Deer Hunting Research Articles

ABSTRACT Over the past three decades, white-tailed deer management in the eastern USA has largely shifted from maximum sustained yield to quality deer management (QDM), focusing on increasing the abundance of mature males. However, the spread of chronic wasting disease (CWD) introduces challenges to cervid management for wildlife agencies. The CWD management framework necessitates rapid shifts in harvest strategies, often targeting reduction of the demographic which spreads CWD in most – mature males. We investigated how hunter adherence to QDM related to perceptions of CWD and the CWD management framework. We surveyed 9,713 deer hunters in Louisiana, Missouri, Ohio, and South Carolina and found that perceptions of QDM were related to perceptions of CWD; specifically, hunters who were experienced with and supportive of QDM showed more concerns of CWD impacts on human and deer health. Our findings aid wildlife agencies in balancing conservation decisions with public perceptions of wildlife diseases and management frameworks.

Strontium (87Sr/86Sr) evidence for the geography of Indigenous deer hunting in the North Carolina Piedmont

BackgroundPrey species can display antipredator movement behaviours to reduce predation risk, including proactive responses to chronic or predictable risk, and reactive responses to acute or unpredictable risk. Thus, at any given time, prey movement choice may reflect a trade-off between proaction and reaction. In previous studies, proaction and reaction have generally been considered separately, which neglects their potentially simultaneous influence on animal movement decisions and overall space use.MethodsIn this study, we analysed how proaction and reaction interact to shape the movements of GPS-collared red deer (Cervus elaphus) in response to hunting by humans. Using an exhaustive inventory of red deer hunting events and very high-resolution canopy cover density (LiDAR), we combined movement metric (displacement and path length) models and integrated step selection functions to investigate antipredator movement responses to lethal risk on various spatiotemporal scales, considering a dynamic landscape of risk.ResultsOur results show that red deer either proactively avoided areas of chronic risk, or they selected canopy cover where and when risk was predictably high. However, when risk was encountered anyway, canopy cover was no longer selected, but only modulated a reactive response along a remain-to-leave continuum. This reaction was even more evident when the environment was unfamiliar, underlining the importance of memory in such reaction patterns.ConclusionsWe describe how proaction and reaction fuse in an antipredator sequence of interconnected movement decisions in a large herbivore, and discuss how this result may help disentangle the ecological consequences of behavioural responses to predation. Finally, we lay the foundations for further investigations into the origins of similarities and differences between proactive and reactive movement responses.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s40462-025-00584-z.

Abstract Hunter participation in testing harvested white‐tailed deer for chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a critical wildlife disease surveillance strategy; however, this strategy has not been evaluated to determine what may promote or discourage hunter participation in testing when involvement is voluntary. We used a binomial logit model to predict the relative influence of harvest location and several psychological constructs on hunters' voluntary participation in testing for CWD in Wisconsin, USA. The presence of CWD in the county of harvest was a significant factor in determining hunter participation in testing. We found hunters' testing behavior was influenced by risk perceptions associated with CWD impacts on the deer population and consumption of venison from areas of the state known to have CWD. Higher risk perceptions associated with CWD impacts to economic values and recreational hunting experiences decreased the likelihood of testing for the disease. Belief in the efficacy of CWD management actions was another significant factor; however, this effect varied with levels of trust in information provided by the managing agency, attention paid to news coverage related to CWD, and risk perceptions associated with economic and recreational impacts. For agencies seeking to increase hunter engagement with CWD management through participation in voluntary testing programs, a key challenge is to demonstrate how testing contributes to effective disease management.

Abstract Motivations and sources of satisfaction associated with deer hunting vary, yet few studies have evaluated how hunters' individual characteristics and field behaviors influence harvest success. For example, emergent societal and technological shifts in hunting may be associated with selective deer harvest choices (e.g., choosing to pass on a harvest opportunity). We surveyed resident white‐tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) hunters in Wisconsin, USA, and used a mixed‐mode and multi‐part survey to quantify hunters' expectations, motivations, perceptions, and field behavior during the 9‐day firearm season in 2022. We used repeated measures logistic regression to model hunter behavior at the decision point of whether to take a shot at an antlered deer on a given day. Hunters' motivations, scouting effort, trail camera use, perception of deer density, prior harvest of a mature male deer, and prior participation in the archery season influenced this decision. In addition, hunting method, hunting location, and day of hunt influenced hunters' likelihood to take a shot. Our results identified factors influencing a growing practice of more selective deer hunting, which affects the efficacy of recreational hunting for managing white‐tailed deer populations relative to social or ecological goals.

Wildlife management in the United States of America (US) is primarily delegated to the individual states wherein state wildlife agencies manage wildlife populations to achieve multiple and sometimes conflicting objectives. White-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) are an important species in the Midwestern US whose populations are primarily managed through recreational hunting. Managers aim to adjust populations by altering the harvest of antlerless (usually female) animals by changing the number of harvest permits available, hunting season lengths, or applying incentive programs like earn-a-buck, where a hunter must harvest an antlerless deer before they may harvest an antlered deer. We estimated the effect on antlerless deer harvest from changes in these regulations and changes in the number of licensed hunters across eight states in the Midwest. We used a Bayesian hierarchical model to estimate individual state and regional (i.e., across all states) effects. We found that increasing antlerless harvest permits increased antlerless harvest; however, this effect plateaued as the number of available permits increased. Providing unlimited harvest permits increased harvest, but the same increases were achieved by minimally increasing the number of limited harvest permits. Increasing the length of hunting season had a generally positive effect on antlerless harvest but the effect was non-linear and state dependent. The earn-a-buck incentive program resulted in the largest estimated increase in harvest. Finally, the number of licensed deer hunters in a state had a strong positive effect on the number of antlerless deer harvested. Our findings show that commonly applied changes in harvest regulations have a weak effect on the number of antlerless deer harvested, highlighting the challenges facing deer managers in the Midwestern US.

Automated cervical cancer classification using stacked BI-LSTM and optimized spiking neural network with deer hunting optimization algorithm

As chronic wasting disease (CWD) continues to spread, researchers have studied stakeholder attitudes, behaviors, and risk perceptions of deer hunting associated with CWD. Findings inform natural resource agencies’ methods to educate the public, address concerns, and implement management plans. However, little work has been done with underrepresented populations, such as the Amish. We conducted semi-structured interviews with male members of Amish communities in southeastern Minnesota, an area where CWD has been present in wild white-tailed deer (Odocoileus virginianus) for over a decade. Participants were asked about their knowledge of CWD, attitudes and behaviors regarding CWD, and sources of CWD information. Thematic analysis revealed that participants had limited CWD knowledge, perceived CWD as a low risk, and disliked culling as a management strategy, instead preferring to “let nature take its course.” The knowledge shared and gathered in this study provides information for Amish community-focused, CWD-related educational materials.

Abstract Understanding the dynamics of ungulates is crucial for proper wildlife management and conservation efforts. Where high densities of ungulates are present and exceed the carrying capacity, damage occurs in both the forestry and agriculture sectors, moreover human safety is endangered through road accidents. This study explores the evolution of deer populations in the Baltics, Central, and Eastern Europe through the analysis of hunting bag data, which represents the total number of specimens harvested annually. By utilizing hunting bag statistics reported by wildlife managers and hunters, this research aims to provide a more reliable indicator for population trends compared to traditional wildlife monitoring techniques, which may suffer from issues such as double counting, underreporting, or different estimation methods. The study focuses on the evolution of hunting bag numbers for red deer (Cervus elaphus L.), roe deer (Capreolus capreolus L.), and fallow deer (Dama dama L.) between 2012 to 2022. The primary metrics used in the description of growth and statistical analyses were the hunting bags and population parameters such as the sex ratio. The findings of this study indicate that hunting bag data have shown an increasing trend during the study period. The sex ratio of the harvested specimens seems to play a role in annual growth only in the case of roe deer. Based on different harvesting rates, the population estimates for the year 2022 were projected. This research confirms similar trends in population growth for the studied species and also indicates an increase in damage caused by high densities of ungulates. The study underscores the significance of integrated approaches in assessing ungulates populations and their ecological roles, contributing to future wildlife management practices.

ObjectiveTo take advantage of the arbitrarily timed increase in firearm and ammunition availability brought on by the start of deer hunting seasons to study its impact on hunting, and importantly,...

Abstract Pulsed resources can dramatically influence spatial ecology of wildlife. Black vulture (Coragyps atratus) movements depend on habitat structure and foraging opportunities, but their responses to pulsed resources are poorly understood. In contrast, changes to home ranges during large‐game hunting seasons are well documented in mammalian predators. Thus, we hypothesized that increased access to carrion would decrease black vulture space use. To test for changes in space use, we quantified home ranges using data from 12 GPS‐tagged black vultures during nonhunting, archery‐only, and firearms study periods in Indiana and Kentucky, USA. We compared estimated home range size, home range overlap, density of forest edge, and density of roads within each home range. Home range sizes decreased 52.9% from the nonhunting to archery‐only period (t35 = 2.77, P = 0.024), then remained stable (increased 9.98%, t35 = −0.25, P = 0.967) throughout the firearms period. Home range overlaps decreased with greater resource pulse intensities. Estimated forest edge and road densities within home ranges did not change across study periods. Black vultures in our study area changed space use in response to pulsed resources associated with deer hunting. Thus, vultures may shift space use in response to other resource pulses, such as afterbirth and stillbirths from livestock. Pulsed resource locations can serve as targeted survey sites for estimating scavenger abundance and distribution. Integrating resource pulse dynamics into wildlife management strategies can improve efforts to monitor disease risks at aggregation sites and address ecological challenges arising from human activities.

Retraction notice to "Hybrid wavelet/Elman NN model for short term cost prediction utilizing developed deer hunting optimizer" [Heliyon 9 (2023) e20839

ABSTRACT Chronic wasting disease (CWD) is a rapidly-spreading wildlife disease hindering the health of deer populations, including white-tailed deer, Odocoileus virginianus. Hunter compliance with management, such as testing their deer for CWD, is needed for CWD response plans to be successful. However, the role of social norms on hunters’ behaviors in the CWD context has not been evaluated. A questionnaire was administered to North Carolina hunters in the 2022–2023 deer hunting season to assess how norms influenced their decision to test deer for CWD. We used structural equation modeling (SEM) to determine the strength of these relationships and found that both personal norms and perceived social norms had an impact on whether a hunter tested their deer for CWD, with perceived social norms having a stronger effect. Results from this study can help predict testing compliance rates and enhance CWD testing efforts to encourage more participation within the hunting community.

Abstract The number of hunters in the United States has been declining in recent decades, raising concerns about the loss of hunting‐generated funds for conservation and management. We used demographic models to examine the relative effects of time period, age, birth cohort, and gender on Wisconsin, USA residents' likelihood to purchase a deer hunting license, and we used these models to create estimated projections of the number of deer hunters out to 2040. In each projection scenario we examined, the number of male deer hunters declined at a rate of −2.2% to −1.5% per year, and the decline was attributable to declining participation rates across the entire hunter population. For female deer hunters, projections were inconsistent about whether the population would grow or remain stable near current levels. The rapidity and sustained duration of deer hunter declines will see deer populations outstrip the diminishing management capacity of recreational hunting and reduce funding for conservation and management programs.

ABSTRACT The archaeological sequence at western Lake Constance is famous for the high-density of Late Neolithic lakeshore settlements. Recent excavations uncovered Middle Neolithic (MN) sites near the prehistoric lakeshore, with the site Reichenau-B33 providing a bioarchaeological assemblage. Anthracological, carpological, and archaeozoological results from Reichenau-B33, embedded in the analysis of a large bioarchaeological dataset, covering Early Neolithic (Linearbandkeramik) and MN (Hinkelstein, Grossgartach, Rössen) assemblages from southwest Germany allow elucidating subsistence adaptations of these first farmers. Wood exploitation targeted the site’s hinterland, relying mainly on oak, beech and ash. The charred carpological assemblage reveals typical MN crops with naked barley, emmer, and einkorn, while pulses and oil crops are very rare. Two Chenopodium album seeds concentrations reflect the routine exploitation of wild plants also mirrored at several other MN sites. The faunal assemblage of Reichenau-B33 is dominated by red deer (>70%) and includes low proportions of domestic pig and sheep/goat. Thus, the first farmers at Lake Constance adapted to a forested landscape, in which clearings for settlements and fields likely attracted wild herbivores that were routinely hunted. This focus on red deer hunting may have been an opportunistic response, allowing obtaining animal resources while conserving the small herds of livestock and protecting crop fields.

High white-tailed deer abundance in the United States represents an ecological and human health threat. Reducing deer populations by lethal means and facilitating return of large predators are two potential, but controversial, management options. We used an online questionnaire to measure perspectives on deer management and predator return among a stratified sample of New York State residents. We found widespread acceptance (> 70%) for reducing deer populations using lethal means if doing so would reduce Lyme disease, increase forest regeneration, protect native plants and animals, and improve road safety. Acceptance for shooting more deer was unaffected by ethnicity but strongest among respondents who were older, identified as hunters or conservationists, owned more land, and considered health and safety while answering our questionnaire. Respondents who identified as animal protectionists were least accepting. Restoring regionally extirpated wolves and cougars had limited acceptance (< 30%) but was strongest among those who identified as hunters or conservationists. Contrary to commonly held beliefs, preferences for deer management or predator restoration did not differ among urban and rural respondents. This common ground needs to be reflected in deer management in the state due to legal obligations to represent interests of all residents.

Incidence and Outcomes of Tree Stand Injuries in Rural Pennsylvania.

ContextHuman activities, particularly intensive agriculture, have caused significant environmental degradation, reduced ecosystem diversity, and increased vulnerability to global change. Recent international policies, such as the Global Biodiversity Framework’s 30 × 30 target, advocate for nature-based solutions (NbS) such as ecological restoration to address these impacts. In agricultural landscapes, however, there are concerns that restoration may impact food production.ObjectivesWe investigated how forest restoration, as an NbS, changes the supply of ecosystem services (ES), including potential trade offs with agricultural output. Using the Montérégie region of Québec (southeastern Canada) as a case study, we assessed the influence of restoration extent, spatial configuration, and the original agricultural site conditions on the ES outcomes.MethodsWe modeled ES outcomes for seven ES (crop production, maple syrup production, deer hunting, water quality, carbon storage, pollination, and outdoor recreation) under nine scenarios, which varied by total amount of the landscape restored (3.3%, 10.8%, 30%) and initial conditions of the agricultural fields restored (randomly selected, degraded agricultural field, or abandoned agricultural field).ResultsOur findings indicate that increasing the amount of land restored enhances provision of most ES, though improvement varied by service. The initial condition of restored sites minimally influences ES outcomes. However, the spatial pattern of restoration plays a significant role in determining ES delivery, as restored sites enhance most ES through spillover effects up to 500 m.ConclusionThis study underscores the potential for combining landscape ecology approaches and ES tools to forecast NbS outcomes and inform landscape planning.

Offal Wildlife Watching is a participatory science project that engages deer hunters in wildlife research. The goal of the project is to better understand the ecology of scavenger species that visit deer gut piles across Minnesota. We asked hunters to deploy remote cameras at white-tailed deer gut piles that resulted from their freshly killed deer. Thus far 117 hunters have contributed images and recorded at least 49 different scavenger species. This project is a natural fit in Extension programs and can easily be adapted to other hunted species, biomes, and locations.

The article explores the imagery found on ceramic vessels from the Paleometal epoch of the Japanese Islands and southern Korean Peninsula. This study of the artistic motifs and their comparative analysis is particularly significant, as it allows us to trace the dissemination of belief systems and ritual practices during this era. Notably, the Japanese vessels feature images of deer, including scenes depicting deer hunting and a deer with an arrow, as well as people in boats. These drawings were created using a sharp object to etch schematic designs that resemble pictograms. In contrast, mages from the Korean Peninsula are fewer in number and are characterized by painted designs. The authors highlight both the differences and common features between the two regions’ artworks. The comparative analysis indicates that the population of the Japanese islands borrowed certain rituals and ideas, such as agricultural practices involving deer, fortune telling with deer bones, and the use of bird imagery in agricultural cults. During the Paleometal era, maritime communication between the archipelago and the continent was both active and regular, which facilitated migration processes and allowed for mutual influence between local populations and newcomers. Elements of beliefs and ritual practices were adopted, blended with local traditions, and continued to evolve in modified forms.