Cary Institute of Ecosystem Studies

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Raymond J. Winchcombe Wildlife Biologist B.S., 1988, S.U.N.Y. Empire State College, at New Paltz	2801 Sharon Turnpike; P.O. Box AB Millbrook NY 12545-0129, USA (845) 677-7600 Ext. 170 (Direct) Fax: (845) 677-5976 E-mail: Mr. Winchcombe

Mr. Winchcombe's research focuses on effective ways of managing whitetail deer on the Institute's grounds. The primary goals of the IES deer management program are to protect the structure and function of our forested ecosystems, and minimize damage or interference by deer to research, education efforts, the landscape plantings, and our formal gardens. The four major components the program include: 1) vegetation monitoring via browse surveys 2) monitoring deer abundance with counts and observations 3) specific site protection (as necessary) using fencing and repellents and 4) deer population control using annual reductions via a controlled access hunt.

Current Research

Monitoring Deer Browsing
Since 1983, I have been monitoring the intensity of deer browsing on the major tree species on the Institute's grounds. Browsing intensity varies annually, with over-winter browsing linked to total winter snowfall amounts. Browsing studies help govern deer management strategies, with heavy browsing highlighting the need to further reduce local deer numbers.

Monitoring Deer Abundance
Presently, I am using hunter observations as the technique to assess if our controlled hunts are stabilizing local deer numbers. Night spotlight counts of deer have been used to index trends in abundance in the past. The observations of deer by bow hunters, has yielded data that have correlated very well with spotlighting numbers with the observation data easier and less expensive to obtain.

Controlled Focused Hunting
Stabilizing a deer population requires a balance between annual recruitment and mortality. For a population reduction, mortality must exceed recruitment. Using hunting as our primary management tool, our hunters are required to focus their efforts on culling females as well as males.

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