Though it is impossible to count every game animal in the woods, TWRA biologists track the health of the deer herd by collecting data on harvested animals and through field studies. Photo courtesy of TWRA.

Have you ever wanted the chance to talk one on one with Tennessee's Big Game Coordinator Daryl Ratajczak? Here's a chance to hear some of the questions that hunters want Ratajczak to address.

He recently agreed to answer several questions that Tennessee Sportsman thought would be of interest to a variety of hunters in the state; he answered questions on everything from deer population carrying capacity to trophy management and buck limits to questions on wildlife management areas (WMAs) and public hunting areas (PHAs).

Ratajczak often finds himself on the hot seat when it comes to satisfying deer hunters while managing Tennessee's deer herd as the state's Big Game Coordinator. We've changed that around and given him the chance to discuss some background on how and why deer management works, and what it can and can't do.

We first let Ratajczak assess the status of the state's deer herd unit by unit; then we asked him similar questions concerning our WMAs and PHAs. Last, for the future of our young sportsmen, we're going to evaluate some of the better juvenile opportunities out there.

UNIT A DEER HERD ASSESSMENT
Tennessee Sportsman: What is the carrying capacity of the deer herd in Unit A, and have we reached that mark?

Ratajczak: The simple answer? We're not at the biological carrying capacity in Unit A at all. And that goes for the rest of the state as well. The long of it is that the TWRA doesn't manage deer based on biological carrying capacity but (instead) on social carrying capacity. In a nutshell, that's how many deer there are in an area that people in that area will tolerate or put up with. Social carrying capacity is heavily based on auto collisions and habitat depredation.

Tennessee Sportsman: What counties are at capacity in this region, and which ones are not?

Ratajczak: We don't have an actual number as far as carrying capacity. It's hard to put a figure on the exact number of deer in the woods. But there are presently no counties in Unit A at biological or even social carrying capacity. Even if we stopped deer hunting altogether in Unit L where we have the densest deer populations, the deer population would still increase. Even the counties within Unit L, our most liberal hunting areas, are not at carrying capacity. There isn't a county in the state where deer are starving to death due to a lack of food.

Tennessee Sportsman: How have changes in buck bag limits affected the populations in Unit A?

Ratajczak: Even with the three-buck bag limit with two-per-weapon season, things have been working well. But the buck limits can't improve the quality of the bucks specifically, and there will be a leveling out soon. Each year, we're not killing too many yearlings. That means the age structure is improving every year. The agency is very pleased to allow hunters these increased opportunities. The limits are definitely not hurting the age structure of the deer herd.

Tennessee Sportsman: In areas where the deer herd is nearing social carrying capacity, what are the management options?

Ratajczak: Even though there are not any counties in Unit A that can be said to be at carrying capacity, there are those that are currently on the upper end. Overton County and Roane County are two such examples that the agency is keeping an eye on. The management strategy for monitoring the deer population across the state is simple. The state is divided into three separate units now for a reason. All counties in each should be similar to those in their respective areas, whether they lie in Unit A, Unit B or Unit L. Once a county deer herd status nears carrying capacity, socially speaking, they are upgraded to the next unit. Unit B counties can be transferred to Unit A with its less restrictive limits as deemed necessary. Likewise, Unit A counties can be upgraded to Unit L counties should management strategies call for such a move. Two perfect examples are found in Houston and Stewart counties. These two counties were transferred from Unit A status just this summer and moved into Unit L, where more liberal limits will help manage the doe harvests more effectively. It's a natural progression -- Unit B to Unit A and Unit A to Unit L. The key is not to monitor the biological carrying capacity at this time. Again, it's about the social carrying capacity. The TWRA officers on the ground in each county are the eyes and ears of the agency. When more and more people complain about having too many deer on their land and the complaints reach a boiling point, that county will give consideration and perhaps a move to Unit L and a liberalized season. People in Unit L are satisfied with the liberal limits and also lowering the number of deer.

UNIT B DEER HERD ASSESSMENT
Tennessee Sportsman: What is the carrying capacity of the deer herd in Unit B and have we reached that mark?

Ratajczak: Most counties in Unit B are still below social carrying capacity. The valleys in Unit B are denser, and as a whole the Unit B deer herd isn't as dense -- So much so that none of the counties in Unit B at this time are ready for Unit A status. The correct limits under the Unit B guidelines are in place as well.

Tennessee Sportsman: How have changes in buck bag limits affected the populations in Unit B?