Catalina and mule deer

[Marauder2003]

According a CRPA email Avalon wants to helicopter hunt mule deer on the island.

Why? What are the deer doing that pissed someone off?

[Quiet]

AFAIK...

CA Fish & Wildlife recently declared them an invasive species, due to pressure from the Catalina Island Conservancy, and they are contracting White Buffalo Inc to eradicate all the deer on Catalina by the end of 2024.

The deer will be taken from helicopter and will not be harvested.

The cost of this program has not been publicly disclosed, but it is estimated to be around $2 million.

[DaveInOroValley]

Brother’s in-laws had a house on the island. I remember wild boar and some deer there when I visited back in the late 70’s. Without predators I would imagine the population exploded.

[AlmostHeaven]

AFAIK...

CA Fish & Wildlife recently declared them an invasive species, due to pressure from the Catalina Island Conservancy, and they are contracting White Buffalo Inc to eradicate all the deer on Catalina by the end of 2024.

The deer will be taken from helicopter and will not be harvested.

The cost of this program has not been publicly disclosed, but it is estimated to be around $2 million.

Do you know why the deer have to be taken from a helicopter instead of by hunters stationed on the ground?

[BOBGBA]

I am simply providing information here, so please don't presume that I am in agreement with the plan.

Based on what a little bird in the know whispered in my ear...

The Conservancy is footing the bill and contracting with the helicopter service.
The decision was based on studies they have done, and their opinion is that the quickest and most efficient way to eradicate the the deer is via helicopter.

Attached is an article from the LA Times on 10/6/2023, written by Louis Sahagun.

[m35a2]

Do you know why the deer have to be taken from a helicopter instead of by hunters stationed on the ground?

From my understanding in talking with some people I know that live and spend time on the island, the deer population has exploded, drought has made it so the deer can't "fend for themselves" so they are coming down into areas where people are and foraging garbage and basically getting used to humans.

I asked about opening up to hunters instead of the helo thing, but was told that the deer population is starving and most are very skinny.

[ASD1]

Do you know why the deer have to be taken from a helicopter instead of by hunters stationed on the ground?

Because it's a much more efficient way to cover lot's of ground.

When you are tasked with eradicating a problem animal.

They do it for hogs all the time.

[m35a2]

Because it's a much more efficient way to cover lot's of ground.

When you are tasked with eradicating a problem animal.

They do it for hogs all the time.

When I was a younger person, My Dad and Uncle used to get permits to hunt pigs on Catalina. I only made it 2 times. It was a long time ago. Good times!

[AlmostHeaven]

Because it's a much more efficient way to cover lot's of ground.

When you are tasked with eradicating a problem animal.

They do it for hogs all the time.

I see. That sounds like quite the exciting job for whoever will be manning the guns.

[lewdogg21]

In 1997 or so I and my Dad did a guided deer/pig hunt on Catalina. My Dad and I also know the outfitter that has had that lease for 20 years or so.

Yes the conservancy wants to kill off the deer as they are "invasive". No word if the invasive buffalo or eucalyptus trees will be taken as well. In the 1990's the conservancy did the same with goats and then pigs. By the time we hunted in like 97 all the goats (or practically) were gone and most of the pigs were too. The size structure of average pigs was that an 80lb pig was a big one. I remember the pig I shot, I could have hung from my belt loop and it wouldn't have touched the ground.

In 2019 the island was opened up to persons to hunt deer doing DIY. I don't know the permit process or anything or what type of access they have but when I was there we had access to like 98% of the island to hunt basically. It was a really cool place. Very steep in some sections with lots of cactus and many saddles for deer to hide and dissapear in when you glassed.

The bucks being taken this year are very large in terms of antlers thanks to the rain and feed. It's unfortunate that the deer will be removed. Yes, helicopter is the way to eradicate. With the goats and pigs they would trap some and radio collar them, then release them. The radio collar animals would find others and then the cull would begin. The last ones to be killed had the collars.

[middleofnowhere]

I will be doing a DIY hunt on Catalina this year. I applied long before I knew of this controversy. The process was not easy nor inexpensive. I have to forfeit a California state tag in order to obtain a PLM tag from the conservancy.

I understand that mule deer are not native to the island and understand how destructive they can be to native/endemic wildlife, but with the scarcity of hunting opportunity in California, it seems there could be a better way to reduce the deer population.

[chachachanng]

I will be doing a DIY hunt on Catalina this year. I applied long before I knew of this controversy. The process was not easy nor inexpensive. I have to forfeit a California state tag in order to obtain a PLM tag from the conservancy.

I understand that mule deer are not native to the island and understand how destructive they can be to native/endemic wildlife, but with the scarcity of hunting opportunity in California, it seems there could be a better way to reduce the deer population.

That sounds like a ton of fun. How much did the tag from the conservancy cost?

[edgerly779]

Using same methods as KIWIS that killed all the hogs and sheep on santa Cruz islands years ago. Lots a people on here with no idea of methods or history of the tree huggers. Much easier to eradicate mule deer than hogs. 1 doe has maybe 2 fawns a year. Have have litters of up to a dozen every 14 weeks much more elusive and hard to kill and mostly nocturnal.

[AlmostHeaven]

Using same methods as KIWIS that killed all the hogs and sheep on santa Cruz islands years ago. Lots a people on here with no idea of methods or history of the tree huggers. Much easier to eradicate mule deer than hogs. 1 doe has maybe 2 fawns a year. Have have litters of up to a dozen every 14 weeks much more elusive and hard to kill and mostly nocturnal.

Environmentalist vegans are the worst, most uninformed, and nonsensical humans.

[pennstater]

Same type of thing happened on Santa Rosa Island several years ago.
There were some big deer over there. No more.

MLC