Climatic factors influencing hunter sightings of deer on the broad run research area

Data collected on the Broad Run Area, 1964 through 1970, concerning the influence of weather variables on number of deer seen per day, number of deer seen per hunter per day, and number of hunters per day were analyzed. Linear correlation and multiple linear regression analysis were used to determine significant relationships.

In the multiple regression analysis of deer seen per hunter per day, two weather variables, average daily temperature, and total daily precipitation were found to be significant. The resulting R2 was only .2726.

A single variable, number of hunters per day, was found to account for 54.1 6 percent of the variation in number of deer seen per day. The addition of average daily temperature, the only significant weather variable, increased the amount of variations explained by 2.90 percent.

Number of hunters was found to be a function primarily of year and day of the season.

Except for extreme or severe conditions, it was felt that weather did not significantly influence number of deer or number of hunters per day.

In addition to statistical analysis, the influence of weather factors on the deer hunter was examined by mailed questionnaire. Most hunters felt their chances of seeing or killing a deer were affected by prevailing weather and that the season's total kill is definitely influenced. Fifty percent of the respondents indicated that deep snow or heavy rain would prevent them from going hunting on either a planned weekend hunt or the first or last day of the season.