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Biology And Management Of White-tailed Deer In Alabama

Biology And Management Of White-tailed Deer In Alabama

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PREFACE<br />

<strong>White</strong>-<strong>tailed</strong> deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are some of the most<br />

familiar and recognizable animals in <strong>Alabama</strong>. They are common sights<br />

along roadsides, in fields, and even in some backyards throughout the<br />

state. <strong>Deer</strong> are common residents of most rural parts of <strong>Alabama</strong>, as<br />

well as many of the urban and suburban areas of the state.<br />

This has not always been the case. Not all that long ago deer<br />

were rare in most areas. <strong>In</strong> the early 1900s, it was estimated only about<br />

2,000 deer existed in the entire state of <strong>Alabama</strong>. After decades of restocking<br />

and management efforts, <strong>Alabama</strong>’s deer population reached<br />

an estimated 1.75 million animals in 2000. <strong>In</strong> fact, many areas in <strong>Alabama</strong><br />

are overpopulated with deer and have been for many years. As a<br />

result, crop damage, deer/vehicle collisions, and other negative deer/<br />

human interactions have become more common.<br />

Despite the problems deer cause in some areas, the fascination<br />

with this magnificent animal is almost universal. Hunters and nonhunters<br />

alike still marvel at the sight of deer, even though they are now<br />

more common than ever. <strong>In</strong> the 2001-02 hunting season, over 213,000<br />

deer hunters spent over 3,900,000 man-days in pursuit of deer. Those<br />

hunters harvested 410,700 deer. <strong>Deer</strong> hunting is now one of the major<br />

industries in <strong>Alabama</strong>—generating hundreds of millions of dollars in<br />

the state each year.<br />

Recognizing and understanding the economic impact of deer<br />

hunting is important. However, the economic impact of the deer hunting<br />

business cannot be the primary determinant of deer management<br />

policy. A sound approach considers a variety of factors, including deer<br />

herd health, impacts on other species, and deer/human conflicts. Suc-<br />

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