Efficacy of Predator Management

[ThunderJack49]

Who all has seen a positive impact from predator hunting on any game animals in there area? Deer, Elk, Turkeys, Rabbits etc.
Has anyone made a concentrated effort to do this with a positive and tangible outcome?
I've read research papers and I am a strong believer in predator management but you rarely hear hunters talking about taking such efforts in a concentrated way and any effects they have.

 

[JeffP_Or]

This won't answer your question but a couple of comments should be included/added:

• Predators are compensatory; one hunter on a property will not be able to deliver results in most situations. Predators simply backfill losses [and do that efficiently - i.e. renewable resource].
• Predator management is a full time effort and one that most hunters cannot sustain. It is a long and constant game to make any recognizable gains [think back to the days of money trapping for valuable furs, poisoning, and bounties - none exist due to devaluation, unpopularity or politics].
• Our state has documented beneficial herd improvement - but it took a sustained government effort over a few years and during calving/fawning to do it and document it [cougars in this instance]. Problem is, it needed funding and support. Funding runs out and support was limited to special interest cattlemen/ranchers/hunters which are all unpopular in today's society; the general public needs to support it and that doesn't happen in the west any longer.

I suspect as a hunter - or even hunters - the best we can do is hunt during the fawning/calving/nesting periods to impact survival of newborn.