Title: Technology Benefits Hunters and Biologists: A Smartphone App for Observation and Harvest Data Collection
Year: 2016
Abstract: Harvest and observation data are critical for making decisions regarding trends in game populations. Historical methods using post-season hunter-submitted paper reports can be replaced by smartphone and tablet technology that allow real time data entry by hunters and negates the need for state wildlife agency personnel to enter data post-season. Our smartphone and tablet application allows individuals or groups to identify hunting properties and stands on aerial photos. Hunter selection of stands is aided by inclusion of current wind and scent dispersion. Group stand list identifies occupied stands for convenience and safety. Stand and time-of-day reports inform individuals and groups of stand use and deer observation patterns. Hunters enter DMAP data and receive estimated pounds of boned-out venison and Boone and Crockett Score. Individual and group data are password protected. Biologists access reports online that summarize data at county, region, and state levels. Examples of reports from the 2015-16 hunting season are provided for selected states.
