CSC students aid wildlife check station
Chadron State College students assisted wildlife managers with the Nebraska Game and Parks Commission at the annual deer check station in November.
According to Micah Ellstrom, Nebraska Game and Parks Commission Wildlife District Manager for the Northwest Division and CSC alumni, students helped in collecting harvest data that is critical in making management decisions. Additional gathered information included age, sex, species, days hunted, unit hunted, public land harvest, and more.
Students volunteered in groups of two at the check station located at Ace Hardware. Each 12-hour day consisted of two shifts for the entire rifle deer season. Mule deer and white-tailed deer were the only species checked in. According to Ellstrom, physical mandatory check stations are in place for bobcat, elk, and antelope as well. Deer and antelope harvested during late firearm season, muzzleloader, or archery season can be checked in using telecheck. Telecheck can be used over the phone or via a website.
“Students become familiar with the computer system used to check the animals in. Students learn how to age deer based on tooth wear. Students will also learn how to interact with members of the public and hunters,” Ellstrom said. The check station provides great opportunities for CSC students. “Volunteering at a big game check station helps the students in understanding part of what it takes to be a wildlife manager. It shows them how to interact with the public and the various processes involved in data collection. It allows them to network with NGPC biologists and other staff,” Ellstrom said. The students aren’t the only ones who benefit. It takes a substantial amount of effort by the Game and Parks Commission to operate check stations. “Having volunteers on hand to offer assistance with all tasks helps the station run smoothly. The students are a very valuable and important component of operating a large check station like Chadron,” Ellstrom said.
Ellstrom had some additional comments on harvest statistics. Although data is still being compiled, preliminary numbers indicate harvest levels are around 12 percent higher than 2014 in the Northwest region. Deer populations in this region are in recovery after disease mortalities, extreme drought, and devastating wildfires in 2012. Interestingly, two deer checked in at the Alliance station aged 7.5 years old, rather old for deer in a hunted population.