The management of deer populations

Introduction

The economics of white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus, management is comprised of multiple facets. Deer herd health and population regulation are central to the economics of most deer management plans. The local white-tailed deer populations directly impact human welfare economics. The management of deer populations heavily affects agriculture, forestry, landscaping, and natural vegetation. Recreational services are another economic source realized from the management of white-tailed deer. Much of the economics of white-tailed deer management can also be applied to other game species.

Herd Health and Regulation

White-tailed deer population size will affect the herd’s health. Disease in a herd spreads readily when the population size is large; this is known as density-dependent spread of infection (Habib, Merrill, Pybus, & Coltman, 2011). Frequency-dependency is the spread of infection controlled by the number of individuals infected. Foot and Mouth Disease is spread through a large population of white tailed deer and can be transmitted from white-tailed deer to other hosts that come in contact with the infected population (Highfield, Ward, Laffan, Norby, & Wagner, 2010). A deer population of more than thirty individuals per square kilometer is considered to have a 100% transmission rate of Foot and Mouth Disease.

Chronic Wasting Disease is a fatal infectious prion disease that afflicts cervid, hoofed and antlered mammal, populations in North America (Habib, Merrill, Pybus, & Coltman, 2011). Chronic Wasting Disease is transmitted through contact with infected animals; however, it is believed that carcasses from infected individuals, along with saliva, blood, feces, and urine left in the environment, ...

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...ricultural and forestry production can be protected from destruction by overbrowsing by white-tailed deer. Landowners can also benefit from leasing land to hunters, thus receiving funds for use and overbrowsing protection. Areas where populations are under control deer-vehicle collisions would be less likely than in the areas of overpopulation.

The costs for population control include sporting licensure fees, population monitoring, and other studies. With the willingness to pay from hunters, the licensure fees should cover a significant portion of the monetary budget needed to support wildlife management. Lastly the willingness to pay by visitors to the state and national parks for entry to observe the natural beauty and wildlife should help fund the management of the white-tailed deer herds where hunting for population control is not permitted by law.