Deer Research Project
Our research project at the university of Saskatchewan involves capture of mule and white-tailed deer for the purpose of radio-collaring them to monitor their movement patterns. (See http://wildlife1.usask.ca/cwd_research/index.php for further info). One capture method used is the Clover trap, which is basically a box-shaped steel-framed net. The deer walk into the trap to eat the bait at the back of the trap, and in doing so trigger a trip line near the back of the trap, shutting the door. The deer is trapped until researchers can collar it and release it.
The trail cameras have proven to be invaluable in the trapping process from beginning to end. First we use them to monitor potential trap sites for activity. Once we decide on trap sites and set up the traps we leave them open for a while and supply bait in order to attract deer. The cameras allow us to monitor activity rates and times of visitation.
Once the trap is set our hopes are always high that the trap will be successful. At first we did not have the scouting cameras, and we would sometimes find an empty trap with the door shut and wonder what went wrong. The cameras allowed us to see what transpired while we were away. What we learned saved us many valuable hours and days of trapping time. We learned the time of day grouse were visiting the traps and feeding, and we began setting the trap after that time. After finding one collapsed trap, we learned to use stronger rope to tie down the traps and how to secure them better at the base because some big determined deer could collapse it. We learned the times and conditions when deer visited the traps. We saw whether the trip line’s sensitivity needed to be adjusted. Lastly the cameras gave us insight into how well the deer handle being confined in the trap.
After the trapping period, the cameras have been useful set up in the field. We can monitor the number of deer passing the camera in a particular area and also see our collared deer once in awhile. This is particularly interesting because it is good to be able to monitor the deer’s condition and whether the collar is having an adverse effect on it.
All in all, the price of the cameras have been a bargain in comparison to the time and effort saved on our part, and provided insight we could not possibly gain otherwise.
CWD Deer Research Crew
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