Deer are captured throughout each study area from December to April using Clover traps, Stephenson box traps, rocket nets, drop nets and darting.
Clover traps consist of a metal frame with mesh netting attached on all sides and a door at one end. Shelled corn is placed behind the trip line to lure deer in. When the deer trips the line, the door closes behind them. These traps are set in the evening and checked early in the morning. All traps remain open and inoperable during the day. This form of trapping captures only one deer at a time.
 Volunteers help prepare clover traps |
 Dan Jones and Lesa Skuldt put netting on a clover trap |
Stephenson box traps are made of wood. While ours have a door at each end, they have been modified so that deer may only enter from one end. They are baited with shelled corn at the back of the trap behind the trip line. When the trap is tripped, the doors close and the trap is dark inside which reduces stress for the animal. Stephenson box traps are set in the evening and checked early in the morning. This form of trapping captures only one deer at a time.
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Rocket netting provides an advantage of catching up to four deer from the same social group at the same time. For this capture method, a 30' x 50' net is either packed in a wooden box or laid out in front of four posts. Four rockets are attached to the net and either mounted on the posts or the box. Researchers wait nearby in a blind and when deer are eating the bait in a safe position in front of the net, charges are fired and the net is launched over the deer. Rocket netting is done in the late afternoon to early evening.
 Traditional rocket netting with posts (side view) |
 Traditional rocket netting with posts (Front view) |
 Using a rocket box; net is packed inside a box rather than on posts |
 Blinds are close to rocket nets; two people wait in the blind for deer to be on the bait pile before launch the net |
Drop netting provides the advantage of catching 2-3 deer at a time. The net is hung over a bait pile and the net is launched by nearby researchers. Drop netting is done in the late afternoon to early evening. Net size: 20 x 20 or 30 x 30. The drop net equipment was loaned by Harry Mattox.
 Dan Jones and Tessa Smith look on as Harry Mattox prepares the drop net |
 Jason Isabelle, Dan Jones, and Jean Fantle- Lepczyk (technicians) set up the drop net |
 Drop net set for capture |
 Drop nets provide the advantage of capturing in narrower areas |