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From the California Department of Fish and Wildlife

CDFW and Siskiyou County Landowners Collaborate on Black-Tailed Deer Capture

A doe is transported by helicopter during a CDFW deer capture in Siskiyou County.

With cooperation from local landowners, the California Department of Fish and Wildlife (CDFW) recently captured and attached telemetry collars to 10 adult female black-tailed deer before successfully rereleasing them in western Siskiyou County.

CDFW staff work on a black-tailed deer during a recent capture in Siskiyou County.

The capture began a five-year investigation into factors responsible for declining population trends in the far north state. Beginning next year, CDFW plans to collar and monitor up to 50 adult females annually for this study.

The does were captured April 2 using helicopter net-gunning techniques, then carried to a base camp where biological samples and measurements were taken. An ultrasound was performed on each deer to determine body condition and reproductive status and satellite telemetry collars were attached so that biologists can monitor the movements of the deer for up to a year. This capture would not have been possible without the permission and cooperation of Scott Valley landowners near the towns of Fort Jones and Etna.

This was one of three successful deer captures conducted by CDFW this year. Information from these studies will be used to improve the department’s deer management programs. Key components of the studies will help identify population trends, movement, nutritional status, reproductive rates and survival. Movement data will help CDFW identify habitat that is important to deer conservation.