Ames Plantation

• Hunting Club
  • Membership Application
  • Newsletters
  • Notes and Notions
• Photo Gallery
  • 2007 Deer Harvest
  • 2006 Deer Harvest Part 1
  • 2006 Deer Harvest Part 2
  • 2006 Deer Harvest Part 3
  • 2006 Trail Camera Photos
  • 2005 Deer Harvest Part 1
  • 2005 Deer Harvest Part 2
  • 2005 Deer Harvest Part 3
  • 2005 Deer Harvest Part 4
  • 2004-05 Trophy Bucks
  • 2003 Trophy Bucks
• Research Findings
  • 2005 Census
• Guided Hunting

2005 Census

The deer population census was done during the late summer and early fall of 2005. This is the fourth year for the census. Sixty stations were placed in a grid so that each station samples 160 acres. Cameras are moved across the grid and each station is monitored for 20 consecutive days. In this manner the census provides an estimate of the deer herd on 9,600 acres, or about ½ of Ames.

In the beginning the deer would not come to bait consistently or in large numbers. We attributed that to the fact that food resources were high enough on Ames that the deer did not particularly need the bait (corn) that was placed at the stations. It is also true that there had been no history of baiting on Ames and the deer were unaccustomed to altering their habits to visit a station.

Two years ago we placed salt at the stations and deer regularly visited the sites throughout the year, especially during the summer months. Nowadays, it is likely that more deer come to these sites because they came with momma when they were young. The bait that is added during the census represents ice cream on the cake.

The 2005 pictures are being evaluated now to get an idea of the size of the deer herd, sex ratios, and with an occasional look at exceptional bucks they give some idea of how well the QDM program is recruiting older bucks into the population. We’ll pass this information along as soon as it becomes available.

Included here is a selection of the pictures that we have of the large bucks for the 2005 census. Also included are some with interesting racks. I cannot disclose the location because some Members may be hunting those spots, although the bucks have very likely moved on to other places as the rut approaches

Of course, these pictures do not represent all of the deer that are out there. We know that we did not capture images of all the big bucks, indeed, far from it. However, the shots can give us proportional estimates of big bucks to small bucks to does and fawns, and insight into sex ratios. This information combined with the observation forms provides an excellent picture of herd structure and size.

Some members have expressed concern that our employees pour over the pictures and plot their hunting around where the big ones have been captured on film. This is not true. In all cases the employees are under the same fair chase philosophy as Members and do their best to avoid interfering with Membership chances.

Also, some Members have expressed concern that when a big one is killed or a hunter records a shooter on the observation form that our folks will flock to the spot. That also is untrue. Observation forms are confidential and not available to employees. Hooch sees them. I see them when I need to.

For the most part, our employees hunt in just about the same places as they have over the years. However, they have access to all of Ames and receive their hunting privilege as part of their quality of life at Ames. Also, each employee in the field functions as security to help lessen trespassing.

Our people work very hard and often those who hunt are the same ones who are assigned jobs to maintain wildlife populations – throughout the year. For example, it is not uncommon to send folks to get treatment for poison ivy and bee stings during the summer when the browse survey requires armloads of material gathered from the forest floor.

Enjoy the photos. One buck appears to be especially large and I hope someone brings him in.

Click here to view the photos