The local deer population is significantly higher than average, according to spotlight survey information taken last fall. Quail and pheasant populations remain low.
According to Levi Jaster, who is the deer biologist for Kansas Department of Wildlife and Parks, the spotlight survey done in early November for Deer Management Unit 8, which includes Washington County, was about 30 percent above the 5-year average for the unit. The unit is above the statewide average on yearling bucks versus adult bucks at 28.6 for DMU 8 versus 26.3 for the statewide average.
But DMU 8 is below the statewide average in buck-to-doe ratio. The spotlight survey for DMU 8 showed 25 bucks per 100 does while the statewide average is 31.2 bucks per 100 does. DMU 8 is also below the state average for fawns per doe with only 22.6 fawns per 100 does versus the statewide number of 45.3 fawns per doe.
“By the very coarse comparison of the individual routes in DMU 8, Washington County is a bit below the DMU 08 numbers,” Jaster said.
Birds
The most recent bird surveys were completed last spring. The pheasant crow population decreased in this area based on the early May 2021 survey and is “much lower” than the regional and state average, said Jeff Predergast, who is a small game specialist at Hays.
He said the Bobwhite population, which was surveyed in early June, increased in 2021 but is still lower than regional and state averages, though not significantly lower.
“[The] area as a whole surrounding was improved,” he said.
Brood surveys are the primary tool to determine fall densities of birds; there was no brood survey for Washington County.
“Hunting conditions have been extremely tough this year … as unseasonably warm weather did not concentrate birds in normal winter cover,” he said. “The lack of precipitation and heat created extremely tough conditions for dogs to find birds, decreasing their effectiveness.”
The prairie chicken survey was not available by press time.