Is hunting an effective tool to control overabundant deer? A test using an experimental approach

Despite extensive efforts to reduce white-tailed deer populations on Anticosti Island through targeted hunting, the study found no significant difference in deer density or vegetation recovery between experimental and control sites. The research aimed to achieve a 50% reduction in antlerless deer in five 20-km² areas during 2002–2006 but succeeded at only 93% of its harvest objectives, with subsequent years falling short. Monitoring over six years revealed that deer density and vegetation dynamics varied stochastically rather than responding to hunting pressure. The study proposes multiple hypotheses—including compensatory population mechanisms, hunter access limitations, and recolonization—to explain the lack of observed impact. These findings suggest that sport hunting may be an ineffective tool for controlling cervid populations in natural environments, challenging conventional management strategies.

Simard, M. A., Dussault, C., Huot, J., & Côté, S. D. (2012). Is hunting an effective tool to control overabundant deer? A test using an experimental approach. The Journal of Wildlife Management, 77(2), 254–269. Portico. https://doi.org/10.1002/jwmg.477