greater than adult females. Because male populations are 

 lower than female populations and recruitment adds 

 proportionally greater numbers to the male population, the 

 male population can sustain a higher mortality rate (but not 

 numbers) than females and remain stable. The degree to which 

 males can be harvested more heavily than females depends upon 

 the fawn recruitment rate and post-season male: female ratio 

 the manager would like to maintain. 



As we have seen, neither fawn recruitment rates nor 

 mortality rates of adults were stable, and averages were 

 seldom useful for management decisions. A harvest strategy of 

 quotas based on average recruitment and average natural 

 mortality or constant hunting pressure would contribute to 

 increased fluctuations of both males and females. 

 Underharvests occur during periods of high recruitment and 

 over-harvests during low recruitment (Beddington and May 

 1977). A "tracking strategy" (Caughley 1977) that accounts 

 for annual variation could more successfully manage 

 populations. The general season structure sets bag limits and 

 sex restrictions on the A-tag (first tag) which an unlimited 

 number of hunters can purchase over the counter. That season 

 and its restrictions are set each year before winter survival 

 is determined or a final estimate is made of the previous 

 autumn's harvest. Thus, data used to establish the general 

 season are 1 year behind and the efficiency of a "tracking 

 strategy" is reduced. The number of B-tags (second tags 

 specific for antlerless deer) can more closely "track" 

 population trend because final quotas for the drawing of those 

 tags are established after winter survival and the previous 

 year's harvest have been determined. 



A model that demonstrates maintenance of different post- 

 season sex ratios of adults under varying fawn recruitment and 

 adult mortality rates is illustrated in Figure 6.5. 

 Conclusions from the curves reflect no significant 

 compensatory reproduction or mortality in the population. If 

 the post-season adult sex ratio was 20 males: 100 females and 

 if only 10 fawns were recruited per 100 females, any mortality 

 over 20% for adult males during the following year reduces the 

 male population and the male: female ratio to below 20:100 

 (Fig. 6.5). Because hunting mortality of adult males was 

 almost always more than 20% under past regulations, a 

 population decline for males over the next year can also be 

 expected. If 50 fawns: 100 females were recruited, the male 

 population could sustain 55% annual mortality (near the 

 highest observed) and maintain 20 males: 100 females post- 

 season. Annual mortality below 55% would result in the post- 

 season sex ratio rising above an existing 20:100 and an 

 increase in the number of males. 



173 



