Estimating red deer (Cervus elaphus) population size in the Southern Black Forest: the role of hunting in population control

Abstract

Numerous studies have addressed the question of whether hunting is capable of limiting the abundance of ungulates in the northern hemisphere. We investigated whether the hunting of red deer (Cervus elaphus) has reduced their abundance in the Southern Black Forest (area 17,500 ha), Southern Germany, since 2006. Red deer abundance was estimated using data obtained from visual counts at winter feeding sites, track counts, and bag records. An age- and sex-structured population model to estimate the winter population size was also constructed using bag records. The estimated red deer population size was evaluated according to a non-invasive genetic mark-recapture approach. The results showed that the hunting of red deer can reduce their population size if the hunting regime is part of a holistic management concept that takes into account the uncertainty of population size estimates and is implemented at scales appropriate to the management of this species.