afield legislation to lower hunting barriers for youths.

New Hampshire - had third lowest percentage of yearling bucks and third highest percentage of 3.5-plus-year-old bucks in the 2009 buck harvest in the Northeast.

New Jersey - shot most antlered bucks (3.9) PSM and most antlerless deer (6.8) PSM in Northeast in 2009.

New Mexico - increased buck harvest 119% from 2008 to 2009.

New York - tied for harvesting highest percentage (18%) of total 2009 deer harvest on opening day of firearms season in Northeast.

North Carolina - one of only four states in Southeast to shoot more than 1 antlerless deer per antlered buck in 2009.

North Dakota - increased harvest rate of Boone & Crockett bucks 100% from 1999 to 2009.

Ohio - one of only two states in Midwest to shoot more than 4 antlerless deer PSM in 2009.

Oklahoma - shot 11% more antlered bucks in 2009 than 2008.

Oregon - received $786,795 in Voluntary Public Access - Habitat Incentive Program grants in 2011.

Pennsylvania - increased harvest rate of Boone & Crockett bucks 500% from 1999 to 2009.

Rhode Island - had highest percentage (36%) of 2009 buck harvest be 3.5 years and older in Northeast.

South Carolina - tied for shooting most antlerless deer (4.9) PSM in Southeast in 2009.

South Dakota - increased harvest rate of Pope & Young bucks 91% from 1999 to 2009.

Tennessee - increased harvest rate of Boone & Crockett bucks by 300% from 1999 to 2009.

Texas - shot most antlered deer (300,575) in U.S. in 2009.

Utah - recently passed Families Afield legislation to lower hunting barriers for youths.

Vermont - has Families Afield Partners designation of "least restrictive states" with regard to youth hunting opportunities.

Virginia - shot most antlered bucks (108,623) in Northeast in 2009.

Washington - increased harvest rate of Pope & Young bucks PTSM 167% from 1999 to 2009.

West Virginia - has Families Afield Partners designation of "least restrictive states" with regard to youth hunting opportunities.

Wisconsin - shot (and registered) most Pope & Young bucks PTSM (7.63) in U.S. from 1999 to 2009.

Wyoming - increased harvest rate of Pope & Young bucks PTSM 40% from 1999 to 2009.

Canada

Alberta - increased harvest rate of Boone & Crockett bucks PTSM 31% from 1999 to 2009.

British Columbia - requires hunting guides/outfitters to pass an exam to receive their license/permit.

Manitoba - has least expensive resident archery license in Canada ($36).

New Brunswick - provincial wildlife agency staff collected biological data on 14% of the 2009 deer harvest.

Nova Scotia - provincial wildlife agency staff collected biological data on 50% of the 2009 deer harvest (highest % in eastern Canada and the U.S.).

Ontario - increased harvest rate of Boone & Crockett bucks PTSM 50% from 1999 to 2009.

Quebec - shot most antlerless deer (0.6) PSM in eastern Canada in 2009.

Saskatchewan - requires hunting guides/outfitters to be licensed/permitted.

Did you like the statistic listed for your state/province? Want to see some more? If so, visit http://www.qdma.com/media-room/ and download QDMA's 2009, 2010 and/or 2011 Whitetail Report. It's free, and it will show how your deer season compared to others in your region as well as the current trends and major issues impacting deer herds and hunting opportunities in the U.S. and Canada. So, what are you waiting for? Download the report(s) today and let me know if there's a certain topic you'd like to see in a future edition.

Kip's Korner is written by Kip Adams, a Certified Wildlife Biologist and Northern Director of Education and Outreach for the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA). The QDMA is an international nonprofit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ensuring the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat and our hunting heritage. The QDMA can be reached at 1-800-209-DEER or www.QDMA.com.

2010 Rut

December 2010

Hunters anxiously anticipate arrival of the breeding season in their areas. The rut provides deer behavior and activity that can make even the most tenured whitetail hunter's heart race. With respect to breeding activity, 2010 was "business as usual" for some and anything but normal for others. (For a more detailed look at factors that drive the rut, see http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4660874/Gotpercent20Rutpercent20-percent20WWperc...).To analyze the relative timing and intensity of the 2010 rut I surveyed approximately 41,000 hunters in QDMA's database on November 24, 2010 and received responses from 4,557 (2 percent) by December 31, 2010. This was not a scientific study, but the data should provide a general index to what hunters across the whitetail's range experienced in 2010. Respondents listed the state they hunted and provided data on the number of rubs and scrapes they saw, the amount of rut activity (chasing, fighting and breeding) they witnessed, and the timing of rut activity relative to past years. This survey was especially interesting in 2010 as some hunters follow a lunar-based rut timing predictor (the most notable of which being Charles Alsheimer's and Wayne Laroche's). Mr. Alsheimer and Mr. Laroche predicted the "peak of the chasing phase", or what most hunters refer to as the rut, would occur in late November in the North (Three weeks later than in 2009) with most breeding occurring in late November and early December. Aging fetuses from does harvested in winter and spring will identify the actual breeding dates for this fall, but while we're waiting for the official answer we'll use what a few thousand hunters saw as a preview.

I filtered the survey responses by region (see map below), and some interesting trends quickly became apparent. In the Midwest, two thirds (67 percent) of the respondents saw about the same number or more rubs and scrapes as they normally do while a third (33 percent) saw less. Half (51 percent) witnessed less rut activity this year and half (49 percent) saw about the same amount or more. Most interesting, half (51 percent) reported the timing of rut activity was about the same as normal while 27 percent said it was late.

In the Northeast 62 percent saw about the same number or more while 38 percent saw fewer rubs and scrapes. Over half (53 percent) saw less rut activity while 46 percent saw about the same amount or more, and half (50 percent) reported the timing was about the same as normal while 27 percent reported it was late. Comparatively, responses from these two regions nearly mirror each other. The amount of rut sign was the same or more than normal for the majority, the amount of rut activity was the same or more than normal for half of the respondents, and the timing of activity was normal for half of the respondents. About a quarter of the respondents from each region said the rut was late, and one in five reported the rut was early in their area.

Responses from the West were similar to the Midwest and Northeast except a slightly higher percentage reported a later rut. An error in the survey template did not allow Canada hunters to identify their province so all were grouped into one region (Canada). A higher percentage (55 percent) of Canada hunters reported seeing fewer rubs and scrapes than normal; their views were consistent with those from the Midwest, Northeast and West regarding the amount of rut activity; and half reported a normal rut timing while over a third (37 percent) said it was late.

The Southeast is the final region and their data is understandably different from other regions. Deer herds in some areas of this region do not rut until December, January or even February and my survey concluded on December 3. Depending on the question, 17 to 26 percent of the respondents answered the rut hadn't occurred in their area yet. For respondents whose rut had occurred, their responses were similar to other regions with respect to the amount of sign and activity observed as well as timing of the rut.

So, what's the consensus among hunters? The majority of hunters in the Midwest and Northeast said the rut was on time and they saw the same number or more rubs and scrapes but less chasing, fighting and breeding. The majority of hunters in Canada said the rut was on time but they saw fewer rubs and scrapes as well as less chasing, fighting and breeding than they normally do. Collectively the majority of northern hunters experienced a typical year, but personal messages from numerous survey respondents showed individual seasons ran the gamut from "no rut sign at all in my area" to "strongest rut I've ever seen". My personal observations were I saw fewer rubs and scrapes and less rut activity than I normally do, and I'm fortunate to hunt a "tuned up" deer herd so an out-of-balance herd wasn't the culprit. I also felt the rut timing in my area was a little later than normal, but I'm in the minority with this impression. Many factors impact what we observe during the rut including the deer herd's adult sex ratio and age structure, density relative to the habitat's carrying capacity, weather, amount of hunting pressure, and likely other variables that we're not aware of or at least don't understand very well yet. Are lunar cycles responsible for cueing breeding in whitetails? The lunar-based model predicted the rut would be three weeks later in 2010 than 2009. Numerous scientific studies dispute this theory, as did the majority of respondents to my survey. This isn't to say that lunar cycles may not have some effect on deer behavior - just not on the actual timing of breeding. Fawns hitting the ground three weeks later than normal in 2011 would put them at a tremendous disadvantage.

The bottom line for northern hunters is it was a strange year for some and normal year for most. The bottom line for southern hunters is if you're from an area whose rut is yet to come, you're one of the most envied hunters in the country! Good luck during the rut.

Cyber Deer
March 2010

As a hunter, what is the best way to gain access to a piece of property? By demonstrating you are knowledgeable about the game you're pursuing, ethical in your actions, and safe and proficient with your sporting arm or bow. Today's society has less tolerance for irresponsible hunters, and many landowners have less tolerance for irresponsible hunters. QDMA members are among the most knowledgeable, ethical and responsible hunters in North America and the Cyber Deer training tool can take even these hunters to another level.

Overview
Cyber Deer is the most advanced deer anatomy and shot placement tool available. It was created to train new and experienced hunters about organ and skeleton locations and proper shot angles for deer. Cyber Deer is a computer-generated hunter education software package. It is not a video game, but it is a fantastic tool for any hunter to practice effective shot choices or re-create a real hunt from the past.

Cyber Deer users can simulate both ground and tree stand hunting scenarios by selecting different distances and heights from the target - a mature whitetail buck. Users can also select to use a rifle or bow, and the software will account for appropriate shot angles and placement by weapon type. Users can rotate the deer and receive instant feedback on shot angles before the shot. Users can then "shoot" the deer and receive advice on their shot attempt and shot placement. The user also receives feedback on what their shot hit, and the path of the shot remains on the screen to assess the shot and provide training opportunities. Cyber Deer can also be shared with groups by using a PowerPoint projector, making it a great tool for teaching new and experienced hunters about effective shot choices.

Taking a Shot
After users select their weapon of choice (rifle or bow), they can rotate the deer to simulate various shot angles. A color bar and comments appear on the top of the screen describing when the deer is at a "great", "good", or "too narrow" of an angle for a recommended shot. This is the first training opportunity. Next, the user positions the sight on the deer and shoots.

Evaluating the Shot
Users can view a description of the shot (see figure below). Each shot receives an attempt rating (recommended or not recommended) based on placement of the sight with respect to the deer's position relative to the hunter. This is the second training opportunity. Each shot also receives a shot rating (great, good or poor) based on what the shot hit. This is the third training opportunity. Users can view the parts of the deer hit by the shot (heart, lungs, liver, diaphragm, rumen, skeleton and skin), and they can remove the skin, skeleton and/or specific organs to view how the shot entered and exited the deer.Users can also zoom in or out and rotate the deer to view the shot from multiple angles.

Other Controls
After assessing the shot, users can reload and shoot the deer again, assess the shot, reload, etc. Users can select to shoot a walking or standing deer and see how proper shot placement changes based on position of the front leg. They can also adjust the hunter's height (0 to 50 feet above ground) and distance from the deer (7 to 50 yards). Finally, users can select one of four preset deer views (full, x-ray, bone and organ; see figure below).

Cyber Deer is a great training tool and it is currently being used by hunters and hunter education instructors across the whitetail's range. It is also used in the Archery Trade Association's Explore Bowhunting educational program. It is QDMA's goal to have a copy of Cyber Deer in every deer camp, hunt club and hunter education program in North America. Cyber Deer can help new and experienced hunters make more knowledgeable and ethical shot placement decisions, and more knowledgeable hunters are better stewards of our natural resources and better ambassadors for hunting.

Visit http://www.theshed-qdma.com/store.php?seller=QDMATheShed&navt1=39912 to obtain a copy of Cyber Deer.

Kip's Korner is written by Kip Adams, a Certified Wildlife Biologist and Northern Director of Education and Outreach for the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA). The QDMA is an international nonprofit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ensuring the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat and our hunting heritage. The QDMA can be reached at 1-800-209-DEER or www.QDMA.com.

Antlered Buck Harvest
December 2009

The 2009-10 deer season is closed or nearing so for states across the whitetail's range, and biologists will be crunching data in the coming months to assess the outcome of this past season. Until that data is available, let's look at harvest data from the two most recent seasons - 2007/08 and 2008/09. Of the 37 states in the Midwest, Northeast and Southeast that comprise the majority of whitetail habitat, we (QDMA) acquired harvest data from all 37 for 2007, but 2008 data is not yet available for Alabama and Florida. Therefore, I omitted 2007 data from these two states in the following analyses. For this article, Midwest states include IA, IL, IN, KS, KY, MI, MN, MO, ND, NE, OH, SD and WI; Northeast states include CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VA, VT and WV; Southeast states include AL, AR, FL, GA, LA, MS, NC, OK, SC, TN and TX.

The following data are from each state's wildlife agency. States use several different techniques to collect this data, and some states collect more data than others. Analyses between states may not always compare "apples-to-apples", but each state provided their best possible data. Also, analyses across years should be robust to differences in confidence levels each state has in its data.

With respect to antlered buck harvest, hunters from all three regions tagged over 2.8 million bucks in each year. In total, the difference in the two year's harvest was less than 0.5 percent. However, the data showed that 2008 was a good year for most states in the Northeast and Southeast, but a tough one for the Midwest. Texas reported the largest harvest at 340,159 antlered bucks. Michigan was next with 248,350 and Tennessee was third with 164,413 antlered bucks.

The Northeast harvested 526,193 antlered bucks in 2008, a 4 percent increase from 2007. Nine of 13 northeastern states (69%) shot more bucks in 2008 than in 2007. The average increase was 7 percent and ranged from 1 percent in New York to 12 percent in Pennsylvania. Numerically, Pennsylvania shot 13,210 additional bucks in 2008. All four Northeastern states that shot fewer bucks in 2008 were in New England. New Hampshire's harvest was reduced 17 percent, Maine's was 16 percent lower, Massachusetts' was 4 percent lower, and Rhode Island's was 1 percent lower. New England is well known for its severe winters and their corresponding impacts on deer herds and hunter harvests. It's important to note the deer project leaders for the New Hampshire Fish and Game Department and Maine Department of Inland Fisheries and Wildlife both predicted reduced buck harvests in 2008.

The Southeast (minus Alabama and Florida) harvested 1,240,537 antlered bucks in 2008, a 4 percent increase from 2007. Six of 9 southeastern states (67%) shot more bucks in 2008. The average increase was 7 percent and ranged from 0.1 percent in Mississippi to 18 percent in Texas. Numerically, Texas shot 51,932 additional bucks and Georgia shot 16,475 additional bucks (+12%) in 2008. Of the 3 states that shot fewer bucks, Arkansas' (-2%) and Tennessee's (-0.3%) harvests were nearly equal to 2007, while Louisiana's was considerably less at 23,650 fewer bucks (-21%). Interestingly, Louisiana hunters also shot exactly 21 percent fewer antlerless deer in 2008 than 2007 (71,190 in 2008 vs. 90,540 in 2007).

The Midwest harvested 1,047,153 antlered bucks in 2008, an 8 percent decline from 2007. Many states in the Midwest had a tough year as seven of 13 (54%) shot fewer antlered bucks in 2008. The average decrease was substantial at 11 percent, and it ranged from -5 percent in Iowa to -19 percent in Wisconsin. Numerically, Wisconsin shot 31,635 fewer bucks, Missouri took 20,567 less (-17%), Michigan tallied 19,079 less (-7%), Minnesota shot 13,000 fewer (-12%), and even Illinois shot 9,543 fewer bucks (-12%). On the plus side, Kentucky shot 4,952 additional bucks (+10%), and Ohio hunters shot 2,314 more bucks (+3%). South Dakota shot nearly equal numbers in 2007 and 2008, and Indiana, Kansas and Nebraska all shot 3 to 5 percent more bucks in 2008.

Age Structure
We also acquired the age structure of the above harvest data for most states. Thirty-two states reported the percentage of their antlered buck harvest that was 1.5 years old, and 26 states reported the percentage that was 2.5 and 3.5 years or older. In 2008, the average percentage of the antlered buck harvest that was 1.5 years was 41 percent, down from 43 percent in 2007. That means nationally only about 4 of 10 antlered bucks harvested last year were 1.5 years old. That's a vast improvement over the high yearling harvest rates of the past. Arkansas averaged the fewest yearlings (13% of antlered buck harvest) and Minnesota averaged the most (67% of antlered buck harvest). Other notables included Vermont (15%), Kansas (17%) and Mississippi (17%) all shot low percentages of yearlings, while Michigan (61%), Maryland (62%), New York (62%) and New Jersey (64%) all shot high percentages.

Twenty of 32 states (63%) shot a lower percentage of yearling bucks in 2008 than 2007. The average decline was 3 percent and ranged from -1 percent in several states to -12 percent in Maine and Oklahoma. Other notables included Vermont shot 10 percent fewer yearlings, and Arkansas and Rhode Island each shot 9 percent fewer. Hunters are clearly passing more yearling bucks and allowing them to reach at least one year older.

The average percentage of the antlered buck harvest that was 2.5 years was 31 percent in both 2007 and 2008. This statistic ranged from 19 percent in Texas to 59 percent in Vermont. Indiana and Tennessee averaged 40 percent 2.5-year-olds, and Missouri averaged 54 percent 2.5-year-olds in the state's antler-point-restriction (APR) counties (Missouri averaged 31 percent in non-APR counties). Overall, 14 of 26 states (54%) shot a higher percentage of 2.5-year-olds in 2008 than 2007. The average increase was 3 percent and ranged from 1 percent in several states to 9 percent in Vermont. Hunters are obviously benefiting from passing yearling bucks.

The average percentage of the antlered buck harvest that was 3.5 years and older was 27 percent in 2008, up from 25 percent in 2007. This statistic ranged from 10 percent in Minnesota to 58 percent in Mississippi. Other notables included Arkansas (49%), Kansas (49%), Louisiana (50%) and Texas (54%). It's quite an accomplishment that these states move such high numbers of bucks into the 3.5 years and older age classes. Overall, 14 of 26 states (54%) shot a higher percentage of 3.5 year and older bucks in 2008 than 2007. Kansas had the largest increase from 2007 by shooting 13 percent more 3.5 year and older bucks, followed by Rhode Island (+12%) and Oklahoma (+10%). A short time ago most hunters couldn't fathom passing yearling bucks. Today, that restraint is allowing significant numbers of bucks to reach older age classes.

The age structure of modern-day antlered deer populations and harvests is far better than that of a decade or two ago. Through progressive deer management programs and more knowledgeable hunters, today's deer herds have a more balanced and natural buck age structure, and they're providing tremendous hunting and viewing opportunities for sportsmen and women. Deer hunters and managers should be proud of the role they're playing in reducing yearling buck harvests and allowing more bucks to reach maturity. History will describe today's hunters as managers and stewards rather than the mere consumers of yesteryear.

Note: See the full "White-tailed Deer Harvest" report, complete with map and data charts in our 2010 Whitetail Report. The Report will be available at www.QDMA.com in late January.

Kip's Korner is written by Kip Adams, a Certified Wildlife Biologist and Northern Director of Education and Outreach for the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA). The QDMA is an international nonprofit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ethical hunting, sound deer management and preservation of the deer-hunting heritage. The QDMA can be reached at 1-800-209-DEER or www.QDMA.com.

Non-resident License PricesSeptember 2010 The last Kip's Korner discussed resident archery license prices across the U.S. and Canada. After it was distributed, I received numerous requests to provide a similar analysis on non-resident licenses so here it is. If you have not seen the Kip's Korner I referred to or if you'd like to review it, you can do so at http://dl.dropbox.com/u/4660874/Hunting%20License%20Prices%20-%20June%20.... States and provinces sell licenses with varying privileges and tags. Some include a buck tag and some do not. Some include multiple antlerless deer tags and some include none. To best compare "apples to apples", the following chart includes data provided by C.J. Winand and Bowhunter Magazine for the cost to archery hunt deer for an adult non-resident hunter in seven U.S. regions and eight Canadian provinces. I realize all deer hunters are not archers, but this analysis provides a solid comparison to state and provincial license prices. The total combined average for the U.S. and Canada was $248.51. The Northeast averaged the least expensive non-resident license at $105.37 with a range of $73 (New Hampshire) to $140 (New York). That's quite a deal for New Hampshire hunters as 17 of 18 wildlife management units have a 92-day archery season that spans mid-September to mid-December. New Hampshire also has the least expensive non-resident archery license in the U.S. and Canada (Maine's is similarly priced at $74). The Mid-Atlantic States have the next lowest price with an average of $151.25. It ranges from $127 in Pennsylvania to $183 in Virginia. All six Mid-Atlantic States have similarly-priced licenses, and this region can provide exceptional hunting from either a quality or quantity perspective. The Southeast is next with an average of $233.97 and a range of $120 in North Carolina to $382.70 in Mississippi. Liberal bag limits and long seasons in most states provide exceptional opportunities for hunters in this region. Canada follows with an average of $240.50 and a range of $150.56 in Nova Scotia to $338 in Quebec. Even Saskatchewan's license is less than $300. It's no wonder so many deer hunters head to western Canada to fulfill a dream. The Midwest is next with an average of $246.89 and a range of $138 in Michigan to $551 in Iowa. You can find hunting jackets at Bass Pro Shops and Cabelas with higher price tags than most licenses in this region. Michigan and Minnesota ($140) have the least expensive licenses while Illinois ($473.25) and Iowa have the most expensive. Not coincidentally, Illinois and Iowa are also two of the top record-book producing states. The Pacific Coast is next with an average of $290.27 and a range of $95 in Hawaii to $394.20 in Washington. There aren't many whitetails in this region, so these prices are more reflective of hunting mulies and blacktails. The Southwest is next with an average of $354.81 and a range of $206 in Oklahoma to $609.25 in Arizona. As with resident licenses, Arizona also has the most expensive non-resident license. However, with over 70 days to hunt deer plus the other species opportunities, even this license price is warranted. Finally, the most expensive average non-resident license to archery hunt deer is in the West at $365.04. Licenses in this region range from $328 in Utah and $329 in Colorado to $418.25 in Idaho. Most states in this region have similarly-priced licenses, and they all provide spectacular views in addition to good deer hunting. So, where does your state or province rank? Mine (Pennsylvania) is the cheapest in my region and barely half of the U.S. and Canada average. Resident hunters often complain non-resident fees are too low and thus too inviting for non-residents to intrude on their hunting land. Non-resident hunters often complain their fees are too high and thus uninviting for them to pump dollars into rural economies. Regardless of which side of this discussion you sit on, I hope you realize most state agencies are funded primarily by license revenues. Wildlife is a public resource to be enjoyed by all, but unfortunately not funded by all. Hunters are the backbone of wildlife management programs and they (we) fund the lion's share of our state wildlife agencies. Good luck this hunting season and be sure to donate $1 or more to support wildlife and/or your local venison donation program.

REGION STATE PRICE ($) REGION STATE PRICE ($)
Northeast CT 135.00 Mid-Atlantic DE 155.00
ME 74.00 MD 155.00
MA 104.60 NJ 135.50
NH 73.00 PA 127.00
NY 140.00 VA 183.00
RI 96.00 WV 152.00
VT 115.00 Average 151.25
Average 105.37
Mid-West IL 473.25
Southeast AL 275.00 IN 150.00
AR 150.00* IA 551.00
FL 156.50 KS 394.30
GA 295.00 KY 190.00
LA 326.00 MI 138.00
MS 382.70 MN 140.00
NC 120.00 MO 225.00
SC 225.00 NE 229.00
TN 175.50** ND 215.00
Average 233.97 OH 149.00
SD 195.00
West CO 329.00 WI 160.00
ID 418.25 Average 246.89
MT 348.00
NV 398.50 Southwest AZ 609.25
UT 328.00 NM 297.00
WY 368.50 OK 206.00
Average 365.04 TX 307.00
Average 354.81
Pacific AK 235.00
CA 386.15 Canada AB 239.99
HI 95.00 BC 305.00
OR 341.00 MB 155.00
WA 394.20 NB 206.79
Average 290.27 NS 150.56
ON 223.04
QC 338.00
(Anticosti Is.) 260.16
SK 286.00

TOTAL COMBINED AVERAGE = $248.51 Average 240.50
(Data provided by C.J. Winand and Bowhunter Magazine)* 5-day license** 7-day license Kip's Korner is written by Kip Adams, a Certified Wildlife Biologist and Northern Director of Education and Outreach for the Quality Deer Management Association (QDMA). The QDMA is an international nonprofit wildlife conservation organization dedicated to ensuring the future of white-tailed deer, wildlife habitat and our hunting heritage. The QDMA can be reached at 1-800-209-DEER or www.QDMA.com.