Journal of the Southeastern Association of Fish and Wildlife Agencies

Seven environmental parameters were estimated at each nest site and 2 or 3 (per nest) systematically selected control (non-nest) sites during pre-nesting (MarchApril) and post-nesting (May-July) 1983 and 1984 on the Mississippi Sandhill Crane National Wildlife Refuge. Discriminant analysis revealed percentage of vegetation at the nest site was the only variable that differed between nests and control sites during pre-nesting and post-nesting periods for both years. Ground cover of water and water depth next to the nest differed from control sites during post-nesting 1983 and prenesting 1984. In 1984, an unusually dry year, the importance of standing water during post-nesting was reflected as a significant difference in bare ground. Foliage invertebrates were more abundant and diverse at nest sites.

Home range of the coyote (Canis latrans) was studied in western Tennessee during 1985 to 1987. Using standard radio-telemetry techniques, annual and seasonal home ranges were determined. Annual home ranges averaged 31 km2 for males and 60 km2 for females. Home range size varied across seasons for both sexes. Females had larger ranges than males during all periods except the breeding season. Long-distance travel of 70 km and 55 km was recorded for 2 individuals.

Herpetofaunal species richness and species-habitat associations were estimated by pitfall and funnel-trap sampling in a conventional clearcut, a bestmanagement- practices (BMP) clearcut, forest wildlife clearings, and a mature forest. Species richness was lowest in the mature forest. Slimy salamanders (Plethodon glutinosus) were associated with steep slopes and dense shrub cover on clearcuts, redspotted newts (Notophthalamus viridescens, red eft form) with forest canopy, and American toads (Bufo americanus) with dense herbaceous cover in forest clearings. Pitfall and funnel-trap sampling did not effectively sample all herpetofaunal species.

Names and addresses of currently employed technicians were obtained from fish and wildlife agencies of Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, and Tennessee. Surveys (N = 355) were mailed to these individuals; 185 (52%) were returned. This information was used to develop a profile of "the technician" employed by the surveyed states. Technicians were ≥36 years old (36%), had at least 1 educational degree beyond high school (57%), had previous agricultural experience prior to employment (68%), desired additional equipment operation and maintenance experience prior to employment (24%), desired additional biological or wildlife courses prior to employment (28%), had technician as their career goal (68%), earned ≥$18,OOO/year (47%), and were satisfied with their jobs (50%).

We assessed the accuracy of population estimates of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) determined from track counts by comparing them with aerial mark-recapture estimates on 2 southern Texas areas. Track counts produced very conservative estimates in relation to mark-recapture methods and failed to detect a population increase on 1 area. However, they reflected a large difference in density between the 2 areas.

Fifty-two eastern wild turkey (Meleagris gallopavo silvestris) gobblers were monitored by telemetry on Tallahala Wildlife Management Area, Bienville National Forest, Mississippi, from January 1986 to September 1987. Annual home range (HR) for 6 adults and 3 juveniles averaged 1,680 ha. Annual HR's averaged 1,409 ha when the very large HR (3,850 ha) of I juvenile was not included. Based on 79 seasonal HR's, average HR in spring 1986 was 812 ha, summer 688 ha, fall 447 ha, and winter 506 ha; and average HR for spring 1987 was 1,441 ha and for summer, 775 ha. Pre-hunting season HR's were not significantly different between harvested and non-harvested gobblers. Gobbler HR size during the 1986 hunting season (378 ha) was smaller (P < 0.05) than during the 1987 season (799 ha).

Waterbird use of managed and unmanaged brackish wetlands in coastal South Carolina was determined by 1,544 counts during a 19-month study. Significantly (P < 0.05) more individual birds and species used the managed sites in all seasons except summer. An unmanaged tidal impoundment was least used in all seasons. Multiple regression analysis indicated that bird use was inversely correlated to water level, particularly during spring. Shorebirds accounted for 53% of the use among managed sites follwed by waterfowl (27%), waders (14%) and other waterbirds (6%). The results have strong implications for multispecies management practices.

Oak decline is a complex disease involving interactions between initiating environmental or biological stresses and subsequent attack by normally secondary pests. It causes crown dieback, reduced radial growth and tree mortality, which in tum, influences wildlife habitat. In upland hardwood stands, oaks (Quercus spp.) are affected most while other species infrequently show crown symptoms or mortality. Recent surveys of declining stands in the southeastern United States show that 80% of the dominant and codominant trees are affected. Species in the red oak group are damaged more than those in the white oak group, with black (Q. velutina) and scarlet (Q. coccinea) oaks most prone to mortality. The annual increase in newly symptomatic trees is estimated at 6.5%. Potential wildlife habitat impacts include reduced mast yield and quality, reduced oak regeneration capacity, and altered species composition in subsequent stands.

A joint project was conducted between the Mississippi Cooperative Extension Service and Tennessee Valley Authority to establish 3 landowner demonstration cooperatives in northeast Mississippi. The objective of the project was to illustrate to nonindustrial private forest (NIPF) landowners the benefits of joining their lands with their neighbors to manage and market the wildlife and forest resources. A total of 62 landowners with combined land of 3,698 ha participated. Landowners were shown how to organize a cooperative, informed of different management and marketing objectives, given general management recommendations, and directed toward sources of technical management and marketing assistance. Cooperatives illustrate an approach by which adjoining landowners can manage and use existing wildlife and forest resources to increase profit from their lands.

We modified top-rope and lead-climbing techniques to develop safe, efficient methods for climbing trees. Two individuals, the climber and belayer, were required for each technique. An ll-mm belay rope, tree pruners saddle, tree climbing gaffs, adjustable lineman's pole strap, and 2.54-cm tubular webbing were required. Top-rope climbing was favored over lead-climbing, and was preceived as substantially safer. Bark characteristics of tree species affected climbing difficulty. Both climbing techniques have application in forestry, botany, and wildlife research.

To assess the taxonomic status of coyotes (Canis tatrans) and domestic dogs (C. jamiliaris) in the southeastern United States, 380 skulls of unknown canids were compared to known skulls of these taxa. Twenty-four cranial characters were employed in a discriminant function analysis to separate statistically unknown canids as to coyote or dog. Hybridization between taxa was minimal. Our results indicate that the predominant wild canid occurring in the southeastern United States is coyote. The method of distinguishing coyotes from dogs based on a ratio of 2 skull features (length of the upper molar tooth row divided by palatal width between the upper first premolars) appears to be useful for separating these taxa.

We quantified diurnal time activity budgets of 4 waterfowl species and American coots (Fulica americana), using catfish ponds in the Delta Region of Mississippi from November to March 1983-84 and 1984-85. Within each species, activity budgets were similar (P > 0.05) between seasons (1983-84 vs. 1984-85). Primary activities of lesser scaup (Aythya ajfinis) included foraging (34.6%) and resting (27.7%). Shovelers, (Anas clypeata) mostly foraged (69.0%) and courtship and interaction activities increased in late winter. Primary activities of ring-necked ducks (Aythya collaris) were foraging (35.9%) and resting (33.7%). Ruddy ducks (Oxyura jamaicensis) mostly rested (58.4%) and foraged (23.9%), while American coots spent much of their time foraging (47.9%) and in locomotion (35.6%). Time budgets of shovelers and ring-necked ducks were each jointly dependent (P < 0.05) on month, time of day, and sex and those of coots were dependent on month and time of day.

In the spring of 1979 an individual from Fort Worth, Texas, circulated a flier throughout Arkansas which advertised an electronic catfish unit that could catch more catfish than hoop nets, gill nets, trammel nets, fish traps, trot lines, snag lines, or most any other fishing devices. He further stated that as with anything that catches a lot of fish, the units are illegal in Texas, and are sold with the intention that they are used only on private lakes or stock tanks. What this individual has done, with the exception of making himself wealthy, is create a device capable of completely wiping out 2 species of catfish and an enforcement nightmare.

A difficult land management problem facing wildlife agencies today is the use of and demand for areas to utilize off-road vehicles (ORVs). Problems arising from conflicts between ORV users and other recreationists on the Cherokee National ForesUWildlife Management Area are discussed. The impacts of ORV use on soil, water, wildlife, and fisheries resources are described. Difficulties faced by law enforcement officials relative to ORV use and ways to solve those problems are presented.

A basic outline is provided to aid and encourage wildlife officers with disseminating timely local area information utilizing the print media.

Fatty acid profiles of cultured hybrid striped bass and red drum were compared to their diets. Correlation coefficients were 0.94 and 0.98, respectively. Of the fatty acids examined, linoleic acid (18:2n6) levels were particularly high in cultured fish due to various dietary sources and extremely low in wild fishes. Such differences may be suitable to distinguish cultured from wild fish and may become another biochemical tool for use by law enforcement agencies involved in the protection and conservation of natural resources.

Wildlife law enforcement operations cover vast areas of a state. Aerial surveillance, using small aircraft, is an excellent aid to the ground-based wildlife enforcement officer in locating potential violations. Such aircraft have a deterrent effect on violators and can also be used by the Agency's other divisions.

"Deer jacking" is an illegal form of deer hunting. The poacher temporarily blinds a deer with a spotlight thereby incapacitating it and then shoots the animal. This research analyzes over 200 offenders involved in about 100 episodes of deer jacking from 1977 to 1987 in southwest Georgia. Data were extracted from field citations written by officers of the Georgia Department of Natural Resources. Deer jacking is primarily a white young male phenomenon, often carried out in groups. Information on offender profiles, co-offending, and dispositions constitutes the bulk of the paper.

In 1986 the Georgia Department of Natural Resources, Law Enforcement Section (GDNRlLE) began developing a comprehensive 5 year plan. A major thrust of that plan was to infuse scientific research procedures into agency operations. One critical component of the plan was the critical review of select agency data collection methods and analysis related to officer productivity. This study found that officer characteristics and activity and productivity measures can serve to support agency management policy making. Suggestions for future data collection and analysis are proposed.

Too few supervisors are present in conservation agencies to adequately oversee and motivate conservation officers. In order to properly manage these officers, self-management techniques need to be implemented. To initiate selfmanagement, the supervisor must learn what motivates an employee; give the employee some responsibility; show him the importance of his job; provide proper equipment, training, recognition, and pay raises when applicable; and allow the employee to participate in the decision making process. The supervisor must also be trustworthy, honest, promote positive attitudes, and exhibit interest in the employee. By utilizing these techniques, we will not only get the most out of our employees, but also improve conservation of wildlife resources.

This paper qualitatively analyzes the variables affecting accidents to determine the impacts of mandatory hunter education. The similarities and differences in the 2 study states, Alabama and Arkansas, were determined as were the factors influencing accidents in these states. It was found that problem areas must be pinpointed and hunter education programs be modified to address these areas.

Over the course of 3 years, the hunter education program in Virginia was evaluated to determine its performance, strengths, and weaknesses and to develop recommendations for improvement. Students gained about 16% in knowledge of hunting and hunting safety from the 6-hour course. Observations of dove hunters with and without hunter education training suggested that the hunter education program had no significant impact on hunter behavior. A naturalistic inquiry evaluation of the program, involving analysis of interviews with 57 persons involved in hunter education, indicated program administration, program delivery, and course content could be strengthened. In the years since completion of the evaluation, the hunter education coordinator and his staff have implemented approximately 80% of the 43 suggestions.

Most landowners have an inadequate knowledge about how to improve habitat for wildlife on their properties. A Backyard Wildlife Habitat Model was developed to teach landowners how to create a natural home for wildlife in their backyards.