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Increasing knowledge in managing wildlife
| Name | Howard Hiller | | Situation | Wildlife and forestry are big business in South Carolina.
A high percentage of forest landowners hunt or enjoy and appreciate seeing wildlife on their property. Most are willing to spend some effort and dollars to develop and maintain an environment conducive to wildlife. The Master Wildlifer and Master Tree Farmer programs are designed to develop landowner’s skills in forest and wildlife management. Each winter one of three courses is conducted by satellite and involves many states in the southeast United States. The program originates at Clemson. I serve as site coordinator there. As such, my job is to recruit students for the programs. | | Response | This past winter, Master Wildlifer was held. The Clemson site serves Anderson, Oconee and Pickens counties. A few people sometimes attend from other counties because this is the live audience and participants can see and talk to the speakers one on one. This winter I advertised the course through local newspapers, and had a full brochure in my winter Tri-County Forestry News letter. Additionally, I put large posters out in local feed and seed stores, hardware and sporting good stores. This year we had twenty five students enrolled in the >course. Additionally, some students sat in on parts of the program. Each of the seven classes covered a different aspect of wildlife management, including small game biology and >management, white tail deer biology and management,
eastern wild turkey biology and management, managing wetlands for water foul, pond management and others. Additionally, a field trip was held for participants. For a modest fee, participants were exposed to some of the best experts across the Southeast in their area of wildlife management. They also received the text book “managing wildlife”, a 585 page text developed for the South East United States. At the last meeting, students were encouraged to join their local forestry or forestry and wildlife associations. Their names will be added to the county forestry mailing lists. | | Impact | Impact: Participants were also asked to evaluate the course.
Some of the questions asked and responses included the following:
1. Over $35,000 expected to be saved as a direct result of
knowledge gained by participating in the program.
2. Over $42,000 expected to be earned on wildlife management
implementations as a direct result of this program—(hunt clubs,
leases, etc.).
3. Approximately 3800 acres of land are owned or managed by
students, thus affected by knowledge gained by them.
4. One hundred percent rated the program value as good or
excellent. |
Last update4/7/2008
This website is maintained by D Jason Caudill.
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