The most wide-scale deer management problem facing whitetail herds in the many parts of the country is competition for available forage by white-tailed deer, other wildlife species, and livestock. Excessive numbers of any of these animals will have detrimental effects upon the others, and the resulting deer habitat. The first step in developing a deer management plan is to identify the “right” number of deer for the habitat found on your property.
The importance of maintaining deer at carrying capacity — the population level that prevents damage to the habitat — by the direct harvest of surplus deer can not be stressed enough. However, livestock and competing wildlife, such as exotic ungulates, also must be maintained within the bounds of the carrying capacity of the habitat. The key to good whitetail deer management is allowing deer to be as healthy as possible, which means that deer on your property are getting all the food they need. You can increase the amount of food per animal by either decreasing the deer herd or improving and enhancing the food supply through habitat management. Continue reading Developing a Deer Management Plan