Biology And Management Of White-tailed Deer In Alabama

animals that can be supported in good condition may be much lower
than before overpopulation occurred.
Some deer herds in Alabama have existed beyond carrying capacity
for many years. Natural mortality remains too low in many of
these cases to return these herds to CC. As these populations are allowed
to exceed CC, habitat quality is further diminished and actual
The relationship between carrying capacity and deer density is relatively
simple—when deer density exceeds carrying capacity (CC) for a significant
period of time, both CC and deer density often are reduced.
CC is lowered. Deer managers in many areas of Alabama are faced
with this dilemma, particularly on sites with poor to marginal habitats.
Deer populations have not been kept at levels low enough to allow for
habitat quality to recover. This may be due to either pressures from
user groups or the sheer inability to implement an adequate harvest.
In some cases, habitat quality may never recover regardless of how low
population levels are reduced. Exceeding CC can lead to a repetitive
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