2017 WEST VIRGINIA MAST SURVEY AND

HUNTING OUTLOOK

AUTHORS Eric Richmond Randy Tucker

Christopher Ryan Holly Morris

Wildlife Resources Bulletin Number 17-4

WEST VIRGINIA DIVISION OF NATURAL RESOURCES

WILDLIFE RESOURCES SECTION

2017 West Virginia Mast Survey

Eric Richmond, Randy Tucker, Holly Morris and Chris Ryan

The Division of Natural Resources (DNR) in cooperation with the Division of Forestry annually surveys the State to determine relative abundance of soft and hard mast of important trees and shrubs. Information on the quantity of wildlife food is provided to our cooperators, our hunters and the news media.

Two hundred thirty-six locations covering all regions of West Virginia were surveyed in 2017. Observations were collected by professionals from a variety of disciplines, including wildlife managers, foresters, wildlife biologists, retired wildlife managers and biologists, several Natural Resources Police Officers, NaturalResources Commissioners and a few other cooperators devoted their time to collect data. Without the efforts from all of these individuals this survey would not be possible. We sincerely thank everyone and extend our special thanks to retired persons and sportsmen.

The mast survey is a relative estimation of mast produced by 18 different species. A sample of the mast survey form is included in the Appendix. To collect mast survey information, cooperators are assigned counties and areas familiar to them. Mast data is subjectively evaluated as abundant, common or scarce. The surveyor also documents species not seen. The mast index is calculated for each species by the following formula:

Mast Index = [abundant observations ÷ total observations] + [common observations X 0.5 ÷ total

observations] X 100

The mast index is calculated by species for each ecological region and elevation (high and low). The current year’s index is compared to the previous year’s index. It is also compared to a long-term average index spanning the life of the survey. Readers not familiar with our regions should refer to Figure 1 to determine the ecological region where they hunt.

Many wildlife species are highly dependent on mast produced by trees and shrubs. Energy available in mast is more important for survival of many wildlife species than energy available in forage from agriculture crops and herbaceous plants. Seeds and fruits from trees and shrubs are necessary for not only overwinter survival, but also to assure that wildlife is in good physical condition to reproduce. Because of the importance of mast conditions, biologists and wildlife managers are able to forecast black bear, squirrel, white-tailed deer, wild boar and wild turkey population changes and harvests.

Compared to the 2016 survey (Table 1), the mast index for all species combined was up. Last year hickory and walnut were scarce but this year they were much more abundant. Hickory was up an incredible 285% in 2017 and would be

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considered a bumper crop. Walnut was up 183% this year and should provide plenty of hard mast for fox squirrels. This year, white and chestnut oaks also rebounded from the poor performance in 2016 but black/red and scarlet oaks are nearly identical in 2017. Compared to last year, the index for all oak species increased. Statewide, chestnut oak had the largest increase at 106% of the oak species.

All soft mast species were above their 2016 production levels. Apple was up 102% in 2017 and had an incredible index of 78. In other words, most of the apple trees in the state had very good production. Dogwood, crabapple, grape and hawthorn also exhibited significant increases and will have an impact on hunting seasons and population dynamics this fall. Hunters should take note of this information and know that they will have to cover additional territory to find the same number of wildlife.

When comparing all species, the 2017 index was 59% above last year and well above the long-term trend (Fig. 2). It was the highest total mast production in the last decade. Hickory, cherry and oaks (Fig. 2) were also above the average (Fig. 3). Every hard mast species was above the 46-year average (Table 2; Fig 5). Walnut, hickory and chestnut oak were above their long-term average.

Hunters should always pay attention to the production in their area (Table 3). However, 2017 was one of the most consistent mast crops across the state. Many of the Ecological Regions showed very little variation with only Region 6 in the southwest corner of the state showing slightly lower increases than the rest of the State. Several factors can inflate or deflate the percent change in the index. Therefore, comparisons to the long-term average should give us a tempered result that is more representative to the true mast condition (Table 4). Ecological Regions 1 and 2 showed the largest increase over their long-term averages for most hard mast species.

When the mast survey began in 1971, our main purpose was to use it to forecast squirrel populations and hunting outlook. Current mast conditions impact overwinter survival and reproductive success of many other wildlife species.

It is recommended that hunters review the regional trends in mast as shown in Tables 3 and 4 to learn of food conditions in their region of the State. There are always some regional differences.

2017 Mast Survey Highlights

• All Species combined the mast index is 23% above the long-term average

• All Hard Mast Species mast index is well above the long-term average

• Hickory, walnut and chestnut oak production is much better than last year

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• Wildlife will be spread more evenly across the landscape with abundant mast conditions

• Soft mast production is much better than 2016 and higher than the long-term average

• Apple production was very high and will be favored by some species of wildlife

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Species Avg Index 2017

Percent

Difference

Beech 39 47 21

Walnut 38 66 74

Hickory 48 76 60

White Oak 37 52 38

Chestnut Oak 33 52 59

Black/Red Oak 42 45 7

Scarlet Oak 33 33 0

Black Cherry 46 52 12

Grape 42 46 10

Scrub Oak 36 42 17

Yellow Poplar 46 49 7

Hawthorn 48 68 41

CrabApple 54 70 29

Dogwood 49 59 20

Blackberry 51 55 9

Greenbrier 40 42 7

Sassafras 36 35 -1

Apple 57 78 37

Other 68 54 -22

All Species 43 54 23

Table 2. 2017 statewide index compared to 46-year average mast index.

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HUNTING OUTLOOK

Eric Richmond, Randy Tucker, Holly Morris and Chris Ryan

Black Bear

Incredible opportunities abound for Mountain State black bear hunters in 2017. Once again, hunters will have the opportunity to hunt bears during 3 different early firearms seasons with or without dogs in 24 counties spanning 23 days. Bear archery season is open for 3 months. There will be 35 counties open to concurrent deer and bear hunting during the buck firearms season, and every county in the state is open for a December bear firearms season (with or without dogs allowed depending on county). In addition, the permit system during buck gun season has been removed for most of the traditional mountain counties. In 2017, we are predicting a record bear harvest that is similar to the record harvest of 2015.

Archery hunting success rates depend greatly on mast conditions. Harvests decrease in years of mast abundance and increase in years of mast scarcity. The incredible hickory crop of 2017 should lead to lower archery harvest this year. Archery hunters looking to challenge themselves in pursuit of bruins should concentrate on hickory flats. Bear observations on the Bowhunter Survey should decrease in 2017.

Hunters who hunt with dogs have never had it this good in West Virginia. Hunters in Logan, McDowell, Mingo and Wyoming counties will be able to hunt bears with or without dogs from September 2 – 10. Mountain county hunters will be able to hunt bears with or without dogs from September 23 – 29. Finally, hunters in Boone, Fayette, Kanawha and Raleigh counties will be able to hunt bears with or without dogs from October 7 – 13. Hunters who use dogs also have the traditional December season in all or parts of 24 counties. In addition, hunters will be allowed to harvest a second bear as long as one of the bears comes from Boone, Fayette, Kanawha, Logan, McDowell, Mingo, Nicholas, Raleigh, or Wyoming counties.

Once again, firearms hunters who do not use dogs will have expanded opportunities. Hunters in 8 counties will be allowed to harvest a bear during the buck- firearms season by using a permit. In 31 counties, hunters will be allowed to harvest a bear during the buck-firearms season without applying for a permit prior to the season. Hunters should note that there was a mistake in the originally printed hunting regulations. Boone, Fayette, Kanawha and Raleigh counties are open during the buck gun season for bear hunting without a permit. The corrected version of the regulations are on the website.

The bear harvest in the traditional December firearms season should be higher in 2017. With the abundant conditions, hunters will still likely find many bruins out of their den and spread across the landscape at that time of the year. Pending very bad weather of deep snow the kill should be up in the traditional season over 2016.

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White-tailed Deer

The total white-tailed deer harvest should be similar to slightly lower in 2017 than it was in 2016. Hunting regulations are very similar in 2017. However, increased oak mast, especially white oak, will have deer spread out over the landscape and less visible in fields and less susceptible to bait. In addition, at the time of this writing 8 counties were positive for EHD, thus possibly having alocalized impact on the population.

We are predicting a lower archery harvest in 2017. Oak mast most heavily influences archery harvest rates compared to other weapons because bowhunting is a very close range sport. Abundant white oak mast in 2017 will make deer harder to pattern and harder to harvest.

The buck harvest should be similar in 2017. A very strong age class born in spring 2015 following the bumper oak crop of 2014 will now be 2.5 years old. The percentage of yearlings in the harvest has remained low due to selectivity of hunters but these bucks should have another year of age on them.

Antlerless harvests should be similar in 2017. Antlerless hunting opportunities are very similar to 2016. Deer won’t be as visible to harvest in fields but indices and reports still show a strong deer population across the state. Hunters wanting to manage their herds properly should find ample opportunity to harvest a mature doe.

The muzzleloader harvest should be similar in 2017. The muzzleloader harvest is most influenced by participation and weather. Hunters that enjoy hunting with muzzleloaders will still find plenty of deer although they may have to adjust their hunts slightly depending on the mast in their hunting location.

Gray and Fox Squirrels

Hunters should expect lower harvests for the 2017-2018 season. The factor influencing squirrel numbers more than any other is mast conditions from the previous year. The reason is that food conditions from the previous year have a major impact on overwinter survival and the number of litters produced by squirrels. Squirrels normally produce a summer litter, but the spring litter is very dependent on overwinter food availability. In 2016, hard mast production did not lend itself toward great overwintering and litter production. In addition, the tremendous hickory production of 2017 will have bushytails really spread across the landscape. Hunters will really have to burn some boot leather to find these animals.

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Cottontail Rabbits

Hunters should experience similar harvests in 2017-2018. Once again we experienced a very dry August but temperatures were much cooler than previous years. Rainfall held steady for much of July but cover for rabbits is the most critical element to their survival during the fall and winter. A wet spring and early summer produced conditions for great cover and bunny numbers going into the late summer months. Good growing conditions in September should help to support the bunny cover heading into winter.

Wild Boar

Poor 2015 and 2016 mast conditions probably resulted in fewer and smaller litters because wild boar numbers are a direct result of the previous year’s mast conditions. The good mast conditions of this year will make the boar harder to hunt. The 2015 boar harvest was up following the good 2014 mast year and the 2018 harvest will likely be higher but this year may be difficult. Hunters should expect a slightly lower harvest than last year.

Ruffed Grouse

Grouse populations are driven by mast conditions and brood production but most importantly by habitat. The lack of young forest in West Virginia has had a pronounced impact on not only grouse populations but also many other game and non-game animals and birds. If there is any hope to turn around grouse and other critical non- game wildlife populations we must promote a healthy forest. This should consist of different age classes instead of the monotone mature forest that covers much of our State. It is predicted that flushing rates and harvests should be similar across the state.

Raccoon

Hunters should expect lower harvests than last year. Mast conditions determine overwinter survival and reproduction for ‘coons. Good mast conditions in 2014 resulted in good carryover and reproduction in 2015 which resulted in higher harvests. Unfortunately, 2015 and 2016 were poor mast years for hickory, cherry, and oaks resulting in lower survival and reproduction. The raccoons this year will be distributed across the habitat and not concentrated around food sources, thus making them harder to harvest. We expect populations to rebound next year but hunting will be harder this year.

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was in 2017, compared to the tremendous year of 2016.

Wild Turkey

Fall turkey harvests are heavily influenced by brood production in that year and the available mast. The seventeen-year periodical cicadas of Brood V which stretched across much of the state had a large impact on brood survival in 2016. Brood production lower Every county will again have some length of fall turkey season in 2017. Last year

was the first year for this expanded season and we predict more hunters will take

advantage of it in 2017. The traditional counties will continue to have a 4-week season.

Non-traditional counties will have either a one or two week season. Hunters should

check the 2017-2018 Hunting Regulations on page 35 to find out the regulations on

their specific county. The Wild Turkey harvest should decrease over last year

because of poorer reproduction and increased mast across the entire state.

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Table 1. 2017 quick check chart of predicted statewide wildlife harvests.

Species Higher Similar Lower

Gray and Fox Squirrels X

Cottontail Rabbits X

Ruffed Grouse X

Raccoon X

White-tailed Deer X

Wild Boar X

Wild Turkey X

Bear X

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Table 2. 2017 quick check chart of deer harvest forecast by region and season.

Region Season

Bow Buck Antlerless Muzzleloader Total Kill

1 Down Similar Similar Similar Similar

2 Down Similar Similar Similar Similar

3 Down Similar Similar Similar Similar

4 Down Similar Similar Similar Similar

5 Down Similar Similar Similar Similar

6 Down Similar Similar Similar Similar

Statewide Down Similar Similar Similar Similar

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APPENDIX

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Federal Aid Project

funded by your purchase of

hunting equipment

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Your purchase of

Hunting equipment

Wildlife Restoration

Supports

It is the policy of the Division of Natural Resources to provide its facilities, services,

programs, and employment opportunities to all persons without regard to sex, race, age, religion, national origin or ancestry, disability, or other protected group status.

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09/17

……………………………………………………………….

Mast

Survey

Wildlife Resources

West Virginia Division of

Natural Resources

324 Fourth Avenue

South Charleston, WV 25303

(304) 558-2771

Fax: (304) 558-3147

Bulletin 17-04