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Post by osprey on Mar 11, 2008 21:33:13 GMT -5
Whoo boy, had a blast tonight. Just got in, been down in sika country watching/helping with a sika netting. Grad student from Delaware is doing a study on yearling buck dispersal, attaching radio collars to some, ear tagging others, got to tag along at Muddy Marsh when they dropped a baited net. One drop - 8 sika!! Pretty dang cool, I'll post more pics tomorrow when I have time... ;D  |
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Post by BIG FOX on Mar 12, 2008 4:36:54 GMT -5
that is cool, sounds like a hunt i need to go on.  |
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Post by osprey on Mar 12, 2008 7:56:13 GMT -5
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Post by osprey on Mar 12, 2008 7:58:26 GMT -5
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Post by osprey on Mar 12, 2008 8:00:53 GMT -5
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Post by osprey on Mar 12, 2008 8:43:01 GMT -5
Okay, that was all the fun part, now today it got wierd. I was invited down to help with the netting and again today, mainly to give it some press coverage - hopefully to help raise some more funding for the studies. But today when I showed up the UofDelaware student was tightlipped, wouldn't let me go along, wouldn't answer any questions and said they had strict rules not allowing any press to participate or cover studies.  So now red flags are going up fast. First, why's out DNR using our hunter funded $ to support a project that's evidently supposed to be a secret? If it was biomedical research that may bring in millions of $ I might understand, but a study to further knowledge about public wildlife?? And one where they've been asking for and using volunteers from the local hunters to help with the work?? Also, since this policy is from the kids professor at UofD, why is MD DNR working with an out of state college when we've got our own University system full of research and wildlife programs?? Finally, why would you invite a press member along just to send him home PO'd with no information?? WTF, how stupid can you be? A nice little story about ongoing research with a plea for more $ just turned into a giant black eye in the paper for your program, followed by FIA requests and more scrutiny from a newspaper. |
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Post by BIG FOX on Mar 12, 2008 9:47:04 GMT -5
Go get them Osprey, they are just jealous dumb ole Deleware doesn't have Sika deer to hunt..
Saw ole Uncle Ted blast a Monster 8 point sika last night on The Spirit of the Wild.. must be nice to go to a Ranch like that and see SIka deer with antlers like a small bull Elk....
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Post by osprey on Mar 12, 2008 10:05:56 GMT -5
There's lotsa ranches like that Fox, even one in PA, all is takes is $$$$. If I ever have a spare $2,500 sitting around (yeah, right) I'd like to do that someday, just to see how different the subspecies on those ranches are and how they taste.
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Post by BIG FOX on Mar 12, 2008 10:23:46 GMT -5
I haven't seen a deer (sike, whiletail, or Mule) that I would cough up $2500 for... And I have seen some monsters..... alive and dead... I wouldn't pay $2500 for the crutchfeild buck... but there again I don't think many folks are offering a deer with the caliber of the Crutchfeild's for $2500 either.. |
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Post by BIG FOX on Mar 12, 2008 10:25:01 GMT -5
sure would be fun to "hunt" those netted deer with a 5 lb hammer though.... LOL kidding of course.....
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Post by Bartman on Mar 12, 2008 12:26:48 GMT -5
Dave, that it weird about the study. Maybe they don't want the press b/c they are worried about poaching or something. They should have atleast given you a reason. Just to send you away like that is stupid. They could've been like the Univ. has a policy about press covering our research, so we prefer that you don't write about it now, but you are still welcome to help. As someone in the research field I can tell you that they are always looking for funding. It is a shame, b/c this seemed like a good way to get it. BTW, Dave did they have you on rectal temp duty?
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Post by BIG FOX on Mar 12, 2008 12:52:35 GMT -5
No, Ole Osprey's job was to lick off the thermometer after the rectal temp was taken.... ewwwww SIKA BUTT BREATH.........
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Post by osprey on Mar 12, 2008 16:31:08 GMT -5
Bart, all I got was the old "University Policy" bit. Finding a bit more out now, I'll fill you in as I can. And no, I was on hold-down duty, the grad student did the butt probing. Big Fox, I myself thought afterwards about a nice pipe tomahawk! And I've got a bargain for you, not $2,500, but for only $2,400 I'll point you to a tree that's guaranteed!!!! |
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Post by BIG FOX on Mar 12, 2008 17:47:28 GMT -5
no thanks, you said the same thing last year and then gave the deer to the Deer Hunter.. I see how you are, i thought we were better friends than that.....
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Post by brianeyler on Mar 13, 2008 6:15:46 GMT -5
Dave, I really wish you would have waited and talked to me before choosing to spread a conspiracy theory on the Internet. As I mentioned in the email, there's a good explanation to why they didn't want you to go along and they will get you out there again real quick. No doubt it was handled poorly, but give the poor kid a break, he was just doing what he was told and I can guarantee he was never in that situation before.
As for why we are doing the research through Delaware? Because they have a really good professor there who has an extensive background doing deer research (especially telemetry studies). Credibility in this field means alot when it comes to getting your work published. You say that Maryland has a system full of research and wildlife programs - let me know when you find a professor in Maryland that is an expert with deer and has an active graduate program with students. I did my work back in the day through the Fish & Wildlife Cooperative Unit at Maryland - it is now defunct. The MEES program at Maryland deals almost exclusively with marine studies. Frostburg has a wildlife program but nobody that does deer work. This is why we went with Delaware. It's our responsibility to spend hunting license money wisely for our constituents and we have worked with the UDEL professor before and know the quality of work he produces. He very likely is going to find matching funds for our grant so we will get two studies for the price of one.
If anybody would like more information on this, feel free to call me or pm me. Thanks for letting me set the record straight, and nice forums here. Brian
Brian Eyler
Deer Project Leader
Maryland DNR
301-842-0332
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