In Illinois, white-tailed deer enter rut in mid-October and continue to breed through December. The peak of the breeding season occurs in November and that, combined with increased farming activity and fall hunting seasons, can create problems for deer and motorists on Illinois highways.
More white-tailed deer die on Illinois highways during rut than at any other time of the year, with the peak number of deer fatalities corresponding to peak breeding activity in November. But white-tail bucks' erratic behavior during their breeding season is only a part of the reason for the increase in highway deer deaths.
The fact that deer herds are disturbed by increased farming activity as the fall harvest begins and by the number of fall hunters moving about the woods also serves to drive the deer onto the open road.
The point is this: Motorists should be on the lookout for deer crossing the roadway during this time of the year, and especially just before and right after dusk, when deer activity is at one of its peaks. There also is a period of increased activity around dawn that causes accidents, in part because of early morning motorists on their way to work.
| The white-tailed deer breeding season peaks in November. For the same reason, that's also the peak month for vehicle/deer accidents, |
Be especially careful when roads are wet or icy. Neither motorists or deer can respond as effectively on slippery road surfaces. While a white-tail can usually clear an average-size roadway in a couple of bounds, slippery road surfaces can cause it to slip or fall and prevent it from getting out of the way of an approaching vehicle.
This leaping energy also can create another, more serious hazard for motorists. Deer sometimes try to leap over vehicles, which is especially dangerous because it usually results in the deer striking the auto at about windshield height.
Motorists also should be aware that when they've seen one deer cross the road in front of them that the odds are good more will follow. One of the biggest mistakes a driver can make is to believe the danger is past after one deer has crossed the road, only to find that five or six are right behind.
From mid-October through December, a high percentage of road-killed deer will be male animals, the result of the bizarre behavior of bucks during rut. Prior to the rutting season, male deer undergo complex hormonal changes that not only stimulate their sex drive, but alter their physiology and demeanor as well. Usually docile and secretive, white-tail bucks in rut become fierce and dominating. Bucks in the wild have been known to "challenge" oncoming trains, cars and trucks—encounters they invariably lose.
It is during this period that owners of captive deer find that their normally gentle "pet" can become vicious. Penned deer become extremely unpredictable. They become terribly frustrated and will do anything
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OUR NATURAL RESOURCES
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What To Do If You Are Involved in a Vehicular/Deer Accident Motorists involved in a vehicular/deer accidents are allowed to keep the deer. If the driver involved in the accident doesn't want the deer, any citizen of the state can keep the animal. The person keeping the deer is required to call a toll-free number and report the accident and die intent to keep die animal. The report must be made within 24 hours if the deer-vehicle collision occurred Monday through Thursday. Deer killed Friday through Sunday, or on holidays, must be reported on the next regular working day. A confirmation number will be assigned at the conclusion of the call, which will enable the holder to have the animal processed at a commercial facility. Persons wishing to retain possession of a deer killed by other non- hunting methods must have prior approval from their Regional DNR Law Enforcement Office. The Regional Office will provide an irremovable tag that must remain attached to die head/antler, hide or carcass while in the commercial business for die purpose of taxidermy, tanning or other processing. This tag can only be discarded after the processed deer is at die legal residence of die person who legally took possession of die deer. To report the accident and get a confirmation number call 1.800.406.3477. |
to remove whatever obstacle is between diem and the wild. They might kill other deer kept in the same pen or a person who enters the enclosure to feed them.
White-tail does do not find die erratic behavior of bucks quite as confusing as humans do. By die end of die rut, virtually all adult does will be bred—a fact that results in die birth of 1.8 fawns per doe die following spring.
The romantic entanglements of white-tail deer are linked to a biological cycle that scientists as yet do not completely understand. The groundwork for white-tail reproduction is laid far in advance of rut, when the buck's antler growth is triggered by the action of the pituitary gland as it is stimulated by increasing hours of daylight.
The new rack starts to grow only four to six weeks after the buck drops its previous year's antlers, and attains full growth in August or September. Prior to rut, die mail hormone testosterone is released into die buck's bloodstream, stimulating enlargement of the animal's neck and triggering the dominating behavior traits that characterize a buck in rut.
Did you ever wonder why a white-tail buck grow antlers once a year? Because does only come into estrus (heat) once a year. Antlers are not needed by mails at any other time.
And don't believe that "Bambi" movie either. Bucks don't have a single mate, nor do they stick around to help raise the young. Nor do they maintain a harem of 17,573 Motorist / Deer Accidents Reported in 1996
Last year, 17,573 deer were reported being hit on Illinois highways, causing injuries to more than 850 motorists, including one Kankakee County fatality. Motorists reported damage being done to their vehicle in 16,860 of the accidents.
Following is a listing of counties and motorist/deer accidents reported to die Illinois Department of Transportation;
Adams, 296; Alexander, 52; Bond, 112; Boone, 153; Brown, 91; Bureau, 243; Calhoun, 87; Carroll, 114; Cass, 69; Champaign, 144; Christian, 116; Clark, 134; Clay, 101; Clinton, 70; Coles, 143; Cook, 878; Crawford, 206; Cumberland, 89; DeKalb, 212; DeWitt, 93; Douglas, 48; DuPage, 249; Edgar, 85; Edwards, 74; Effingham, 145; Fayette, 114; Ford, 34; Franklin, 212; Fulton, 162; Gallatin, 21; Greene, 103; Grundy, 218; Hamilton, 152; Hardin, 18; Henderson, 69; Henry, 171;Iroquois, 149; Jackson, 299; Jasper, 99.
Also: Jefferson, 163; Jersey, 109; Jo Daviess, 162; Johnson, 150; Kane, 523; Kankakee, 187; Kendall, 113; Knox, 129; Lake, 613; LaSalle, 378; Lawrence, 98; Lee, 277; Livingston, 94; Logan, 134; McDonough, 112; McHenry, 594; McLean, 197; Macon, 228; Macoupin, 203; Madison, 324; Marion, 183; Marshall, 98; Mason, 123; Massac, 117; Menard, 38; Mercer, 49; Monroe, 52; Montgomery, 151; Morgan, 146; Moultrie, 29.
And: Ogle, 370; Peoria, 298; Perry, 174; Piatt, 29; Pike, 419; Pope, 73; Pulaski, 104; Putnam, 59; Randolph, 192; Richland, 120; Rock Island, 174; St. Clair, 252; Saline, 140; Sangamon, 341; Scott, 76; Shelby, 135; Stark, 37; Stephenson, 281; Tazewell, 262; Union, 155; Vermilion, 95; Wabash, 57; Warren, 80; Washington, 91; Wayne, 161; White, 125; Whiteside, 200; Will, 527; Williamson, 309; Winnebago, 425; Woodford, 89.
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OUR NATURAL RESOURCES
A deer crossing the road is a common sight in November. And when you see one, there's a good chance that several more are right behind.
does. Instead, they will service a single doe until she conceives and then abandon her for another. Bucks can successfully serve six to eight does during a single rut-ring season.
During the breeding season, does come into heat for a period of 24 hours. If not bred, they will come into heat two more times at about 28-day intervals. Once the doe conceives, she loses heat and rutting bucks no longer will desire her. In about seven months she will give birth. Does bred for the first time normally will have one fawn. Multiple births—twins and occasionally triplets—are common only among older does.
At the end of winter the buck loses his rack and returns to his docile, secretive self.
This article was reprinted from the November 1997 issue of Outdoorllllnois magazine, a publication of the Illinois Department of Natural Resources.
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OUR NATURAL RESOURCES NEWS BRIEFS
$1.5 Million in Museum and Park District Grant Awards
Twenty-four museums, aquariums, park districts, conservation districts, and municipalities will share in more than $1.5 million in funds generated from off-track betting parlors, Natural Resources Department Director Brent Manning announced. Recipients are limited to agencies within whose boundaries these inter-track wagering establishments are located.
The grants are distributed from the Horse Racing Tax Allocation Fund and are to be used for museum purposes. In Chicago, the grants are distributed to museums, aquariums and related agencies. Park districts which do not maintain museums may use the funds for general purposes.
The grant program was authorized by the Horse Racing Act of 1975, and requires that four-sevenths of 1 percent of the pari-mutual handle collected from the inter-track wagering locations be allotted for these grants. The Illinois Department of Natural Resources distributes the proceeds twice a year.
The grant total of $1,551,142.30 being distributed at this time is down more than $45,000 (3 percent) from the same six-month period in 1996. A total of $1,551,142.30 in grants were awarded to:
Springfield Park District $43,425.26
Rockford Park District $72,156.33
Village of Richmond $26,754.84
Waukegan Park District $112,204.86
Fox Valley Park District $72,808.87
Bloomington Park & Recreation Dept. $31,586.67
Carbondale Park District $21,812.01
Champaign Park District $24,031.87
Village of Crestwood $189,919.16
Vermilion Co. Cons. District $23,199.64
Effingham Park District $11,700.22
Joliet Park District $75,579.62
Oakbrook Terrace $192,142.38
City of Peru $17,084.75
Grayville Park District $18,257.30
Art Institute of Chicago $132,327.21
Field Museum of Natural History $132,327.21
Museum of Science & Industry $132,327.21
John G. Shedd Aquarium $94,858.44
Adler Planetarium $40,965.86
Chicago Historical Society $41,028.30
Academy of Science $22,231.47
DuSable Museum of African American History $14,550.37
Mexican Fine Arts Center Museum $13,863.45
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OUR NATURAL RESOURCES NEWS BRIEFS
State Museum Receives Technology Grant Links Schools to Nature
Gov. Jim Edgar announced that the Illinois State Museum will receive a $650,800 federal grant to build "MuseumLink," a model computer network to provide state-specific information on art, culture and nature to schools in underserved rural and urban areas.
"This grant further advances our effort to use technology to improve student learning," the Governor said. "The state's cultural and natural heritage will come alive for students who will be able to use a computer in their classrooms to link up to the rich resources of the Illinois State Museum."
Illinois' grant application is one of 55 approved by the U.S. Department of Commerce as part of the elecommunications and Information Infrastructure Assistance Program. Among other things, grant funds will provide 12 underserved schools with computers, digital cameras, software and support for Internet access charges for electronically communicating with museum experts, collections data bases and experts. Funding is also provided for training of teachers through the Illinois State Board of Education's "Museums in the Classroom" initiative.
In addition to the 12 project schools, access to "MuseumLink" will also be available to the public at the Illinois State Museum in Springfield, Dickson Mounds Museum in Lewiston and the Southern Illinois Artisans Shop and Visitors Center in Whittington.
The schools include:
Gavin Central School, Ingleside (Lake County), grades 2-5; Lena Elementary School, Lena (Stephenson/Jo Daviess counties), grades 2-5; Cuba Middle/Senior High School, Cuba (Fulton County), grades 5-12; Rushville High School, Rushville (Schuyler County), grades 7- 12; Cowden-Herrick High School, Cowden (Shelby County), grades 9-12; Marshall North Elementary School, Marshall (dark County), grades 3-6; Hughes-Quinn/Rock Junior High School, East St. Louis (St. Clair County), grades 6-9; Brownstown Elementary School, Brownstown (Fayette County), grades K-6; Center Street School, Fairfield (Wayne County), grades 4-8; Egyptian Middle School, Tamms (Alexander County), grades 6-8; Ward Middle School, DuQuoin (Perry County), grades 4-8; May Community Academy, Chicago (Cook County), grades pre-K-8.
Snowmobile Trail Grants Awarded
Snowmobile trail grants totaling more than $137,000 are being awarded to two local governments and four private snowmobile clubs to acquire and develop snowmobile trails in Illinois and to renovate trail grooming equipment, Natural Resources Director Brent Manning announced.
"The grants will be used to purchase a 9-mile trail in Ogle and Lee counties, provide a floating bridge across the Des Plaines River in Lake County, and enhance and maintain trails operated by snowmobile clubs in northern Illinois," Manning said.
The Local Government Snowmobile Grant program is providing $78,500 to the Dixon Park District for the acquisition of a 9-mile trail corridor from the Village of Polo to Lowell Park in Dixon. The corridor that is currently owned by a private, nonprofit organization which is disbanding. The trail provides snowmobilers a route of travel from the community of Polo to Lowell Park and the adjacent Meadows Park, both managed by the Dixon Park District.
The Lake County Forest Preserve District was awarded $30,700 to construct a floating snowmobile bridge across the Des Plaines River that will be installed each fall and removed each spring. This new river crossing will help alleviate a dangerous highway crossing in northern Lake County.
More than $28,400 from the Snowmobile Tail Establishment Fund is earmarked for he renovation of trail grooming equipment, trail maintenance and signage in McHenry, Lake, Kane, DeKalb, Boone, Winnebago, Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll and Whiteside counties.
FY 1998 grant recipients include the following clubs: Durand Ditch Riders, (Winnebago County), $5,255; Northeastern Illinois Association of Snowmobile Clubs, (Lake County), $5,200; Northwestern Illinois Association of Snowmobile Clubs, (Stephenson, Jo Daviess, Carroll and Whiteside counties), $13,000; Region 5 Association of Snowmobile Clubs, (Kane, DeKalb, Boone and McHenry counties), $5,000.
Funding requests were reviewed and evaluated by the Illinois Association of Snowmobile Clubs along with grant administration staff of the Department of Natural Resources.
Application forms for the next round of grants are available by contacting the Department of Natural Resources, Division of Grant Administration, Room 320, 524 South Second Street, Springfield, IL, 62701-1787 or by calling 217.782.7481. The Department's TDD number is 217.782.9175.
Applications are accepted March 1 through May 1, with grant recipients usually announced in the fall.
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OUR NATURAL RESOURCES NEWS BRIEFS
Goose Hunting Pit Now Open for Hunters with Disabilities
The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers at Rend Lake, in a cooperative effort with the Big Muddy Chapter of Waterfowl USA, has a new goose hunting pit that will allow persons confined to a wheelchair the opportunity to return to the field to hunt geese.
The newly developed in-ground goose pit is designed especially for hunters with disabilities and features a gradually sloping sidewalk for easy access into the concrete pit and a "roll top" for maximum camouflage while in the pit. The new pit replaces the above ground goose hunting blind which has been available to hunters with disabilities for the past six years.
Hunters wishing to apply to hunt geese from the special goose pit must be classified as a P2 or P2A by the Secretary of State. Goose pit applications are now being accepted in the Rend Lake Project Office. Only one permit will be issued per request and no more than three requests per month, per applicant will be considered.
When applying, the applicant must specify a hunt date and alternate hunt date. Repeat applicants may be denied a specific date in favor of a first-time applicant. In the event multiple requests are received from first time applicants, the Rend Lake Project Office will hold a lottery-type drawing to determine who will hunt that particular day.
The season for hunting geese from the accessible goose pit at Rend Lake runs Dec. 1 through Jan. 31, or until a quota of 5,700 geese are harvested in the Rend Lake Quota Zone.
All permit holders must provide at least one assistant to aid them while hunting. No more than five persons can occupy the pit or hunting area.
To apply, prospective hunters must fill out a "Goose Hunting for Persons with Disabilities" application. Those applications are available from the Rend lake Project Office in person or by calling 618. 724.2493. Applicants must secure their permit at least two days prior to their chosen hunt date.
More information is available by contacting park rangers Kevin Curran or Lowell Summers at 618.724.2493.
54 / Illinois Parks and Recreation