REVIEW OF AVAILABLE TECHNIQUES

When regulated hunting is not an option, nontraditional methods, such as the ones identified below, can be implemented to address overabundant deer populations. Further review of these techniques can be found in Managing White Tailed Deer in Suburban Environments:A Technical Guide or purchased for $10.50 through Cornell Cooperative Extension.

Trap and Relocate
This approach requires trapping, netting and/or remote chemical immobilization by experienced personnel. Costs can range from $400 to $2,931. Suitable release sites are necessary, but can be difficult to find. Relocating deer can result in stress-related death, or disease transmission (i.e., Lyme Disease, tuberculosis). If selected, then personnel experienced in handling procedures should be used to minimize stress and post-release death.

Fertility Control
Perceived to be the ideal solution, fertility control agents are currently not available for managing overabundant deer populations. All field studies are strictly regulated by the Food and Drug Administration and further research is required to assess the feasibility and practicality of using contraceptives. Fertility control agents exist that can prevent reproduction in individual deer. However, the need for repeated administration and limited delivery technologies significantly restrict the population size that can be experimentally manipulated. Data collected to date (cost of manpower and materials (~$1,000/per doe treated), adequate number of does accessed) suggests that use of contraceptives will be limited to small insular herds.

Sharpshooting
Approved by the American Veterinary Medical Association (AVMA) as a humane form of euthansia, sharpshooting requires trained personnel to use a variety of techniques to maximize safety, discretion and efficiency. This method is often implemented in suburban and urban settings with access to both public and private lands. Costs range from $91 to $300 per deer. Typically all meat harvested is donated to area food shelters for distribution.

Controlled Hunting
An expansion of legal regulated hunting methods, controlled hunts can be successful. Using hunters to manage overabundant deer populations may require the need for state agency and law enforcement involvement as there is the potential for animal welfare groups intervention. Costs range from $162 to $622 per deer harvested depending on the manpower required. Archery is a discreet removal technique, however, lower success rates because of limited shooting ranges may require a longer time frame of operation. Firearms, when feasible, can be used to maximize the efficiency (number of deer harvested, length of program).

Trap and Euthanasia
This technique can be used in areas where there is a concern about or law prohibiting the discharge of firearms. Physical restraint, using box traps, clover traps, drop nets or rocket nets, is followed by euthanasia using a gun shot or captive bolt to the head. As mentioned above, deer are subjected to great amounts of stress during the restraint component. Minimum cost is $400 per deer.

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