Progress of the KQDC program towards reaching its goals for Quality Deer, Quality Habitat, and Hunter Success is assessed by the  monitoring program.  Monitoring protocols have been established for collecting, analyzing and interpreting information used to evaluate success. 

    Measurements for Quality Deer include deer density, sex and age ratios, and harvest characteristics (weights, antler characteristics, sex and age distribution of deer harvest).  To learn about monitoring protocols for deer density, click on Deer Density.  For monitoring protocols on deer sex and age ratios, click on Sex and Age Ratios.  For monitoring protocols on harvest characteristics, click on Harvest Characteristics.

    Additional information is collected on other wildlife (bears, coyotes, bobcats, turkeys, grouse) observed during data collection for deer sex and age ratios.  Protocols for this information may be obtained by clicking on Other Wildlife.

    Measurements for Quality Habitat include deer impact and herbaceous vegetation.  To learn about monitoring protocols on deer impact, click on Deer Impact.  For monitoring protocols on herbaceous vegetation, click on Herbaceous Vegetation.

    Measurements of Hunter Satisfaction were obtained from surveys.  Informal surveys have been conducted at the annual banquet for several years, to learn about these surveys, click on Informal Surveys.  An independent study of Hunter Attitudes and Satisfaction on the KQDC was conducted by scientists at Pennsylvania State University; to learn about this study, click on PennState Study.

    Results of the monitoring program are reported annually.  For the full-blown monitoring report (~70 pages) click on Annual Report.  For a one-page annual update on monitoring results, click on One-page Report.  

    Results of each of the 4 chunks of monitoring data (spring density and impact, herbaceous impact, summer sex and age ratios, and fall check station) are written up separately: each separate report may be obtained by clicking on density and impact, or herbaceous impact, or sex and age ratios, or check station.  The density and impact report generally is available by July 1st, the sex and age ratio report by October 1st, and the check station report by February 1st of the following year. The herbaceous impact report is reported at irregular intervals as this work is not conducted every year.