By JANE HOUIN
Ohio Correspondent

COLUMBUS, Ohio — The increasing deer population and resulting damage comes as no surprise to Ohio farmers. State nature preserves are experiencing those same problems, and as a result, 25 will be open for special archery hunts this season.

The impetus behind this move is rooted in the extensive damage to native plant communities caused by overbrowsing from the rising deer populations.

“By reducing the number of deer residing and seeking refuge in our preserves, we will minimize the browsing of tree seedlings, shrubs and our spring wildflowers,” said Gary Obermiller, law enforcement administrator with the Ohio Department of Natural Resources (ODNR) Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. “This will ensure a native ecosystem rich in biodiversity.”

High quality habitats at these state nature preserves – including Eagle Creek, Fowler Woods, Goll Woods and Lake Katharine – have been negatively impacted by overbrowsing deer. For example, several acres of large flowered trillium (Ohio’s state wildflower) have nearly disappeared at Lake Katharine State Nature Preserve because of foraging deer. Similar situations occur at 24 other sites.
“Conducting special management hunts enables the division to protect native plant communities in Ohio’s best natural areas,” said Steven Maurer, chief of the ODNR Division of Natural Areas and Preserves. “An added benefit is that Ohio’s hunters are given an opportunity to explore high-quality areas and assist ODNR with critical land management activities.”

But plant damage resulting in loss of native wildflower species is not the only result of high deer populations.

“It’s difficult to see the impacts to the future canopy species in a forest, but with heavy browsing to tree seedlings, deer will cause a change in the forest community type in the future,” said Obermiller. “We experience a dramatic increase in deer-vehicle collisions near our preserves, negative impact to adjacent farmers or developments, and we run the risk of increased disease potential with inflated deer numbers in relatively small areas.”

These state preserves have become “safe havens” for deer, with a variety of factors contributing to the current overpopulation.
“The main factors are the absence of hunting in our preserves for many years, the loss of habitat pushing more deer into suitable habitat, lack of pressure or disturbance and a large deer herd throughout Ohio,” Obermiller said.

“Because our preserves require visitors to remain on the trail systems, many parts of the preserve are not frequented by people. Once pressure gets put on the deer during Ohio’s normal deer hunting seasons, the deer seek refuge in our preserves. The deer learn where they are safe.”

There will be six two-week archery hunts Nov. 2-Jan. 24, 2009. Hunters may harvest two deer, but an antlerless deer must be harvested first. Antlerless permits are allowed.

Special preserve archery hunts will include: the Johnson Ridge and Whipple hunts in Adams County, the Pallister and Rome hunts in Ashtabula County, the Desonier Hunt in Athens County, the Culberson Woods Hunt in Clinton County, the Sheepskin Hollow Hunt in Columbiana County, the Christmas Rocks Hunt in Fairfield County, the Goll Woods Hunt in Fulton County, The Lawrence Woods Hunt, the Miller Hunt in Highland County, the Scheick Hollow Hunt in Hocking County, the Augusta-Anne Oleson Hunt in Huron County, the Lake Katharine Hunt in Jackson County, the Blackhand George Hunt in Licking County, the Lou Campbell Hunt in Lucas County, the Eagle Creek Hunt in Portage County, the Fowler Woods Hunt in Richland County, the Howard Collier and Springville Marsh hunts in Seneca County, the Caesar Creek Gorge and Halls Woods hunts in Warren County, the Johnson Woods Hunt in Wayne County and the Mud Lake Hunt in Williams County.

Obermiller said ODNR is staying conservative with the number of hunters allowed access to these special permits, in order to provide a high quality experience and allow consumptive and nonconsumptive uses in the preserve to coincide. Generally, there will be about one hunter allowed per 125 acres.

“We hope to find success by some of our hunters harvesting deer and also by putting pressure on the deer, force the move and (be) available for harvest by hunters on adjacent lands,” Obermiller said. “Based on past archery hunts, we hope for a 30 percent success rate.”