Kelly E. Douglass

Despite the research on lead (Pb) shot deposition and ingestion by mourning doves (Zenaida macroura), there has been no research to determine how management practices may be used to effectively reduce Pb shot concentrations in fields managed for dove hunting. For instance, no-till cropping systems could potentially lead to accumulation of lead shot in upper soil layers compared to conventional tillage practices. We measured shot concentrations in five publicly managed mourning dove fields in North Carolina to determine if concentration levels were significantly affected by tillage...

We attempted to quantify hunter use in five publicly managed mourning dove (Zenaida macroura) fields during the 2007 and 2008 dove hunting seasons on Conoho Farms (CF) in Martin County, North Carolina. Self-administered diary surveys (n=845) were mailed to every individual receiving a special hunt (SH) and point-of-sale (PS) permit during both dove hunting seasons on CF. We used the modified Tailored Design method to collect hunter effort and harvest data for each hunting season. Data were analyzed using the Kruskal-Wallis test to determine differences in hunter effort and harvest between...

Although chronic wasting disease (CWD) has not been documented in any samples (N = 2,447) collected in North Carolina, the potential biological, economical, and sociological implications associated with this disease are significant. Discovery of CWD in Wisconsin prompted the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission (NCWRC) to implement a preventative disease management strategy in May 2002. Revisions to administrative rules pertaining to captive cervids were implemented, including testing, tagging, and inspection requirements. A short-term buyout program was established to compensate...