Deer Contraceptives Debated

Deer Contraceptives; HB637 would have banned the use of deer contraceptives without obtaining a permit from the state or a change to the law. The bill passed the House and died in the Senate Agriculture & Natural Resources Committee.

White-Tailed Deer Managment

Over the past 30 years, especially the past decade, populations of white-tailed deer have increased dramatically. Although the recovery of deer populations from only about 500,000 nationwide in the early 1900s to more than 15 million today is considered a wildlife management success story, many people increasingly view the situation with mixed feelings.

Damages
In some areas, deer populations have exceeded population management goals which has also lead to increased deer-related damages. Reports estimate damage exceeds $2 billion nationwide including, $1 billion in car damages, more than $100 million in agricultural crop damage, $750 million in damage to the timber industry, and more than $250 million in damage to metropolitan households (e.g., landscape plantings). These estimates are conservative and it is often difficult to obtain reliable statistics for wildlife-related losses.

Deer Contraception as a Management Tool
The use of contraceptive agents to manage deer numbers are becoming increasingly popular as a possible management tool despite that fact that products currently being reviewed are experimental and difficult to apply across areas of several square miles.  

Hunting, The Most Effective Deer Management Method
Many state wildlife agencies continue to see hunting as the most effective deer population management tool.  Several reasons reinforce this position; state fish and wildlife agencies rely on the funds generated by hunting as a major source of revenue and expenditures from hunters provide a significant boost to local economies.  However, there are an increasing number of sites where regulated hunting is not seen as an acceptable management option. These include suburban communities, corporate and government properties.

The application of regulated hunting programs in suburban communities is affected by (1) real or perceived safety concerns, (2) conflicting social attitudes and perceptions about wildlife and, (3) firearm-discharge ordinances. In contrast, deer populations on corporate or government properties often become overabundant because of liability or public-relations issues. As a result of the management conflicts in these situations alternative methods for population control are being considered.

Points of Interest

• Hunting is still the most effective method to regulate deer populations.
• Hunting is cost effective; it generates revenue for the state and costs little to operate.
• Regulated hunting, even in suburban and urban areas is a safe practice.