Game Management 101
Getting the basics right...
Cam Speedy - Wildlife Management Associates,
TURANGI, NEW ZEALAND
Presentation Overview
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The ‘Resource’
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Basic Game Biology
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Behaviour
Differences between age/sex classes
Game Management Principles
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Holistic view
Defining components of the ‘resource’
Setting Goals & Objectives
Game mgmt approaches
Population/harvest mgmt
Manipulation of herd structure
Summary
The ‘Resource’ = basic trophic pyramid
Apex Predators
1
10
(Hunters)
Primary
Consumers
(Game Herd)
100
Habitat
Primary Producers
(the foundation upon
which the whole system
is built and depends)
Goals & Objectives
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Needed for all components of the system
SMARTER Objectives
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Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Time bound
Effectively Resourced
Game Biology / Behaviour
Game Biology / Behaviour
The engine room of all game herds is the breeding female population
Breeding females
form matriarchal
family groups
Proportionally higher
environmental impact
than males due to
limited home ranges:
“breeding country”
 Males form separate bachelor groups in spring/summer
 Target areas away from breeding groups where nutritional
opportunities are highest: “fattening country”
 Typically home range 3x -10x larger than females – lower impact
Matriarchal Family Groups
Km
♀♀
♀
♀♂
♀♀
♀
Dispersal
Males
♂ Home Range
spring/summer
♂
♂
Autumn Rut
♂
♂
♂
♀♀
♀
♀♂
♀♀
♀ Home Range
♀
10 to 24 months old
♂
EXAMPLES:
Tahr – Southern Alps
Sika – Central
North Island forest
& scrub country
Nannies 2 km
Bulls 10+ km
♂
5.9 km
Max ♀ 6 km
Max ♂ 17.7 km
♀ 1.7 km
Mavis Davidson – 1964 to 1972
‘n’ = 54
Recent Sika radio tracking data
are consistent with these results
Critical Biological Knowledge
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Where do family groups live?
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Where do mature males summer?
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Home range = implications for habitat mgmt
What habitat/plant spp are important to family groups?
Where is this in relation to family groups?
What habitat/plant spp are important to adult males?
How far do males travel?
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Implications for Tb management
Buffer zone sizes around toxin applications (currently 2km?)
Game Management
Game Management
‘K’
Game Density
Protect Females
Max. sustainable yield
Harvest Females
Time
Conceptual model for the history of game
density vs habitat quality in NZ:
Game Density
‘K’ ?
?
?
1900
1940’s
Time
1980’s
2010
Game Management Approaches
1
Game Density
‘K’
2
3
4
5
Time
Game Management Approaches
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Maximum Population - protect females, heavy harvest of
males
Maximum Harvest – heavy harvest of males and limit
female numbers
Quality Management – protect young males, harvest
females heavier than in 2, above
Trophy Management – protect males until they are fully
mature, heavy harvest of females
Eradication – harvest all animals faster than they can
breed/reintroduce (limited scope except on islands)
Costs of Harvest to Extinction
Game Density
Kapiti Island Possum Eradication
$2.70
$Cost per animal harvested
$8,200
Herd Structure – Max. Population (15 -20 deer/km²)
Relative proportion of herd in each age class
♀
♂
Trophy age classes
10
0
AGE (years)
10
Herd Structure – Max. Harvest (6 to 10 deer/km²)
Relative proportion of herd in each age class
♀
♂
Trophy age classes
10
0
AGE (years)
10
Herd Structure – Quality Management
(6 to 8 deer/km²)
Relative proportion of herd in each age class
♀
♂
Trophy age classes
10
0
AGE (years)
10
Herd Structure – Trophy Management (2 to 4 deer/km²)
Relative proportion of herd in each age class
♂
Low breeding rates (x2 every 4 yrs)
Trophy age classes
10
♀
0
AGE (years)
10
Trophy Management ?
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Genetics
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Better gene flow through best/strongest males breeding (heavy
competition for mating rights)
Age
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Males > 5 years old
improve survival of young males (manage WARO & Educate
hunters)
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
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Better rut due to intense competition between higher numbers of adult males
Increased natural mortality (fighting)
Quality Nutrition
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Improve habitat – crops?
Manage game density (low) = population mgmt (WARO?)
Maintain biodiversity values – support from stakeholders (DoC)
Herd Structure – Typical Highly Exploited NZ Herd
Relative proportion of herd in each age class
High breeding rates (x2 every 2 yrs)
♀
♂
Poor survival
Trophy age classes
10
0
AGE (years)
10
The Future?
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Most hunters only think about where or what they will
hunt next weekend…?
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A longer term approach is required……
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Think about what our mokopuna will hunt
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Don’t find excuses to pull the trigger - find reasons to
show some thoughtful restraint when you need to - you
will learn a lot more about your game animals!
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Its not what you shoot that counts – its
what you leave!
Think about this image…..?
Summary
Summary – Biological / Social / Political
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Male & Female game animals are NOT equal in terms of
their resource value nor their environmental impact
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Hunters generally value mature males above other sex &
age classes (both recreational & commercial hunters)
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Family groups associated with breeding females inflict a
much higher proportion of environmental impact
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These differences in ‘value’ set up potential win:win
outcomes for hunting & conservation
Summary – Strategic Approach
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We MUST set ‘SMARTER’ Goals & Objectives for
all components of the resource
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Without a clear outcome, management will always
remain ad hoc!
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Active management of stakeholder
expectations/requirements is required
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Monitor progress towards desired management
outcomes - are we going where we want to be?
Questions & Feedback?