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Abstract

Deer populations in Colorado are actively declining and do not show signs of leveling off or recovering in the near future. Many biologists and hunters consider this the new norm for deer populations, but the trend contrasts current literature on other states that are experience increases in deer influenced by changing climates, improved management understanding, and higher focus on habitat improvement. Little work exists, however, exploring how different hunting tag draw systems impact management success. This paper fills this gap and helps begin analyzing why Colorado, a mostly predator free state, is experiencing a deer population decline. The Colorado draw system, a preference point lottery, is expected to negatively influence management success. In order to provide a proper representation of the deer population dynamic landscape, this thesis includes data analysis unit (DAU) level data and estimates to account for deer populations, sex ratios, weather, management goals, draw success, preference points, hunter success, mortality, and growth. The model uses a binary dependent variable combining both population management success and sex ratio success. Using logistic regression, the variables are analyzed using the marginal effects on how they influence the probability of management success. The goal of this model is to inform the Colorado deer management community on how the draw system impacts management success and to provide an outline for other states to perform a similar evaluation.

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