Deer in trouble/where is the money

[blasted_saber]

Who's job is it to help the wild life?... MNR... What are we paying for if not to help sustain the deer population?... Cut backs everywhere but tags and licenses keep goin up!...government blow budgets all the time, this is a worth while cause... Sorry for the rant.... I think our whitetails are worth spending cash on.. I will donate cash to a bale... No problem...

You're paying to help manage deer populations. They are already sustainable, even through the winter from hell, due to that proper management. MNR has done their job, to the point where deer in Ontario are in a state of overpopulation throughout most of the province. Extra tags are issued primarily as a means of reducing population, with hunter enjoyment an afterthought.

The worst winter in recorded history wont wipe white tail deer off the map. Will it hurt? Most certainly. Will it be unrecoverable through natural means? Not at all.

[pbonura]

Trails and cutting some trees down. If I was a local that is what I would do. MNR can get off their and do that with my tax dollars. MNR will still be selling tags in that area. MNR has no money for the staff resources period.

[werner.reiche]

Is this winter really that bad with regard to snow depth? Sure it's been cold, but my understanding is that cold is not a significant factor in winter mortality - it's snow depth that kills.

By the end of 2008, the 4 foot chain link fence in my back yard was completely under snow - and that was not drifted - 4+ feet of honest accumulation. This year, I've got about 22" of snow accumulation - not good - but not anywhere near the accumulation in 2008.

I take it there are big chunks of Ontario where snow depth is a lot worse?

I looked at the video MP posted - there doesn't appear to be critical snow levels there. And the tiny fawn they showed - if he's still alive, there's not much of a problem. A fawn that small shouldn't make it.

I don't expect MNR to feed the deer - but they shouldn't discourage others from doing it.

[Gilroy]

The deer on my land are pretty well non existent at this time of year and a yarded up elsewhere.Even if I could feed them I am confused about what I would put down,I have read that corn is a no,no, but I think deer would probably be eating standing corn right now if they had the opportunity.
There are some very big yarding areas in southern Ontario including Loring,Peterborough Provincial Park,Millbridge,to name a few.I dont see a problem with feeding in those areas but it might also just attract more predators to the yarding areas.

[mark270wsm]

here is my reply from the ofah
Hi Mark – thank you for your interest in the OFAH DeerSave program. The fund was created to house donations that could be accessed by members and groups in the rare instance that emergency intervention is required to save deer populations. Given the state of our current winter, the current balance of the DeerSave fund is inadequate to address the number of problems we are going to have. One of the eligibility criteria for accessing DeerSave funds is a letter of support from the local District MNR office stating that emergency intervention is required in a given area. We have heard from various sources that the MNR will no longer be active in emergency deer efforts, which means that the OFAH will need to determine how best to proceed with our DeerSave program. It would be extremely difficult for the OFAH to take on this effort on its own, without manpower and financial support from organizations like the MNR. Until we determine how best to proceed with our program, we will not be reviewing applications for funds. I can tell you that this is one of the highest priority items for us this week, so we will likely have a course of action planned by the end of the week.

[blasted_saber]

Thanks for the effort in getting a reply M270WSM

[MikePal]

appears the MNR has taken a real stance against 'aiding' wildlife across the province ( same across Canada actually). I tend to agree, nothing good ever comes from human intervention, when it comes to nature.

[Snip]

Corn and hay can be bad depending on what the deer have been feeding on, if they have been feeding on standing corn or in a hay field, additional feed of this type should be fine but if the deer have been feeding on cedars and tree branches their gut has changed to maximize energy out of these low energy foods. Feeding these deer high energy foods will cause diarrhea and can actually decrease retained nutrients and cause dehydration. In this case a chainsaw will make a better feeder by putting browse within reach of the deer. Ruminant stomachs can be delicate and changes in diet need to happen gradually to avoid issues. This is my understanding anyways.Snip

[pbonura]

here is my reply from the ofah
Hi Mark – thank you for your interest in the OFAH DeerSave program. The fund was created to house donations that could be accessed by members and groups in the rare instance that emergency intervention is required to save deer populations. Given the state of our current winter, the current balance of the DeerSave fund is inadequate to address the number of problems we are going to have. One of the eligibility criteria for accessing DeerSave funds is a letter of support from the local District MNR office stating that emergency intervention is required in a given area. We have heard from various sources that the MNR will no longer be active in emergency deer efforts, which means that the OFAH will need to determine how best to proceed with our DeerSave program. It would be extremely difficult for the OFAH to take on this effort on its own, without manpower and financial support from organizations like the MNR. Until we determine how best to proceed with our program, we will not be reviewing applications for funds. I can tell you that this is one of the highest priority items for us this week, so we will likely have a course of action planned by the end of the week.

. Thanks so it all comes down to the budget which the MNR does not have. No resources to get out there.

[Gilroy]

Thanks Snip for the good info and M270WSM .