| With the deer population in the United States now | | | | state. The quantity of permits issued is calculated |
| pushing thirty million, wildlife control has become a | | | | based on a number of factors such as persistent and |
| necessary management practice in most areas of the | | | | severe crop damage, animal popularity to discourage |
| country. Although deer are an enjoyable and valuable | | | | poaching and disposal issues. In some cases, farmers |
| part of our country, the potential for unlimited damage | | | | are allowed to obtain additional permits to hunt on their |
| could far outweigh the benefits. | | | | own land during off season. Some of these agencies |
| There is no doubt that deer have a positive effect on | | | | also offer compensation payments to offset the cost |
| the economy when you examine the millions of dollars | | | | of crop damage. |
| that are spent each year during deer hunting season. | | | | Using hunting programs to control wildlife deer |
| The money paid out by hunters on traveling, lodging | | | | populations is an effective method but actually keeping |
| and their hunting equipment provides an economic | | | | them out of crops and other large areas generally |
| boost for many rural and wooded areas and that | | | | requires some type of fencing. There are many |
| doesn't include the cost of licenses, fuel, lodging and | | | | fences available for protection that includes both |
| processing the meat. | | | | permanent and temporary designs. An electric fence is |
| However, deer bring plenty of destruction with them | | | | often used as a temporary and inexpensive barrier to |
| too. The damage done by deer to crops, gardens and | | | | protect crops. The shock that this fence emits will give |
| personal property can be severe and cost a producer | | | | the deer a powerful reason to avoid returning to the |
| thousands of dollars. Deer can also carry diseases | | | | area. |
| that are harmful to both humans and livestock. The | | | | There are also high tensile or woven wire electric |
| USDA estimates the damage between crops, vehicle | | | | fences that are a permanent fence structure. Although |
| collisions and timber losses at over one billion dollars | | | | these fences are very effective, they are also very |
| every year. | | | | expensive. It would be advantageous to consider other |
| With so much emphasis put on the loss of crop | | | | methods of wildlife control before making that type of |
| damage, the landowners, farmers and ranchers are | | | | financial commitment. |
| often the people who are expected to support any | | | | Consider wildlife control methods such as picking or |
| wildlife control initiatives. However, because deer | | | | cutting all crops in a timely manner to minimize their |
| cannot simply be exterminated like a rat infestation and | | | | vulnerability. Try planting crops that are more palatable |
| because deer are now clearly living in many of the | | | | to deer away from wooded areas. Deer do not like to |
| same spaces as humans due to development, it is | | | | wander far from cover and this may serve to deter |
| clearly a problem of our entire society. | | | | them from venturing out to into valuable crops. |
| Finding wildlife control methods that are both effective | | | | There are multiple other methods of controlling wildlife |
| and positively perceived by the public can be a | | | | available including everything from noise makers to |
| challenge. Most states have a special department that | | | | repellents all the way up to some promising new |
| defines the rules and regulation regarding deer | | | | contraception agents. However, the first two lack long |
| harvesting but the landowner still holds a vital role | | | | term effectiveness and the contraceptives have |
| because they control access to the land people hunt | | | | delivery problems. That's why it's so important to |
| on. The last important factor in making wildlife control | | | | continue to work towards new solutions. |
| method decisions is the public perception and opinion of | | | | The programs aimed at wildlife control are intended to |
| these methods. It is vital that the public support these | | | | both control the population of a particular species such |
| programs for them to run smoothly and successfully. | | | | as deer and give farmers and residents management |
| The most effective deer damage control methods are | | | | options that are both effective and socially acceptable |
| hunting programs which are generally managed by the | | | | methods of wildlife control. |
| Department of Wildlife and Parks in each individual | | | | |