Pennsylvania Game News - November 2011 - 22

2010-11 Small Game and Furbearer Harvests
By Robert Boyd
Wildlife Services Division Chief

Melanie Weaver
Wildlife Research Associate Bureau of Wildlife Management

Joshua Johnson
Wildlife Biometrician

VERY YEAR the Game Commission surveys hunters and trappers to learn about small game and furbearer harvests and hunting and trapping effort. Our ability to manage wildlife more effectively and maximize recreational opportunities without jeopardizing our wildlife heritage are improved through the cooperation of dedicated sportsmen who take the time to provide us with a summary of their hunting and trapping seasons. Following the 2010-11 seasons, a sample of hunters and trappers was surveyed to determine their success and hunting effort. Each purchaser of a general hunting license had about a 1-in-50 chance of receiving a Game Take Survey and each purchaser of a furtaker license had about a 1-in-5 chance of receiving a Furtaker Survey. A total of 17,791 Game Take questionnaires and 7,018 Furtaker questionnaires were mailed, and from those, 9,380 and 4,421, respectively, were returned and processed. Overall, between the 2009-10 and 2010-11 hunting seasons, harvests of 9 of 10 small game species decreased (Table 1). The number of hunters decreased for all small game species except woodcock (Table 2). Harvest

per 100 hunter-days increased for 6 of 10 small game species (Table 3). Numbers of furtakers and furbearer harvests have remained relatively stable or increased since 2006 (Tables 4 and 5). The furbearer harvests increased for 5 of 9 species (Table 4), and the number of hunters/trappers of furbearers increased for all 9 species (Table 5), between the 2009-10 and 2010-11 seasons. We asked hunters if they were checked by a Wildlife Conservation Officer during the 2010-11 hunting season. Seven percent reported being checked, which was similar to the previous year (8 percent). We also asked resident junior hunters if they participated in Junior Waterfowl, Pheasant, Squirrel, Rabbit or Spring Gobbler hunts. Overall, 10,343 resident junior license buyers participated in youth hunts. Participation and harvest results are provided in Tables 6 and 7. For a full report of Game Take and Furtaker survey results, including results back to 1983, go to www.pgc.state.pa.us, and click on Resources then Reports/Minutes. The reports are found under Annual Wildlife Management Reports. We would like to thank all those who completed a survey. Their time and dedication to hunting/trapping and our wildlife heritage are greatly appreciated.

Table 1. Estimated harvest by species, 2006-2010.
Year 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010
a

Rabbits Grouse 409,350 89,145 418,139 82,020 463,935 108,693 419,721 75,997 341,288 66,385

Squirrel 784,741 674,991 708,898 635,193 530,125

Pheasanta 141,775 168,094 110,331 151,737 103,366

Woodcock 39,782 26,924 41,556 15,171 25,247

Quaila 1,228 4,507 1,097 3,452 311

WoodDove Hare chuck 384,625 1,310 910,654 416,844 685 840,523 409,837 783 993,207 316,930 1,525 710,411 181,533 1,030 684,927

Crow 222,382 182,320 183,203 268,711 96,831

Estimates exclude harvest on shooting preserves.

GAME NEWS

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Pennsylvania Game News - November 2011

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