Kentucky Rabbit Population Report 2019: Trends and Hunting Statistics, Exams of Statistics

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2019 - 2020 Rabbit Report

Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources

Contents

Introduction ............................................................................................................................................................ 2 Population Status ................................................................................................................................................ 3 Rural Mail Carrier Survey ................................................................................................................................. 3 Hunter Log Survey ........................................................................................................................................... 4 2019 - 2020 Rabbit Hunter Cooperator Survey ........................................................................................................ 5 Past Rabbit Hunter Cooperator Surveys ............................................................................................................. 5 2019 - 20 Hunter Cooperator Results ....................................................................................................................... 7 Harvest Statistics 2019- 20 ................................................................................................................................... 7 Hunter Effort ....................................................................................................................................................... 8 Disease Surveillance................................................................................................................................................ 9 General Information about the 2020-21 Season .................................................................................................. 10 License and Permit Fees .................................................................................................................................... 10 Season Dates and Bag Limits ............................................................................................................................. 10 Continuing this year .......................................................................................................................................... 10 Outlook for the 2020-2021 Rabbit Season ........................................................................................................... 11 Appendix 1 Region Breakdown ............................................................................................................................. 11 Contacts ................................................................................................................................................................ 12

Introduction

The Small Game Program is administered under the Wildlife Division of Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources (KDFWR). The KDFWR is an agency of the Kentucky Tourism, Arts & Heritage Cabinet. It is overseen by a nine-member commission who are nominated by Kentucky’s sportsmen and sportswomen. Commission members are appointed by the Governor. The department employs about 400 full-time staff, which includes conservation officers, wildlife and fisheries biologists, conservation educators, and information and technology, public relations, customer service and administrative professionals. KDFWR receives no money from the state’s General Fund. Funding is provided by the sale of hunting and fishing licenses, boating registration fees and federal funds, including grants based on the number of hunting and fishing licenses sold in the state. The Small Game Program is tasked with managing squirrels (fox and gray), rabbits (swamp, eastern cottontail, and Appalachian cottontail), and northern bobwhite in the state to provide ample hunting opportunity while balancing the needs of consumptive and non-consumptive user groups. The Small Game

(-) = data was not analyzed by west, central, bluegrass, east until 2011 (^1) See Appendix 1 on page 11 for Region breakdown Over the last 60 years of this survey, the decline in the rabbit population is evident (Figure 1). The severe drop in population levels following the winters of 1977 and 1978 was dramatic and populations have been slow to recover. The overall drop in rabbit numbers since the late 1960’s can be generally attributed to habitat loss because of land use changes and cleaner agricultural practices. However, recent years have seen a nice increase in the number of rabbits observed. This year (2020) we observe an increase from 2019 (Table 1). The increase observed in the West weather region is a welcome sight at 40%. The winter was mild which potentially favored high overwinter survivorship and excellent breeding condition for does. This coupled with the fact that we are in an upswing of the roughly 7-year cycle (Figure 1) resulted in a great number of rabbits observed per 100 miles this year compared to last.

Hunter Log Survey

The rabbit population in Kentucky appears to ebb and flow in roughly 7-year cycles. Last hunting season (2019) was still near the bottom of the trend (Figure 2). We would expect the trend to begin increasing over the next few years out of this slump in the cycle.

196119631965196819701972197419761978198019821984198619881990199219941996199820002002200420062008201020122014201620182020 Rabbits per 100mi

Figure 1: Rabbits Observed per 100 miles: Rural Mail Carrier Survey 1961-

2019 - 2020 Rabbit Hunter Cooperator Survey

The rabbit survey was developed in 1995 as a voluntary initiative. Hunters are asked to record data including date of hunt, county hunted, hours hunted, number of hunters, number of dogs, and number of eastern cottontail, swamp, and Appalachian cottontail (seen, killed, and wounded), on a diary-type hunting log. Logs are available on the internet: http://fw.ky.gov/Hunt/Pages/Game-Species.aspx or by calling 1- 800 - 858 - 1549. Hunters simply keep the log up-to-date as the hunting season progresses, and mail it to the KDFWR Headquarters when they are finished hunting for the season. Data collected from the survey give the KDFWR information that can be used to monitor rabbit population trends in Kentucky and better serve the hunters of the state. Each year participating hunter cooperators are mailed a new hunting log, the results of the survey, and a small gift. Hunters who wish to receive a copy of their log from the previous year may call 502 - 892 - 4521 or e-mail [email protected].

Past Rabbit Hunter Cooperator Surveys

Participation has been decreasing over the last several years, with a 2% increase in the 2019 hunting season (Thank you! Table 2). Please take a look at the below map (Figure 3), if you hunt in any of the red counties please consider filling out a hunting log this year (even if you do not harvest any game). Once again, do not forget to mail in your log and encourage other rabbit hunters to do the same. Why not take someone new hunting this year? The future of hunting depends on it! 0

1

2 Rabbits Jumped per Hour

Figure 2: Rabbits Jumped per Hour; Hunting Season 1995- 2019

Table 2.1. Breakdown of species harvested in recent hunting seasons. *Note: One

Appalachian reported jumped in 2017-18 with one killed. Three Appalachian reported killed in

2018 - 19. One Appalachian cottontail jumped and one killed in 2019-20.

Statistics E. Cottontail^ Swamp

Jumped Killed Wounded Jumped Killed Wounded 2015 - 16 7545 3183 236 34 10 0 2016 - 17 5806 2299 90 45 18 1 2017 - 18 *** 4765 1870 71 112 31 3 2018 - 19 4201 1754 74 196 83 0 2019 - 20 4488 1855 50 29 12 2

2019 - 20 Hunter Cooperator Results

Logs were received from 54 rabbit hunters this last hunting season (an 8% increase from last year; Thank you!). Hunters averaged 15 hunting trips throughout the season. Ninety-eight percent of rabbit hunters used dogs in their pursuit. Data were provided from 793 hunts, from 57 counties, with good distribution across the Commonwealth (Figure 1). Hunters jumped an average of 6 rabbits per hunt and an average of 2 rabbits per hour.

Harvest Statistics 2019 - 20

Hunters jumped an average of 5.70 rabbits per hunt and harvested 2.36 rabbits per hunt. Hunters jumped an average of 1.64 rabbits per hour hunted and harvested 0.68 rabbits per hour hunted. The number of rabbits jumped per hour stayed consistent all season with a slight downward trend as the season progressed (Figure 3). The number of rabbits harvested per hour was also consistent throughout the hunting season, with a slight upturn later in the season (Figure 3). Hunters harvested 42% of rabbits jumped and wounded 1% (Table 2). Assuming wounded rabbits did not survive, the hunting mortality rate was 43% of rabbits jumped in 2019- 20.

Hunter Effort

Hunting effort peaked in late December (Figure 4 ). The majority (37%) of all hunts took place in the month of January. February saw very few hunts relative to the earlier months of the season. The hunter effort index reveals two peaks, one in late December and one in late January. The hunting effort (green trend line; Figure 4) decreases as the season progresses. This is interesting, as in past hunting season the effort and harvest shows an increasing trend as the season progresses. 0

1

2 November December January February Rate per Hour

Figure 3: Rabbits Jumped & Harvested per Hour by Month; 2019 Hunting

Season

Jumped per hour Harvested per hour 0% 5% 10% 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 November December January February Week of Season

Figure 4 : Percentage of Hunts & Harvest by Week of Season:

Fall 2019- 20

% of Total Hunts % of Total Harvest Linear (% of Total Hunts)

General Information about the 2020- 21 Season

License and Permit Fees

License Resident Nonresident Annual Hunting License $27 $ Senior/Disabled License $12 N/A Sportsman’s License $95 N/A Youth Sportsman’s License $30 N/A Annual Trapping License $20 $ Annual Youth Trapping $5 N/A

Season Dates and Bag Limits

Season Statewide Season Dates 2019- 2020 Statewide Bag Limit Fall Season Eastern Zone November 1-13 and November 16 – January 31 4 Western Zone (^) November 1 6 – February 10 Trapping Season Eastern Zone November 1 6 – January 31 4 Western Zone November 1 6 – February 10

Continuing this year : Three WMAs will require rabbit hunters to check in/out using a Kiosk and vehicle

HangTag system. Please see below or check the Hunting Guide for more information. WMA Tract Season Dates Required Check In/Out Peabody Sinclair November 1 6 – February 10 Yes Ken November 1 6 – February 10 Clay All Tracts November 1 – December 31 (Closed Nov. 7 & 8) Yes Rockcastle River All Tracts November 1 – December 31 Yes

Outlook for the 2020- 2021 Rabbit Season

The Mail Carrier Survey and the Rabbit Hunter Log Survey appear to be tracking each other well. Therefore, we can make predictions based on the Mail Carrier Survey results. This year, the East Region of the state once again led all regions in the number of rabbits observed, followed by the Bluegrass Region. Overall, the 2018- 19 rabbit season was good. Over the last 20 years, the population has remained fairly stable with bumps up and down. Last year, harvest rates and jump rates are even when compared to the previous season. The Mail Carrier Survey shows an uptick in the number of observed rabbits statewide between 2019 and 2020. This result should lead to better jump and harvest rates for rabbits in Kentucky for the 2020- 2021 season. Hunters in the Commonwealth should expect a great year for rabbit hunting in the upcoming season and potentially the next few seasons as our population cycle continues its uptick. Don't forget to turn in your Hunter Cooperator log at the completion of this year’s hunt. Logs should be returned no later than March 31, 2021. In return, we will send you a report and a small gift as a token of our appreciation. Encourage all of your friends to log their hunts as well. Have a safe and enjoyable rabbit season and thanks again for your support! And don’t forget to take someone new to hunting out with you this year.

Appendix 1 Region Breakdown