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Location
State College, PA
Start Date
5-10-2000 12:00 AM
End Date
8-10-2000 12:00 AM
Description
In New Jersey, annual losses from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virgianianus) depredation to agricultural crops have been estimated as high as $10 million. Additional problems caused by the state's overabundance of deer include increasing vehicle/deer collisions, possible human health concerns regarding increasing incidences of Lyme disease, and a loss of flora and fauna diversity. In an effort to reduce deer numbers and minimize damage, both non-lethal and lethal management practices have been used with limited success. Hunter access to private lands remains the biggest impediment to effective deer management in New Jersey. I propose an incentive-based program to increase lease and fee hunting on private lands in New Jersey. Among the benefits of such a program are an increase in landowner income, safe and controlled areas for hunters, and greater reduction of the deer population and resulting damage while improving overall wildlife management. I also discuss other types of wildlife-related lease and fee recreation and areas of needed research to effectively implement a private lands program.
Recommended Citation
Drake, D. (2000). A private lands approach to controlling New Jersey's deer population. In Brittingham, M.C., Kays, J., & McPeake, R. (Eds.), The Ninth Wildlife Damage Management Conference (188-197). State College, PA: Pennsylvania State University.
Included in
A Private Lands Approach to Controlling New Jersey's Deer Population
State College, PA
In New Jersey, annual losses from white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virgianianus) depredation to agricultural crops have been estimated as high as $10 million. Additional problems caused by the state's overabundance of deer include increasing vehicle/deer collisions, possible human health concerns regarding increasing incidences of Lyme disease, and a loss of flora and fauna diversity. In an effort to reduce deer numbers and minimize damage, both non-lethal and lethal management practices have been used with limited success. Hunter access to private lands remains the biggest impediment to effective deer management in New Jersey. I propose an incentive-based program to increase lease and fee hunting on private lands in New Jersey. Among the benefits of such a program are an increase in landowner income, safe and controlled areas for hunters, and greater reduction of the deer population and resulting damage while improving overall wildlife management. I also discuss other types of wildlife-related lease and fee recreation and areas of needed research to effectively implement a private lands program.