by Joseph Yannuzzi Jr.

Created on: November 16, 2009   Last Updated: November 18, 2009

Hunting deer under the guise of conservation has never been an effective control for deer populations. The purpose of wildlife agencies is not to control deer populations but in fact, increase the population to accomadate hunters. When game commissions purposely disrupt the sex ratio or natural balance of a deer population by killing large numbers over a short period of time, the herd will increase because more food will be left for the remaining members of the herd and since deer reproduction is affected by the available food supply, increased birth rates will result.

Wildlife Agencies actually use a formula called "maximum sustained yield" for achieving maximum reproductive rates each and every year. This is done by killing about 70% of the Bucks but restricting the amount of females or Does that are killed. There is a reason why most states require hunters to purchase Doe licenses separately, they are strictly controlled for breeding purposes. Thus by insuring a large number of females are spared, this system guarantees a prolific breeding supply that will maximize the birth rate every year and yield an unlimited number of live, animated, targets for the hunters gun.

There are also other factors that are inter-connected with the "Maximum Sustained Yield" program, that wildlife agencies use to intentionally increase the size of deer herds. There is habitat manipulation, such as clear cutting forested areas to generate new growth that is the preferred food of deer. The planting and cultivation of deer browse also attracts deer and contributes to increased birth rates. The killing of natural predators like wolves and coyotes by hunters also plays a part in the reproductive rates of deer.

In nature, without the interference of man, there are biological limits on the amount of deer that can inhabit a specific area. A deer herd cannot continue to increase indefinitely. When a deer herd expands beyond an ideal level in an area that is not hunted, stress will result in die offs as a result of competition for food. If we factor in natural mortality rates as a result of old age, predation, sickness and disease, the strongest or fittest members of the herd will survive and the weakest will perish. This is nature's way of maintaining order in the natural world. This is done slowly over time, unlike the wholesale slaughter of deer during a hunting season. This natural phenomena will assure that the healthiest deer contribute to the overall biological diversity and well

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