MONTGOMERY-Most of us can only dream about owning or controlling enough property to contain even a single deer’s movements, much less those of an entire population. To achieve this goal, one would need access to several hundred or up to a few thousand acres, depending on the habitat type and quality. Due to the fragmented land ownership pattern across Alabama, having access to this much property in one area is tough. Hunting clubs and managers across the state and country have begun forming cooperatives to help them better reach their goals.
Cooperatives are groups of landowners, managers and hunters who collaboratively work toward common wildlife oriented goals. These usually include education of the group, habitat enhancements and harvest strategies. Through cooperation and consolidated efforts among neighbors, smaller tracts of land managed together have the advantages of the cooperative in its entirety.
Cooperatives can vary in acreage, organizational structure and number of members. Goals of the cooperative will often be set at its initial formation and will evolve as the habitat and wildlife management goals develop. It is important to remember to work together toward common, published goals and to monitor progress. These goals should be specific and measurable so annual progress reports can be compared. Participants in the cooperative should be ready to commit to the program for a minimum of three years and should not expect overnight results. Depending on management strategies, habitat types and participant commitment, positive results may take up to five years or longer.
Set realistic goals such as the following: increasing lactation rates and/or average adult doe body weights; increasing average body weights and/or antler score for 3.5-year-
old bucks; improving acres of quality habitat; or reducing yearling buck harvests. Goals should be evaluated annually and fine-tuned as the cooperative advances.
Communication and morale is vital to the success of any cooperative. Typical ways of keeping participants interested and committed are through annual reports, newsletters, group workdays and scheduled hunts. It is important to remember that each participant has different time constraints, and mistakes are part of the process of education. Along with these mistakes come improvements in the habitat, hunting, life-long relationships and, after seeing results, a positive influence on neighboring landowners.
Forming a cooperative can be a time-consuming and trying process but the results are worth the effort. Increasing the amount of acreage under similar management and people working together toward a common goal provides the greatest potential for success. So, instead of constantly complaining about the management taking place on neighboring land, reach out to your neighbors. There might be more common ground than you think. Be open-minded, discuss management ideas and try working together toward common, realistic goals.
For more information on creating cooperatives for wildlife, contact your local Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries district office.
Media Release/ Jerremy Ferguson, Technical Assistance Coordinator, Division of Wildlife and Freshwater Fisheries
