File: Census 
Sex, ratio 
 
Whitetail 
Weights 
Extracts from 1935 Wildlife Report, PAlegheny National Forest (L. S. Gross
Supervisor). 
(Filed folder on Forest Service Reports of Game Xilled.) 
 
p. 6. The Deer Herd 
.7 
Census figures indicate that there are approximately 31 deer per 
1,000 acres or nearly the same as was reported last year.... The best 
available information indicates that proper stocking should be 20 deer 
per 1,000 acres. The actual figures on the drive areas show the number 
of deer per 1,000 acres to vary from zero to one hundred and forty-two, 
which indicates that there is a sizeable problem in bringing about proper

distribution of deer on the Forest. Ohecks show that the overbrowsed 
condition of certain areas on the Forest varies directly with the number

of deer per 1,000 acres. The weighing of 439 deer during the 1935 hunting

season showed a direct correlation between the weights of deer and the 
number of deer per 1,000 acres. For example, on the Sugar Ran area, where

there is an average of 16 deer per 1,000 acres, the average dressed weight

of buck deer was 126 pounds, and over 33% weighed 140 pounds (dressed 
weight) or over; on the Salmon Creek area, where there is an average of 
76 deer per 1,000 acres, the average dressed weight of buck deer was ill

pounds and only 7% weighed 140 pounds (dressed weight) or over. 
The figure of 16,937 deer killed includes the following: 
900 - illegal 
00 - on the highways by motorists 
- by farmers (property damage) 
350 - natural causes 
14,SS7 - by hunters during the open deer season 
(antlered 4,211, antlerless 10,666) 
These figures, other than the hunter kill, are estimates..... 
There were two antlerless deer killed to every antlered (buck) deer. 
The season on antlered deer was open for eight days and for antlerless 
deer, three days. Census figures after the hunting season gave a sex ratio

for the Forest of one buck to five does. The season on antlerless deer 
was badly needed; it not only reduced the size of the herd, but improved

the sex ratio. 
Correlations based upon the 1934 deer population figures corroborate 
the census and kill figures for 1935. With a sex ratio of one to five 
last year, there would have been some 22,000 doe deer. If      of these 
deer fawned on the accepted ratio of one and one-half, the total increase

would be some 16,500 or about equal to the total estimated loss from all

causes during 1935. 
p. 15. Deer Weihin and MearinM 
During the big game season (December 2-14), *439 deer and 7 bear 
were weighed and measured. Of this number, 240 were legal male deer, 
120 mature female deer, and 79 immature male and female deer. Antler 
measurements taken were in accordance with the standard set up by the 
New York Zoological Society. The weights were of dressed deer (viscera 
removed), the total live weights being computed by using Dr. W. T. 
Hornaday's formula: 
 
File: Censs 
Sex ratio