01/02/2026
# Predator Impacts on Fawn Recruitment: Initial Trail Camera Surveys Reveal Alarming Trends
**Longspur Tracking and Outfitting launches comprehensive five-year study on fawn survival in high-predator environments**
Longspur Tracking and Outfitting has initiated an ambitious three-year baseline study—with potential extension to five years—examining two critical challenges facing deer managers today: building resilient herds capable of withstanding devastating EHD outbreaks and improving fawn recruitment in areas with significant predator populations.
# # Methodology: Advanced AI Analysis Delivers Unprecedented Accuracy
Our initial population assessment utilizes cutting-edge trail camera technology combined with artificial intelligence programs that analyze body conformation, antler configuration, and s*x characteristics to identify individual deer. This sophisticated approach allows us to track specific does with their fawns at a 95% confidence level, providing data accuracy previously unattainable in wildlife management.
# # Shocking Initial Findings
The 600-acre study property presents ideal habitat with theoretical capacity for 85 fawns under optimal recruitment conditions. However, our preliminary trail camera surveys have identified only four fawns—a staggering 95% loss rate.
Predator surveys on the same property revealed:
- One alpha coyote pair with four pups
- Four mature bobcats
- Five adult bears
While we suspect actual fawn mortality sits somewhat below the initial 95% figure, these numbers demand immediate attention and further investigation.
# # Verification Through Aerial Assessment
To confirm our trail camera findings, Longspur will conduct a comprehensive gender reveal and herd health analysis flight within the next two weeks. This aerial survey will provide definitive population counts, accurate recruitment figures, and precise s*x ratios—critical data for developing effective management strategies.
Viewers can follow this flight operation on Longspur’s YouTube channel and page, witnessing firsthand how modern wildlife management combines traditional fieldcraft with advanced technology.
# # Predator Removal Efforts Underway
Active predator management has already begun on the study property. To date, the team has removed one juvenile female coyote, and one gut-shot black bear was found dead on the property. These removals will be factored into post-flight analysis as we continue systematic coyote and bobcat reduction throughout the winter months.
# # The EHD Connection: Why Recruitment Matters Now More Than Ever
The relationship between fawn recruitment and EHD (Epizootic Hemorrhagic Disease) survival cannot be overstated. Young deer demonstrate significantly greater resistance to EHD infection compared to mature animals. In herds where adult deer populations are decimated by disease, poor fawn recruitment can result in complete population collapse—with mortality rates reaching 90% or higher.
This devastating scenario played out across western West Virginia and eastern Ohio during summer 2025. In the hardest-hit drainage systems, fawns now represent the only remaining deer population. These vulnerable animals face intense predation pressure from established predator populations, compounding the crisis. Without immediate intervention, these areas face years of continued decline as predators systematically harvest the remaining survivors.
# # Critical Action Steps for Deer Managers
If your property lies within affected regions, immediate action is essential:
**1. Implement Aggressive Predator Control Now**
Winter represents your most effective window for predator removal. Coyotes, bobcats, and bears are most vulnerable during this period, and reducing predator numbers before spring fawning season can dramatically improve recruitment rates.
**2. Provide High-Protein Supplementation and Minerals**
Surviving deer—especially fawns—require nutritional support to recover from disease stress and prepare for breeding season. Longspur recommends P & R Whitetail Supreme as a proven supplement for maintaining herd health during critical recovery periods. Waiting until spring will set your management goals back years.
# # Professional Management Services Available
Longspur Tracking and Outfitting offers comprehensive property management programs tailored to your specific challenges. Our services include:
- Advanced trail camera analysis using AI identification technology
- Herd health and gender reveal flights
- Customized management plans based on your property’s unique conditions
Don’t wait until spring to address these critical issues. Contact Longspur today at 304-439-1659 to schedule your property assessment and develop a science-based recovery plan.
# # Looking Ahead
As this groundbreaking study progresses, Longspur will continue sharing findings with West Virginia’s deer management community. Our goal extends beyond academic research—we’re committed to providing practical, actionable strategies that help hunters and land managers restore and maintain healthy whitetail populations despite the compounding challenges of disease and predation.
Stay tuned for updates as we conduct our verification flight and continue data collection throughout the winter season. Together, we can better understand these complex ecological relationships and implement effective solutions for West Virginia’s whitetail herds.
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*For more information about Longspur’s management services or to schedule a property assessment, call 304-439-1659 or visit our website. Follow our ongoing research updates on YouTube and Facebook.*
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