03/31/2006--Deer, more or less - I had a visit with DNR biologist Greg Hanson the other day and asked about the winter deer counts.

These are produced by flying over selected areas in the winter and with good snow cover on the ground. Deer are quite easy to count at this point.

Overall, the deer counts are down about 40% according to Greg.

A deer count is of course not a complete total of all deer found in the county, but an index. Given similar conditions from year to year, the average number of deer seen in a given location will give you a general idea if the population is up or down.

That being said, some of the larger woods in the area had the following deer sighted during the count.

Ochee Yahola— 11

Deer creek—45

Stimes Woods—10

Overall, Worth county has ranged from 213 two years ago, 157 last year, and 188 this year.

The DNR is taking feedback on its population management now at the Iowa DNR website.