The following schedule is from the 72nd Annual Conference of the Southeastern Association of Fish & Wildlife Agencies which was held October 21-24, 2018 in Mobile, Alabama.
AUTHORS: Cody M. Rhoden, Gary Sprandel, John Morgan, Keith Wethington – Kentucky Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources
ABSTRACT: Many state wildlife agencies collect population trend data for game species. These data are often used to capture annual population trends across time. In Kentucky, the Department of Fish and Wildlife Resources collects hunter cooperator data on small game species. Reported historically as animals encountered over time, the current study sought to analyze these data in novel ways to determine the power and suitability of observed trends over time. Power analyses for varying levels of statistical significance was followed by linear regression to determine the ability to detect changes with varying degrees of survey information. Results of these analyses validate long-term hunter cooperator data and the ability to confidently detect trends given a certain sample size and key hunting information. This analysis is encouraged for other state population indices. Results will inform the level of data collection and conclusions drawn from current and new state surveys of small game populations.
