MANAGING OVERABUNDANT WHITE-TAILED DEER: IS ITTIMETO CONSIDER REGULATED COMMERCIAL HARVEST?

摘要

Dramatic growth in the population of white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) in North America, coupled with declines in the number of deer hunters and limited hunter access have challenged our ability to manage deer populations through regulated recreational hunting. Efficacy of contemporary control methods, especially non-lethal methods, are limited and have been ineffective at reducing deer numbers and associated damage in many areas. Regulated commercial harvest would provide economic incentives to increase harvest of white-tailed deer where they are overabundant. We discuss regulated commercial deer harvest and explain how it is compatible with the North American Model of Wildlife Conservation. We identify several benefits, including reduced number of deer in overabundant populations and associated damage; a source of healthy, natural, green, locally produced protein; economic growth, entrepreneurship, and market expansion; and public engagement and appreciation. We address expected concerns associated with this concept, such as privatization of wildlife; overexploitation; food safety; law enforcement; and challenges with changing laws, regulations, and attitudes. We encourage consideration of regulated commercial harvest in an integrated management paradigm for white-tailed deer in North America.