Antelope Surveys and Permit Issuance

1
Antelope Surveys and Permit Issuance

• Bo Adkins
• Wildlife Biologist
• Texas Parks and Wildlife
• Dumas Texas

2
Survey Methods

• Surveys conducted annually starting first week of
  June
• Fixed wing aircraft
• 2 observers 1 pilot
• 100 ft. or less
• 85-120 knots (depending on wind speed)

3
Survey Methods

• North and South flight path ¼ mile apart
• Animals are identified as Male or Female
• Separated into age class Adult or Fawn
• First 4 hours of daylight and the last 4

4
Survey Methods

• Flights are conducted in Herd Units

5
Herd Units

• Herd Units are defined based on geographic and
  man made borders

6
Permit Issuance

• Herd unit populations are based on annual flights
• Available permits are based on Surplus Bucks per
  acre
• Surplus Bucks are determined by applying a 14
  post hunt sex ratio

7
Example

• Herd Unit X 1000 acres
• 25 Bucks 50 Does
• Surplus Buck 25B-(50D/4) SB12.5
• SB/Acre HUAc.1,000/SB 12.5 80 Ac.
• Available SB applied for acres/SB per acre
• Available SB 600 Ac./80 SB per Ac. 7.5

8
Example

• In this example we have 2 applicants 300 acres
  each
• Determine what proportion each applicant has of
  the applied for acres .50 or 50
• Then we establish points per applicant 50 x 7.5
• Both applicants have 3.75 pts.
• Each applicant will receive 3 Permits

9
Permit Issuance

• Acreage does play a role in the number of permits
  issued but is dependent how well each Herd Unit
  counts as well as BuckDoe ratios
• What about the small acreage applicants?

10
Permit Issuance

• Last year 306 parcels applied for
• 250 landowners
• Thank Goodness for Microsoft Excel!